Below you'll find a brief overview of Spanish wines, including a general introduction, wine law, and grape varieties.  This is the more detailed info for those who are looking for some background.

I've also created a great practical guide to how styles of Spanish wine, identifying the Spanish wines you like by grape or region, finding the best values and where you can find them.  To get this useful guide just sign up for my monthly newsletter here.  In my newsletter, I'll give you an update on the latest on Spanish wine and food and some top wine picks.

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Top Ten of Spanish wine...or a total simplification of Spanish wine!  ....but useful sometimes...

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Super dynamic wine market

Getting world recognition

Lots of change in every corner of the country!

Huge wine producer

Most vineyards in the world

3rd in wine production

Red wine country

Some of the top red wines in the world

Whites wines

Attractive, great value…improving rapidly

In Spain wines ordered by region, not by grape variety

70+ designated wine regions or wine appellations (Denominacion de Origen (DO))

Most important: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat

Many rising stars: Jumilla, Toro, Bierzo, La Mancha etc.

Aging designations on label: crianza, reserva,  gran reserva

Most important grape variety: Tempranillo

More than 600 indigenous grape varieties…but only 20 commercially important today

More and more international varieties:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay etc.

Spanish people drinking much less but drinking higher quality wine

Exports very important…40%

Top customers are:  UK, Germany, U.S.

Tendencies:

Old vines

Single vineyards/terroir wines

International grapes and unique indigenous grapes

Criticism: Blockbuster wines…High alcohol, super extracted, over-oaked

Criticism: Wines to wine points from wine critics (Parker effect), comercial wines

less appellation wines

less wines in traditional categories such as crianza, reserva and gran reserva

Conclusion:  Very high quality, consistency and still excellent prices.

Best value wines in the world!

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Spanish Wine in Brief...a little more detail!

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Long history of winemaking (3000 years!)

Most vineyards of any country in the world (15.5%)

Third in world wine production after France and Italy (13%)

Just over 50% of wine production is red

More than 600 indigenous grape varieties

But just 20 of them account for 80% of wine production

Tempranillo:  most important red grape in terms of quality and quantity

Many other indigenous grapes used

Mencía, Monastrell, Bobal, Albariño, Verdejo, Viura etc. etc.

International grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon on the rise

Vineyards in all 17 autonomous regions

La Mancha: (the greatest surface area of vines in the world)

Rioja:  most densely planted in Spain

60% of production is table wine, 40% is quality wine

Classification system for quality wine based on regional wine appellations

There are over 70 Denominación de Origen (DO) spread throughout Spain

DO: wine appellation with strict rules controlling wine production

DO wines often have indication of oak aging:  crianza, reserva, gran reserva

Other categories of quality wine: DOCA, VCIG, Vino de Pago

Lesser classifications are now being used for some top wines

Used by winemakers looking for more freedom

Vino de la Tierra and Vino de Mesa

Over 40% of Spanish production is exported (increasing)

Top customers:  UK, Germany, USA

Spain also has amazing cavas, dessert wines, and fortified wines at great values

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Some opinions (mine!)

A red wine country

Red wines are amongst the top in the world

Good value, inexpensive whites dominate

Higher quality whites coming on slowly

In full revolution

Great wines being made in every corner of Spain

Controversy of international styles vs traditional styles

Classic regions face more competition

Ribera del Duero and Rioja still dominant in internal market

Ribera del Duero: quality reds but pricey

Rioja: a confusing variety of styles

Wine consumption trends

Spaniards drinking less wine but better quality

Export market becoming more and more important

Tendencies

Technology in the vineyard and winery

Single-vineyard wines (the idea of terroir)

Trendy for rich and famous to get into making wine

More international styles: wines to please wine critics

More regional styles also trendy

Blockbuster style:  more everything--alcohol, fruit, tannin, oak

Prices still good but rising quickly

More international prestige but still behind France and Italy

More marketing needed!

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Bottom line:

Outstanding variety and quality at all price ranges…best value wines in Western Europe!

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Spanish Wine Law

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cut and paste table

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Spanish Wine Regions

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DOCa Rioja

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Rioja, Basque Country, Navarra

Large area known for red and some whites

Three sub zones

Rioja Alta and Alavesa

Rioja Baja

Most densely planted area in Spain

Classic wine region that led the way

Brought French influence in 19th century

Most famous Spanish wine region internationally

DO created in 1925 (1st)

DOCa since 1991

65,000 hectares

More than 550 wineries

Main grape: Tempranillo

Also: Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano

Experimental grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

Somewhat of an identity crisis

Modern vs traditional

Mild climatological conditions

Atlantic influence

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Castilla Leon

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Very important wine region with five important DOs

DO Ribera del Duero

DO Rueda

DO Toro

DO Bierzo

DO Cigales

Also very important production of Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Leon

DO Ribera del Duero

DO since 1982

Considered to produce some of the finest red wines in Spain

Trendy and fast-growing areas

Prices can be quite high

8,000 ha of vineyards and over 178 wineries.

Grape variety:  Tinto Fino, a variant of Tempranillo

Climate: Continental with some Med influences

DO Rueda

Small wine region (6000ha) with 36 wineries

White wines from Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc

Created in 1980 for whites

Since 2001 open to reds

The wines are attractive modern, cold-fermented whites

The climate is wind-swept continental

DO Toro

Gained fame over last ten years

Powerful red wines

Some good value wines, but many more expensive now

Small DO created in 1987: 34 wineries

Main varietal: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)

Continental climate

DO Bierzo

“Gateway to Galicia”: Currently high profile

Small red and white producing area

DO created in 1988: 39 wineries

Main grapes: Mencía and Godello

Mild climate

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Cataluña

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Huge region with 12 DOs with many climatic and geographic variations

1999: a region DO called DO Cataluña

Strongest on whites but also great reds

Widespread use of indigenous varieties

Widespread use of French varieties

90% of Cava produced here

Key in spread of modern equipment and techniques

All of the DOs are improving dramatically

DO Penedés

Important DO since 1960:  150 wineries

Important innovator in wine

Center of Cava production

Also elegant whites and reds

DOCa Priorat

Small, exclusive DO since 1954: 26 wineries

Very expensive wines

Famous for huge, mineral red wines

Unique soils: licorella

Use of Garnacha and Cariñena with French varieties

DO Montsant

Similar wines to Priorat…less expensive

DO Terra Alta

Still rustic at times…similar potential to Priorat

DO Alella

Tiny coastal DO: mostly known for whites

DO Apurdán-Costa Brava

Small coastal DO known traditionally for rosados

DO Concá de Barbera

Medium size interior DO used as source for cava wines

DO Costers de Segre

Small interior DO used a source for cava wines

DO Plá de Bagés

Tiny interior DO known for crisp whites

DO Tarragona

Large coastal/interior DO makes a wide variety of wines

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Castilla La Mancha

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Huge region: one of the biggest in the world

9 DOs:  more being created

Very hot region producing Mediterranean style red wines

Very good value and improving quality

Lots of jug wine still!

Very good Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla

Also several Vinos de Pago

DO La Mancha

Enormous DO making good quality wine from Tempranillo

DO Valdepeñas

Very large DO making traditional wines from Tempranillo

Other DOs

DO Almansa, DO Manchela, DO Méntrida, DO Mondéjar, DO Riber del Júcar

DO Vinos de Madrid

Not technically La Mancha, but similar situation and similar wines

Improving...but best wines are expensive

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9.  Introduction to Spanish Denominations cont'd

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Aragon

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Large region with 4 DOs

One is very high quality, the other three improving rapidly

Lots of jug wine made here

Excellent climate for high quality wine

DO Somontano

Small, but growing DO with excellent quality

Very good prices

Elegant, varied wines from indigenous and French varieties

DO Calatayud

Medium DO still rustic but interesting old-vine Garnacha and cavas

DO Cariñena

Large DO making lots of jug wine and some interesting old-vine Garnacha

DO Campo de Borja

Medium DO with lots of Garnacha

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Galicia

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Mild, wet region known for interesting whites with 5 DOs

DO Rias Baixas

Top quality, small DO making whites from Albariño

Humidity, rain, main challenges

No bulk wine allowed

Wines can be pricy

DO Valdeorras

High quality small DO on border with Leon

Eastern, sheltered location gives more full-bodied whites and reds from Godello and Mencía

DO Monterei

Hot, sheltered, tiny DO makes mostly reds

DO Ribeiro

Small, coastal DO makes light, spritzy, blended whites

DO Ribera Sacra

Small DO making traditional Galician whites

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Navarra and Basque Country

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One large DO and 3 tiny ones

DO Navarra

Large DO making some very good wines: 109 wineries

Use of a lot of indigenous and foreign grapes

Reputation built on rosés

Now many more interesting reds and whites

Cross between continental and Atlantic climate

DO Txacoli

Three separate DOs: Alava, Getaria, Vizcaya

Making vinho verde style wines from local varieties

Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza

Most are easy-drinking quaffers, but a few more serious wines being made now

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Valencia and Murcia

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Large jug wine areas now making very interesting wines

Murcia:  3 DOs

DO Jumilla

Enormous DO with growing reputation for quality wines

Red, quality wines based on Monastrell

Interesting dessert wines

DO Bullas

Small DO with higher altitude makes some interesting reds from Monastrell

DO Yecla

Medium DO similar to Jumilla

Valencia: 3 DOs

DO Valencia

Large DO making mostly insipid whites, but has potential for reds from Monastrell

DO Utiel Requena

Huge DO making lots of red jug wine

Very good wines being made from Bobal

DO Alicante

Large DO traditionally know for sweet wines

Now making good reds from Monastrell

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Extremadura

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Large DO (Ribera del Guadiana) making mostly jug wines

Good potential but little results

Best results in whites, though reds should be better

Many grapes varieties:  Tempranillo and Garnacha dominate

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Balearics

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Tiny production

Most wine made for local tourist consumption

Cheap and cheerful

Some quality red wine made but quite pricy

Local varieties such as Callet, Fogoneu, Manto Negro

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Canaries

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Medium production made for tourist industry

Local varieties such as Listran and Malvasia

Whites much better than reds

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Andalucia

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Mostly fortified wines, but some interesting table wines being made in Malaga and around Granada

DO Jerez

Large DO of 10,000 hectares

Makes of fortified white wines of many types

Grapes:

Palomino for dry sherries

Moscatel and PX for sweet wines

Non-vintage wines made in criadera and solera systems

Like cava and champagne

To preserve house style

Finos and Manzanillas

Made in reductive style under protective "flor"

Dry and fresh

Amontillado

Aged Fino

Has oxidative notes plus freshness of Fino

Oloroso:

Solera without flor

Oxidized style:  nutty, brown

All start out dry:  some have PX added for sweetness

Palo Cortado

Rarest style

Cross between Oloroso and Amontillado

Has flor for short time

Sweet sherries

Moscatel and PX dried to raisins

Used as varietal wines and blenders

DO Montilla Moriles

Very similar wines to sherry but using PX as base wine

Whole range from Fino to sweet stickies

DO Malaga

Fortified dessert wines from Moscatel and PX

DO Huelva

Similar wines to Jerez

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DO Cava

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A style DO, not geographic

Sparkling wine made in Champenoise style

Mostly white, some rosé

Top sales in world before champagne

Produced in 160 municipalities

Cataluña:  90% of cava made here

Other provinces:  Rioja, Valencia, Extremadura, Aragon

Three traditional grapes:  Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel.lo

Other grapes:  Chardonnay, Monastrell, Pinot Noir

Tendency:  use of more French varieties

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Spanish Grape Varieties

There is no doubt that the great red grape, Tempranillo,  is king in Spain....it is by far the most important grape variety in terms of quality wine production and respect.  It sometimes seems people would prefer to drink a bad Tempranillo than order another grape variety! Tempranillo is a wonderful variety and offers a great variety of wines depending on the region and the local variant of the grape.  Though considering by many experts a "noble" grape", some also would perhaps criticize Tempranillo for its lack of a distinct personality that shines trough in any terroir.

Times are changing and this is a good thing because Spain has some really interesting indigenous varieties other than Tempranillo. Spain does not have the rich diversity of indigenous varieties that is seen in italy or Portugal.  Many varieties were lost or reduced to non-commercial levels after the phyloxera blight at the end of the 19th century.  Much of the replanting was done with easier varietals and eventually with Tempranillo.  Luckily today there is some interest in reviving some of the local obscure varietals.

Meanwhile some of the great red varieties to watch out for are:  Garnacha (Grenache), Mencia, Bobal, Monastrell (Mourvedre) etc.

Outstanding white varieties include: Verdejo, Godello, Albariño, Viura, and Palomino

You can also find the all usual international grapes planted in Spain and being made into mediocre to very good wine.

For more detail on the major indigenous Spanish varietals see <a href="http://planetavino.net/newsite/spanish-grape-varieties/">here</a>...

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