Spain has been making wine since the time of the Phoenicians and has the world's largest area of land under vine... Read more

Spain has been making wine since the time of the Phoenicians and has the world's largest area of land under vine. The enormous choice of different styles of wine available from Spain makes it one of the most interesting wine-producing countries to explore. Until recently, Spain's international reputation was built on the success of Jerez, Rioja, Penedes, Ribera del Duero and Navarra. Today, however, there are a whole host of new regions that are offering a wide range of wines, generally made from indigenous grape varieties.

In the northern regions, Rías Baixas, Toro, Rueda and Cigales are now showing their true colors, whilst the north-eastern zones of Tarragona and Conca de Barbera reveal how cool-climate viticulture can result in some terrific, pure and fruit-driven 'classical' varietals. From the southern part of Spain, excellent and affordable red wines are coming from Valencia, Alicante, Toledo-Alméria and Valdepeñas.  Most Spanish wine is produced from local grapes. These include Bobal, Garnacha, Malvasia, Moscatel, Palomino, Pedro Ximenez and of course Tempranillo. Perhaps the best known wine of Spain is Sherry, a fortified wine from Jerez. Collapse