![]() However, in recent years, it’s the white and rosé wines which are really making names for themselves, as winemakers look to set new trends and styles in what is a very classic region. Rioja reds are typically ripe with red fruit which comes from the most commonly planted Tempranillo, and underpinned with smooth tannin, spice and oak. Rioja even has its own laws with winemakers restricted to the use of seven grape varieties which come with strict ageing and wine labelling rules. The region itself is a DOCa – a high grade DO – assigned only to wines of consistent quality. ![]() Since then, Rioja has never looked back, and has been at the forefront of winemaking in Spain for the past two centuries. High quality oak vats and barrels were introduced to what were once simple, fresh and fruity red wines. Steeped in history dating back to the Ancient Romans, winemaking traditions remained relatively untouched until the mid-19 th century when the influences of Bordeaux came to the fore. La Rioja, or Rioja, is Spain’s largest red wine producing region with over 600 wineries and an annual production of over 400 million bottles. Rioja is probably the best known of the Spanish wine regions. Styles of sherry vary from fino – a light, dry style perfect for an aperitif, to Pedro Ximenez – a dark, sweet style great for desserts. Sherry is a delicious fortified wine made in the Andalucia wine region. It’s impossible not to mention Spanish wine without referencing Sherry. It’s richer than Prosecco and not as pricy as Champagne so a great choice for sparkling wine fans. The mainstream areas are referred to as Denominaciones de Origen D. This Spanish sparkling is mostly made in the Catalonia region using the traditional method of sparkling wine production. There are 69 officially recognised wine regions in Spain as its mentioned in Spain wine map. Albariño made in the coastal region of Galicia is particularly excellent, citrussy with a touch of saltiness.Ĭava is the original alternative to Champagne. White wines are made using a vast variety of indigenous grapes, some of the most popular include Airen, Macabéo (aka Viura), Grenache Blanc and Albariño. Tempranillo is the backbone of most wines of Rioja, the famously classic red wines which are revered the world over. Red wines are dominated by Tempranillo and Garnacha which are among the most popular varieties to be grown in Spain. The DOC category is awarded to the top producers in DO areas, you’ll find many of these in the prestigious Rioja region. Types of Spanish WineĪs with other European winemaking countries, much Spanish wine is produced under strict DO rules where laws dictate what grapes can be grown and where. Wine is made all over Spain from the Upper Ebro to the Catalunya region and the Duero Valley. However, due to the arid climate and older vines, the crops usually yield much smaller quantities than other regions across the world, but what it may lack in volume is certainly made up for in highly-concentrated and refined wines. Spain’s wine production may not be as large as European powerhouses in France and Italy, but it has more area under vine than any other country. ![]()
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