Spain is a true paradise for wine lovers. It ranks first in the world in terms of the number of vineyards and the area of the country they cover (estimated at over one million hectares), and 3rd in terms of production volume. The huge number of grape varieties from which unique varieties of the noble beverage are produced, but also the landscape of the vineyards, make Spain a wine mosaic – of a scale that no other European country can match.
What will you read about in this note?
- Wine in Spain: the appellation system
- Wine from Spain: the most important regions and styles
- The world’s largest wine areas are in Spain
- Andalusia the kingdom of stronger wines
- Málaga’s most famous liqueur wine
- Orange wine from Andalusia
- Blue wine from Spain
- Spanish wine is also an investment
- Sustainable winemaking and tourism in the footsteps of wine
- What wine to buy in Spain?
Wine in Spain: the wine appellation system
Spain’s viticulture ranges from the cool, verdant landscapes of Galicia, through the heated limestone hills of Andalusia or the mountainous vineyards of Ribera, to the volcanic terraces of the Canary Islands. Spanish wine is a synthesis of the diversity of climate and landscape, combining a long-standing tradition of its production with the modern expectations of buyers. The quality structure of Spanish winemaking is based on the DOP (Denominación de Origen Protegida) system, which includes several levels:
- DOCa/DOQ – the highest category, awarded to only two regions: Rioja and Priorat,
- DO (Denominación de Origen) – currently some 67 appellations, forming a quality core,
- Vino de Pago – status for individual estates with exceptional terroir, i.e. a collection of natural conditions (soil, climate, terrain, among others) that influence unique taste and character,
- IGP/Vino de la Tierra – regional wines, often more experimental,
- Vino de España – table wines without appellation restrictions.
The appellation guarantees that the wine comes from a specific region and meets quality standards. Each appellation is overseen by a regulatory council(consejo regulador), which determines the permitted varieties, yields, alcohol levels or maturation rules.
In terms of climate and geography, Spain is one of the most diverse wine countries in the world. Its landscape ranges from the wet, green valleys of the north to the vast, dry plains of the central part of the country and the sunny shores of the Mediterranean. It is traditionally divided into five main wine zones.
In the north-west, in the 'Green Atlantic’(España Verde) – which includes Galicia and the Basque Country, among others – cool and humid conditions prevail. It is here that fresh, light wines with a pronounced acidity and mineral character are made, such as the famous Albariño from Rías Baixas or Txakoli from Basque vineyards.
Further inland are the basins of the Ebro and Duero rivers, where the climate is more continental, with hot summers and cool nights. This is the heart of Spanish red wine – the Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro regions – known for their full-bodied, barrel-aged wines, based mainly on the Tempranillo varietal.
The south-east of the country is coastal, encompassing Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia, where the maritime climate and ample sunshine favour aromatic and expressive wines – from sparkling Cava to juicy, intense reds and sweet dessert wines.
In the centre of Spain stretches the vast Meseta Central – a plateau with the regions of La Mancha and Valdepeñas. This is the largest wine area in the country, where the harsh weather conditions and temperature differences between day and night favour the cultivation of many wine varieties – from classic Tempranillo to white Airén. The wines here combine tradition and modernity, presenting a great wealth of styles.
The southernmost reaches of mainland Andalusia, the islands of the Balearic archipelago and the Canary Islands. Regions such as Jerez and Montilla-Moriles produce legendary fortified wines. Meanwhile, the Canary Islands produce wines with a unique mineral character, drawing on the volcanic terroir and oceanic climate.
Wine from Spain: the most important regions and styles
At the forefront is Rioja (DOCa) – an icon of Spanish winemaking and synonymous with elegance. This region is even based on the Tempranillo varietal, with the addition of Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo, and is famous for its wines aged in oak – from fresh Crianza to complex, long-lived Gran Reserva. Local bodegas such as La Rioja Alta, López de Heredia and Marqués de Murrieta combine centuries-old tradition with futuristic architecture, attracting oenotourism enthusiasts from all over the world.
A little further afield, in the upper Duero Valley, stretches the Ribera del Duero (DO) – a region with a harsh continental climate, where the high altitude of the vineyards (up to 900 metres above sea level) is conducive to creating powerful, velvety wines from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) variety. It is here that iconic labels – such as Vega Sicilia and Pingus– are made.
In Catalonia, Priorat (DOQ) and its younger neighbour Montsant (DO) are king. The slate soils here give the wines from Garnacha and Cariñena depth, structure and minerality. Priorat stands for concentration and power, Montsant for freshness and approachability.
In contrast, Penedès, closer to Barcelona, is the heart of Spanish sparkling wine. Cava, produced using the traditional method, is made from three varietals – Xarel-lo, Macabeo and Parellada – and comes in a range of styles: from light Brut Nature to long-aged Gran Reserva. It is a great alternative to Prosecco and Champagne, offering excellent value for money.
At the Atlantic end of the country, in Rías Baixas (DO) in Galicia, Albariño reigns supreme – a white, mineral and acidic wine with notes of citrus and white flowers – ideal with seafood. Slightly further south, in Rueda (DO), reigns Verdejo – an aromatic, herbal and citrusy wine, often with a nutty tone, that make the region the most important centre for white wines in Spain.
The north-western valleys of the Sil and Miño rivers are home to the Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra (DO) – wine discoveries of recent years. Old Mencía vines here yield elegant, cool reds with pronounced acidity, while terraced vineyards create spectacular landscapes that have become iconic of the 'Green Atlantic’.
The world’s largest wine areas are in Spain
In the central part of the country stretch La Mancha and Valdepeñas – the largest wine areas in the world. The dominant varieties here are Airén and Tempranillo (Cencibel), which produce both everyday table wines and increasingly ambitious premium projects.
In the Basque Country, we find Txakoli – light, low-alcohol, often slightly sparkling white wines that have become an integral part of Basque cuisine and a companion to tapas.
Rosados from Navarra, Somontano or Cigales, created mainly from Garnacha , also stand out against this diversity – from light, fruity wines to more structured and gastronomic ones.
Andalusia the kingdom of stronger wines
To the south, in Andalusia, lie the legendary appellations of Jerez-Xérès-Sherry and Manzanilla (DO) – the realm of fortified wines. The solera maturation system creates a unique complexity of flavours – from the extremely dry Fino to the sweet, velvety Pedro Ximénez. The neighbouring Montilla-Moriles (DO), also based on the Pedro Ximénez grape variety, produces wines that are gaining increasing recognition from sommeliers.
These spirits usually have 15-20% alcohol because distillate is added to the fermenting must, which stops the fermentation process and preserves the sugar. As a result, a sweet wine from Spain from Andalusia is both high in alcohol and rich in natural sweetness.
Sherry is a traditional fortified white wine from Andalusia, matured by the solera method in the so-called sherry triangle – between the towns of Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and El Puerto de Santa María. It is mainly made from the white Palomino grape variety, possibly with the addition of Moscatel or Pedro Ximénez. Sherry comes in many types – from dry Fino or Amontillado to very sweet varieties – such as creamy Oloroso or syrupy Pedro Ximénez (PX). Each type of sherry matures slightly differently (some in contact with oxygen, some under a layer of yeasty flor), but all are characterised by a unique intensity of flavour and aromas of nuts, dried fruit and oak barrels.
Málaga’s most famous liqueur wine
Málaga wine (appellation D.O. Málaga) is Spain’s most famous liqueur wine from Andalusia, known since the Middle Ages. It is produced from white grapes of the Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel varieties, which are first sun-dried to sultanas. Such concentrated sweet must is fermented briefly, after which the wine is fortified to around 15% alcohol and aged for a long time in barrels.
Malaga has a dark amber, even brown colour and an outstandingly sweet, dense taste – full of notes of sultanas, honey, caramel and dried fruit. Very sweet, intense wines from Malaga are sometimes referred to as Malaga Dulce (literally: sweet Malaga). An example is Malaga Cruz – a naturally sweet, fortified wine made from Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel drying grapes, with a characteristic thick texture and aromas of nuts. In Poland, Malaga Cruz (15% alcohol) is sometimes available in shops as a dessert white wine – although this is hard to believe due to its dark colour. Similar wines from Malaga are offered by local wineries – such as Málaga Virgen or Quitapenas.
The Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands produce wines of a very different character – mineral, often with notes of ash and sea salt, from rare local varietals such as Listán Negro or Malvasía Volcánica. Their exotic profile and authenticity make them sought after by connoisseurs and collectors.
See also:
Andalusian treasure in a barrel
Orange wine from Andalusia
Andalusia produces a unique speciality – orange wine. Note: in Poland, the term is sometimes used in two senses. It can mean orange wine, i.e. white grape wine produced by long maceration of the skins (which gives the drink its orange colour). However, Andalusian orange wine is something else – it is an aromatised liqueur wine based on grape wine with the addition of oranges.
The Huelva region produces Vino de Naranja – a sweet orange wine from Andalusia, made by macerating the skins of bitter oranges in fortified white wine and then maturing the whole by the traditional solera method. Such a beverage – officially protected as Vino Naranja del Condado de Huelva – has a dark orange-brown colour and an intense citrus aroma. This is because the base sweet wine is made from dried grapes (hence the dark colour and caramel notes) and only then infused with the essence of orange peel. In contrast, Moscatel Naranja is made in Malaga, where the dried peels of Seville oranges are macerated in a wine distillate, which is added to the local sweet Moscatel wine. Such orange wine from Malaga is lighter (almost clear), but also sweet and fragrant with orange peel.
Interestingly, Andalusia is also the cradle of wine made directly from orange fruit. Burnarj is a unique sparkling orange wine – made from orange juice (about 5 kg of oranges per bottle), fermented in a manner similar to the traditional Champagne method. This unique wine has been made since 2011 in the town of Palma del Río (Córdoba province), where around 200,000 bottles of the drink are produced annually. Burnarj comes in three variants: brut nature, brut and semiseco (semi-dry). It is probably the only wine in Europe made exclusively from oranges, representing a curiosity even among other Andalusian specialities.
Blue wine from Spain
An innovation of recent years coming from Spain is a wine with a surprising azure colour. The first blue wine from Spain called Gik Live (or Gik Blue) was created by a group of young Basques in 2016. Although it is based 99% on classic grape wine, its intense blue colour was achieved thanks to two natural pigments: anthocyanins from grape skins and indigo dye.
Importantly, the blue wine Spain… officially prohibits to be sold as 'wine’. This is because strict laws have forced it to be labelled as a 'wine-based flavoured drink’, and failure to do so has cost Gik producers a fine. The beverage itself is light, sweet (it contains about 11.5% alcohol) and is mainly targeted at younger consumers hungry for novelty.
The success of Gik Blue was followed by other brands, including the Spanish-French Pasion Blue and the Portuguese Casal Mendes Blue. In Spain, blue wine remains a seasonal curiosity, while abroad – e.g. in the USA – it has gained considerable popularity as an exotic oenological gadget. Regardless of connoisseurs’ assessments (many question whether it is a real wine at all), blue wine certainly shows the innovative face of Spanish winemaking.
Spanish wine is also an investment
In addition to classic appellations and well-known brands, innovation, new producers and changing consumer expectations – both in the domestic and international markets – are playing an increasingly important role in Spanish wine production.
The first clear trend is the growing position of cult wine brands. Spain is increasingly making its presence felt in the luxury wine segment, and labels such as Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Marqués de Murrieta, La Rioja Alta or Clos Mogador from Priorat have become synonymous with class, investment value and collector prestige. It is these wines – often produced in limited quantities, matured over a period of years and representing the highest level of craftsmanship – that consolidate Spain on the map of premium global winemaking.
At the same time, there is a renaissance of regions outside the classic canon, which only a decade ago were overshadowed by Rioja or Ribera del Duero. Today, it is Bierzo, Ribeira Sacra, Gredos or Jumilla that attract the attention of international critics and sommeliers. The old vines, the high altitude of the vineyards and the attention to the expression of the terroir mean that the wines produced there are characterised by freshness, finesse and exceptional balance. The dynamic development of their production is confirmed by the increasingly high rankings.
Sustainable winemaking and tourism in the footsteps of wine
The third pillar of modern winemaking is sustainability and organic production. Spain has become the European leader in terms of the area under organic cultivation – currently over 166,000 hectares. Although the consumption of 'organic wines’ in the domestic market is still moderate, exports – especially to Germany and Scandinavian countries – are growing at an impressive rate.
Changes can also be seen in the preferences of younger consumers. They expect wines that are lighter, more approachable and less alcoholic. Thus, they are driving the growth of the No/Low Alcohol category, i.e. low and non-alcoholic wines.
Oenotourism – a sector that combines wine production with culture, architecture and gastronomy – has become an integral part of modern Spanish winemaking. Routes such as the Rioja Wine Route, the Ruta del Vino Ribera del Duero or the Penedès Wine Tour attract hundreds of thousands of tourists a year – offering tasting experiences combined with visits to avant-garde wineries, art galleries and restaurants.
What wine to buy in Spain?
This is a common question among travellers planning a holiday in the Iberian Peninsula. On the shelves of Spanish shops, the choice is huge, from well-known brands to local products straight from the producer. If you’re visiting Andalusia, it’s worth reaching for regional specialities. A bottle of sweet Málaga wine or traditional sherry from Jerez would be a great idea.
Of course, Spain is also famous for its outstanding red wines(vino tinto) from other parts of the country. When in a shop, preferably a specialist one with a large selection of wines and good advisers, consider buying a bottle of Rioja or Ribera del Duero – these are the two most famous red wine appellations. Rosé lovers should try the fruity rosados from Navarre. If you manage to find an orange wine from Huelva or a unique orange wine(Burnarj) in a local shop, it will be a unique souvenir that will be the envy of your friends.
From other regions of Spain, it is worth bringing a wine typical of the place, e.g. from Catalonia it is good to bring a bottle of refreshing cava and from Galicia an aromatic Albariño
The most important thing is to choose wines that not only taste good to you, but will also be available locally. When choosing wine in Spain, be guided by your own taste, but also by uniqueness – it is best to buy the kind of wine that you can hardly find in Polish shops. In this way, you will also be bringing back to the country a part of Spanish culture sealed in a bottle.
