Wine from Spain

Spain's main wine regions

• Rioja : Most famous red wine region. Classic style with aging in American oak and grape weight on Tempranillo.
• Ribera del Duero : Powerful and structured red wines with a high proportion of Tempranillo and great aging capacity.
• Priorat : Intense, mineral wines made from Garnacha and Cariñena from slate-rich slopes in Catalonia.
• Rías Baixas : Cool Atlantic climate and home to the white wine grape Albariño.
• Jumilla and Yecla : Southeastern areas known for concentrated Monastrell red wine.
• Penedès : The main area for the production of sparkling wine (Cava).
• Bierzo and Montsant : Niche areas with high quality and special terroir.

Grapes and wine types

Spanish wine covers all categories – red, white, rosé and sparkling – with a wide selection of local and international grape varieties. Among the most commonly used are:

• Tempranillo : The most common red wine grape. Used in Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Toro.
• Garnacha : Fruity and spicy red wine, especially from Priorat, Navarra and Aragón.
• Albariño : Fresh, aromatic white wine from Rías Baixas – often with minerality and a salty touch.
• Monastrell : Dense and dark wine from warm areas like Jumilla.
• Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada : Used for Cava production.
• Godello and Verdejo : Local white wine grapes with increasing recognition.

Styles and storage

Spanish wine ranges from fruity, young wines to complex, aged versions. Red wine in particular is classified by aging:

• Joven : Young wine without barrel or with minimal aging.
• Crianza : Min. 1 year in barrel and 1 year in bottle (red wine).
• Reserva : Minimum 1 year in barrel and 2 years in bottle.
• Gran Reserva : Minimum 2 years in barrel and 3 years in bottle.

These designations give the consumer a good idea of ​​style and maturity. In addition, there are many modern Spanish wines that deliberately avoid classification and instead focus on terroir and minimal intervention.

Frequently asked questions about wine from Spain