Key facts on the Spanish wine Industry<br /><div><br /><ul><li>Vines are are the 3<sup>rd</sup> crop in Spain after cereals and olive trees<br /></li><li>15.5% of world vineyards- largest in the world<br /></li><li>Followed by France and Italy<br /></li><li>Low yields mean only 2<sup>nd</sup> (17.1%) in production after France <br /></li><li>61.5% of vineyards are white!<br /></li><li>Principal varieties<br /></li><ul><li>Red:&nbsp; Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha, Monastrell<br /></li><li>White: Air&eacute;n, Macabeo, Palomino, Pedro Ximenez<br /></li></ul><li>Vineyards in all 17 autonomous regions<br /></li><ul><li>Castilla La Mancha: (the area with the greatest surface area of vines in the world)<br /></li><li>Rioja:&nbsp; most densely planted in Spain<br /></li></ul><li>56.2% has a designation of origin as a quality wine (VCPRD)<br /></li><li>Spain has 64 Denominaci&oacute;n de Origen (DO)<br /></li><li>41 areas with Vino de Tierra Designation<br /></li><li>One third of Spanish production is exported (increasing)<br /></li><li>Top customers:&nbsp; UK, Germany, USA<br /></li><li>Fifth importer to the US after Italy, Australia, France, Chile<br /></li></ul><div><br />Qualitative comments on Spanish wines today<br /><div><br /><ul><li>A red wine country<br /></li><li>In full revolution<br /></li><ul><li>Once obscure regions shine<br /></li><li>Controversy of modern vs traditional<br /></li></ul><li>Classic areas evolving but losing out<br /></li><li>Ribera and Rioja still dominant<br /></li><li>Ribera: quality but pricey<br /></li><li>Rioja: a confusing variety of styles<br /></li><li>Consumption in Spain decreasing but quality increasing<br /></li><li>Prices still good but rising quickly<br /></li><li>More international prestige but still behind France and Italy<br /></li><li>Fascinating and complex wine landscapes makes for an outstanding selection of wines at very good prices<br /></li></ul></div></div></div>