Spanish wine regions

Galicia is one of Spain’s most exciting wine regions and wine lovers are spoiled with all the options available to them. Located in Spain’s Atlantic Northwest, Galician wines are known for their freshness, with lots of crisp acidity and citrus flavors in the white wines and crunchy red fruit and floral aromas in the reds. Here are ten names to look for on your next trip to the wine shop.

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Home to some of the world’s oldest productive vines – there are Albariño vines in DO Rías Baixas that have been producing grapes for over 200 years - Spain is also believed to be home to more hectares of old vines than any other country.

This article has been published in partnership with World of Fine Wine and Wine Scholar Guild.  A shocking red wine from the Jerezano new wave. Andrew Jefford tastes 2020 Annius Atlántida Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz.

Castilla y León is one of Spain’s most significant regions and the cradle of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabel. It boasts more than 60 of Spain’s heritage sites including over 500 castles, 12 cathedrals and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also home to Vega Sicilia, one of the world’s most iconic wine brands.

Some wine regions are easier to describe than others. If they have a tight stylistic range, it can be quite straightforward. But those that are defined by diversity and a broad offering are trickier to pin down. Cataluña, in the far northeast corner of Spain, is firmly in the second camp. It excels at both local and international varieties; it makes excellent red, white and rosé; it produces some of the country’s best still and sparkling wines.

Ferran Adrià’s legendary restaurant El Bulli defined modernist cuisine. The restaurant had an undeniable influence on haute cuisine trends both in Spain and across the globe. For 13 years, its wine programme was led by sommelier Ferran Centelles. Ferran continues to work with Adrià at the elBullifoundation, a creativity centre of culinary and wine-focused scholarship that was created in 2011 after the restaurant’s closure.  

“DO Cava is much more than Corpinnat.” DO Cava president Javier Pagés, February 2019.

Over its 42-year existence as a Denominación de Origen (DO), Ribera del Duero has transformed from a relatively unknown region to one of Spain’s most prestigious wine-producing areas.

Sherry producers like to say they deal with two types of terroir. “First,” says Fermin Hidalgo, owner of leading Sanlúcar de Barrameda-based Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana, “the ‘classic’ terroir we all know: climate, soil, etc. The second terroir is the one related to the wineries… Biological ageing is part of our terroir.”

Watch the Preview of the Spanish Wine Scholar Program, with Rick Fisher, Spanish Programs Director

Prioratans have a saying: Si ets calatà, de les pedres treuràs pa. Pero si ets a Priorati, treuràs vi. It means “The Catalan people make bread from stones, but the Prioratans make wine.” Their llicorella rock soils provide the kind of struggle that produces some of the most sought-after wines in the world. Enclosed within the Montsant Mountains, two hours from Barcelona, the Priorat is a tiny wine region whose fame is overshadowed only by the powerful beauty of its landscape.

Many wine regions in Europe like to reference their long history, typically dating the arrival of the first vineyards back to the time of the Roman legions. Viticulture in Jerez may well have an even longer history than that; it’s entirely possible that the first vines in the region were planted by the Phoenicians around the time they established the nearby port city of Cadiz in 1,110BC.

Nearly 30 years after gaining Denominación de Origen status, Galicia's most “heroic” wine region is facing some familiar challenges.

Arriving at the airport in Palma de Mallorca can be overwhelming. Crowds of holiday-makers swarm through long, narrow corridors to carousels where they scrummage to collect bags. Hungry children hassle tired parents and groups of young people loudly debate where to start the evening bar crawl. But just as quickly as bags and toddlers alike are stacked onto trolleys, the crowds disperse to very different parts of the island.

As the global popularity of Spanish wine grows, more exciting options are becoming available in restaurants and wine shops. While many people are familiar with Spain's premium red wines from regions such as Rioja and Priorat, the country also produces stellar white wines. These wonderful – and often underappreciated selections – represent a great value with excellent variety and versatility. Like its red wines, Spain's white wines are labeled with their appellation of origin – or Denomination of Origin (DO). This designation represents the grape's place of origin, and typically each DO will specialize in one or more different wine styles made from specific grapes. For those new to Spain, knowing what to expect can be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the region.  Below is a breakdown of some of Spain's most popular (and delicious) white wines. This list includes their region of origin as well as the primary grapes from which the wines are made. Use this as a guide to expand your understanding of Spanish wine.

Spain began linking wine to “place” early on. As far back as the beginning of the 20th century, the need for wine regulations became self-evident. The country was experiencing rampant wine fraud; quality wines were being diluted with bulk wine on a regular basis. Rioja was a leader in the charge for legislation to guarantee wine origin. In 1902, a Royal Decree defined the origin of its wines by establishing a geographical link between the name of a product and the place where it is produced. Just a little over two decades later, in 1925, the first Consejo Regulador (Regulating Council) was created in Rioja. In the years that followed, Jerez and Málaga also gained regional protection.

Are you ready to dive into one of the world’s greatest wine-producing countries? If so, our next Spanish Wine Scholar Instructor-Led course is about to start, and we would love to have you join us! If you still aren’t sure, then take a look at these ten reasons why you should be studying Spanish wine. 

Galicia is magical for many reasons. Its rolling green hills and foggy river valleys make it more like its Celtic cousins Ireland and Scotland than Spain, and you’re more likely to hear bagpipes than flamenco guitar. Instead of packing sunscreen, you’d be wise to bring an umbrella. And then there’s the wine. From Albariño to Zamarrica, Galicia is home to some truly exciting grape varieties.

As part of a partnership between Wine Scholar Guild and Decanter, we are pleased to share with our readers this article pulled from Decanter Premium. WSG members enjoy a 20% discount on their Decanter Premium subscription! Get your coupon code HERE Over-zealous planting and heavy-handed use of oak haven’t done its reputation any favours, but Spain’s most widespread variety can make excellent wines. Sarah Jane Evans MW highlights the regions and producers helping Tempranillo reach its full potential.