A guide to wine tasting through spains rioja region the. After going decades without trying this, this is my second time this month. Spain wine regions where do spanish wines come from. Get a grip on the most popular spanish wines and regions, with this goto guide on spanish wine varieties. It is perhaps most famous for its red wines of rioja using the countries champion tempranillo grape. Best landscape and wine regions in galicia includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, transport and more. A look at a map suggests just how much climatic diversity there is likely to be between spains many wine regions, from the soggy green vineyards of galicia on the north atlantic coast to the baked mediterranean south east. Routes and itineraries in priorat wine region in catalonia, spain. In each community, the wines are organized by dos designations of origin which determine where the wine was produced. Spanish wine regions and do spanish wines all about. Tempranillo, garnacha, verdejo, albarino, and malvasia. Old world wine regions france, italy, spain list the region, village or vineyard where the wine is made, but usually not the grape. Spain can be traditionally divided into 12 main wine regions.
The wines are classified according to the quality pyramid that regulates all wine made in the european union. Cava, a spanish sparkling wine, is a centuriesold tradition carried on in the. They have created a work that fits well between the coffee table publications that accompany tv programmes and the specialist books written for viticulturalists and oenologists. Somehow, spanish wines continue to fly under the radar. Hi suzanne, i wish i could travel to spain for an exciting trek through some of the wine regions. Wine spectators maps of key wine regions wine spectator. By observing the clues, youll be more adept at buying wine. Spains saving grace, viticulturally, is the average. Wine from these regions near the ebro river are influenced by soil rich in limestone, and the warm climate of central spain. There are more than 5500 wineries in spain occupying around 1. Climatic challenges are a consistent theme, as is the reliance upon tangy, tart wines ideal with the shellfish and seafood from the wellstocked atlantic ocean. Grape vines have been grown on the iberian peninsula since at least 3000 b. Spain produces a diverse range of wine styles from the refreshing sparkling. On my one and only visit to spain it was a short day trip and i didnt have a chance to visit any of the wine regions.
Wine tourism near barcelona and penedes free guide. This overview map identifies the top wines produced in each of spains 15 wine regions. The region now rivals the rioja region as one of the largest wineproducing regions in spain and is growing in popularity among foreign drinkers. The wines of spain faber books on wine jeffs, julian on. An overview of the countrys leading wine regions, from rioja in the north to. I love wine from all around the world and am passionate about wines from everywhere and about the countries and regions that spawn them, but i always return to my first love spain. Spain produces a diverse range of wine styles from the refreshing sparkling cava that come from around barcelona to the nutty and sweet dessert wines from andalucia in the south. The rioja region is certainly the sweetheart region of spanish red wines. Yes, this wine can be dissed by wine nerds, but it is enjoyable and reasonably priced. Best landscape and wine regions in galicia by spain your. Wine in spain is produced in all of the autonomous communities, and each have their own grape varieties, regulatory councils and specific types of wines. Navarra spanish wine region located in northeastern spain, close to the southern border of france, this spanish wine region is known for both its rosado and red wines full of flavor, foodfriendly and wellpriced to boot. Whats surprising, is spain is the 3rd largest producer of wine with the largest land area dedicated to vineyards in the world.
Explore further afield in spain and discover a new region to try in partnership with araex grands. I am only in this business because of my misspent youth in spain and the healthy relationship i hope that gave me to alcohol. Learn about the various spain wine regions with wine enthusiast magazines easy to use spain wine guide. Here you will find a guide on different wine regions and wine routes in spain for your interest in travelling and spanish wine. This map of spain wine regions helps put into context the various kinds of wines that. Here are some of the countrys top wine regions, all of which are worth delving into if you havent already. Theyre often familyowned with passionate winemakers conducting the. This paper presents an analysis of the current state of existing. But mapping out which wine regions to visit on a vacation to spain. Map of spain wine regions spanish wine, wine folly, map. The country is the worlds 3rd largest producer after france and italy. The vineyards of spain spread accross 967 000 hectares with an appellation system described below. Contrary to the stereotype, spain has an extremely varied climate and you will find lots of smaller.
Spain produces some of the finest wines in the world. There are actually three subregions or unique districts that compose the rioja. Wine maps can help identify famous regions as well as point out. The present study adds to this underdeveloped body of research in that it addresses a range of wine tourism development issues, across three prominent old world wine regions. Wine map of spain the spanish wine regions and vineyards. Explore the spain wine map to reveal the countrys most famous wines. Major spanish wine regions for the production of wine include. Understanding the wine regions of spain winetraveler. Pdf by far the main focus of contemporary wine tourism research has been in new world regions, while it.
You can build your own wine tour in spain itinerary spain has the biggest vineyard surface in the world. Spain is a land of breathtaking landscapes, colorful history and a deep, complex culture in which wine has long played an important role. Spain 2015 was a record year for spanish wine exports. Yet spain is the worlds third largest wine producer behind france and italy, largely due to low yields caused by wide spacing of old vines and. Spain is a fascinating country for wine lovers and features a dazzling array of unique micro climates creating an exciting assortment of wine styles. Spain is the 3rd largest producer of wine in the world and the largest wine country in terms of land dedicated to vineyards.
Frances most northerly wine region, champagne is now home to 15,000. The usual arguing between two good friends can be taken as a quarrel the local residents are very emotional and impulsive. The importance of wine tourism has acquired in recent years in spain has led the academic literature to present different studies. One glass is plenty but that is true with many sweet wines. On this spanish wine regions map, youll find all the principal wine regions such as valdeorras and rias baixas known for the godello and albarino based whites, rueda famed for its zippy. Duero regions, which are both known for their tempranillo production.
Best landscape and wine regions in galicia, a 8 day tour from vigo to cies islands illas cies, valenca and 5 destinations. In many ways, it makes sense to start a conversation about the top wine regions in spain by mentioning what is often considered to be the top wine region in spain rioja. Wine maps can help identify famous regions as well as point out neighboring regions that usually fly under the radar. Spain is one of the most fascinating wine producing countries in the world with a wide offering of handcrafted wine styles and quaint wine country villages to visit.
Download our guide to cordobas mezquita to explore its stunning archi. The maps and diagrams on this site are the intellectual property of the society of wine educators. According to oiv international organisation of vine and wine, spain was the thrid biggest wine producer in the world in 2017 after italy and france. So, you heard some great things about those spicy and juicy wines from priorat or that white wine you had with some seafood from rias baixas. The most indepth guide available to the exceptional wines of spain.
Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world. Wine folly offers an extensive collection of wine maps. Spain is the third largest producer of the wine in the world, behind only france and italy, and is famous for big names such as rioja and ribera del duero. The varieties found in spain are too numerous to relay in full, but a few key ones include. Our portfolio features over 100 brands from diverse regions of spain, portugal, chile and argentina. These wine regions somewhat follow the administrative borders of the 17 autonomous communities that make up the modern state of spain. Many travellers, who visit spain for the first time, are scared of the way of communication, which is peculiar to the spaniards. Spanish wines are traditionally marketed using regions instead of grape varieties. A guide to wine tasting through spains rioja region lori zaino. Spain wine map spanish wine, wine folly, map of spain. This map of spain wine regions helps put into context the various kinds of wines that grow throughout the country.