Spanish Wine
Regions 
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Bierzo The vineyards themselves are among the most beautiful in Spain. Many are planted in picturesque terraces along the steep slopes of the Sil river valley, some with such marked inclination that mules are used for the harvest. The soils range from alluvial near the riverbed, to rocky and slate-filled on the higher slopes. The vineyards, which are planted at elevations of up to 1000 meters, enjoy moderate rainfall and, thanks to the mountains that protect them from the whims of the Atlantic, a relatively mild climate |
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Emporda The combination of seascape and rural countryside makes Empordà-Costa Brava one of the loveliest wine regions in the country. The vines are planted at low altitudes (200 meters maximum) and are constantly caressed with the gentle breezes of the Mediterranean. Occasionally, they're submitted to the harsher whims of the Tramuntana, a cold northern wind that sweeps down from the Pyrenees and prevents the region from getting too hot. Nearly all the vines are staked for protection. |
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La
Rioja As the name suggests, much of this area is in higher altitudes. Approximately 45,000 acres. The Rioja Alavesa terrain is "terraced" and consists mostly of limestone and clay. Approximately 25,000 acres. The Rioja Baja is comprised of alluvial clay with large areas of ferruginous and calcareous clay. Generally wines from the Baja have a higher alcohol content. Approximately 37,000 acres. |
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Navarra The Region of Navarra is divided into five subdivisions: Valdizarbe, Baja Montana, Ribera Baja, Ribera Alta, and Tierra Estella. Valdizarbe (in the heart of the Way of St James, many ancient monasteries and ruins) is located in the north central portion of the region. Its soil is chalky, often with a reddish-grey tint. This zone represents six percent of the total production. Baja Montana is located in the Northeastern area. |
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Penedes There are many internationally famous brands and important wineries like Miguel Torres and Jean Leon. Torres, is one of the Spanish trailblazers of the Modern Spanish industry and is responsable for groundbreaking research on the Catalan grape varietals. . Penedes is an enclave of culture and art, from the wine villages to the cities, from Sitges to Barcelona. The region is steeped in histpory and garced with architecture from the likes of avant-garde geniuses like Gaudi, Cadalfach and Domenech i Montaner. For the wine loving tourist, the Penedes regions itself is as interesting as its wines, full of intrigue and culture. |
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Priorat Priorat's best wines are concentrated and full of character thanks to the very low yields produced by the region's harsh conditions. Those low yields, in addition to the intense manual labor required to make wines here, mean that Priorat wines are some of the most expensive in Spain. They are also, in the eyes of many, among the best wines produced in the country. Expressive, fresh and less oaky than many traditional Spanish reds, Priorat wines have earned a devoted following in Spain and beyond. |
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Rias
Baixas The wine production area is subdivided into five areas: The Val do Salnés, the best sub region, scattered around the picturesque village of Cambados, made up of 70% Albariño; Rosal, the southernmost sub wine region located just south of the lovely town of Baiona (which happens to have a beautiful Parador hotel). Albariño and Loureira are required to account for 70% of wine production; Condado de Tea, a mountainous region along the right bank of the Miño River. Albariño and Treixadura are required to account for 70% of wine production; Soutomaior, south of Pontevedra and famous for a gorgeous castle; and Ribera del Ulla, the most recent addition to the Rias Baixas DO, located east of the Valle del Salnés. |
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Ribera
del Duero If you're searching for bold reds, look no further. Ribera del Duero answers the call with aromatic Tinto Fino wines that seduce with their intensity and balance. Miniscule quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Garnacha, Malbec and Merlot are also grown, although these varieties are used almost exclusively for blending. You can expect a top Ribera del Duero to be above all structured, with good body and powerful fruit flavors that rub shoulders with none-too-subtle woody notes. Excellent vintages include 1989, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2004. |
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Sherry Except for the very oldest and rarest of cask-select bottlings, Sherry is not one of those cult wines in short supply. In fact, it's just the opposite. In the quaint Andalucian towns where Sherry is produced-Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa Maria-a crusade is underway to convince the world that Sherry isn't just a sweet sipper for old English ladies but instead is a multifaceted, intricate wine with enough versatility to be served before, during or after a meal. And that's not some marketing notion; it's true. |
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Somontano The principal wine town is Barbastro, with most of the wineries close by. The climate in this part of Spain is continental with snowy winters and hot summer months, and extremely sudden changes in temperature when the seasons change. There are roughly 2,700 hours of direct sunlight per year, optimum growing conditions. There are about 3,000 ha under vine registered by the locale regulatory council, and the region is dominated by less than 5 top wineries (namely Enate, Bodegas Pirineos and Viñas del Vero). |
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Toro Tempranillo, here called Tinto de Toro, has been the primary grape grown in the region since the times of the Christian reconquest, when an influx of bishops, priests, scholars and members of the royal family created a sophisticated market for fine wines in the 11th and 12th centuries. The DO was created in 1987 with just four wineries, but the area's proven success, combined with ever-rising land prices in other Spanish regions, have pushed the number to more than 40 wineries |
Bierzo is definitely Spain´s most up and coming region and thanks
to celebrity winemakers like Alvaro Palacios, these Mencia based
wines are gaining intentional attention. This beautiful wine region
is located in northwest Spain just below the Celtic winemaking
region of Galicia...
Spain´s beautiful Mediterranean wine region of Emporda is an
absolute must for the gourmet traveler as apart from small and
artisan wine cellars, the region is host to spectacular coastal
scenery, luxurious boutique hotels, fabulous gourmet restaurants and
lovely villages like Cadaques...
The wine region of La Rioja was demarcated by the area's governing
body, the CONSEJO REGULADOR, in 1926. The region extends for approx.
120 km along both sides of the Ebro River and is, at its widest, 50
kilometers, bounded by mountains on either side...
From generally oxidized rosés to full-bodied reds, the transition
in Navarra's winemaking has been sudden and overwhelming. Garnacha,
the workhorse rosé grape now is less than 40% of plantings,
compared with 90% in the 1980's. Its place has been taken by the
Spanish Tempranillo...
Catalonia's premiere wine region of Penedes (located less than an
hour south of Barcelona) produces a range of excellent still wines
ranging from delicate whites to beefy reds, as well as the flagship
Cava. Traditional Method Cava is made with the indigenous grapes of
Xarel.lo and Parellada...
Although little more than 20 km from the Catalan Mediterranean
coastal plain, Priorato is remote. Few decent roads penetrate this
wildly beautiful region whose steep-sided mountains rise quickly to
over 1,100m, and travel between its scattered villages can be
laborious...
The landscapes of the Rias Baixas wine region in Spain's
northwestern Galicia, starkly contrast with the image many have of
Spain- dry, hot, with a splash of bullfighting and flamenco. Galicia
is Celtic (whose legacy today is evident in the traditional regional
instrument...
Legend has it that the Elephant & Castle district in London got
its name from a cockney derivation of 'Infanta de Castilla', the
title of Isabella, the Spanish Catholic queen who stayed there
during a visit to London in the 15th century...
Be it fino, amontillado or oloroso, Sherry is a complex, esoteric
fortified wine with the versatility to go from apéritif to table
wine to after-dinner sipper. One of the attractions of the world's
great fortified wines is that each is inextricably tied to a
storied, exotic locale..
Located on a high plateau in the mountainous area of Huesca (known
for its ski resorts), the wine region of Somontano lies at the foot
of the Pyrenees Mountains. The name Somontano actually means
"Under the Mountain"...
Many Spanish wine writers believe that Toro, a relatively
little-known denominación de origen (DO), located in Zamora
province around the town of Toro, is Spain's most promising wine
region. Once known for black, stout, powerful wines that lived up to
their name...