Spain: A 101 guide to this deliciously diverse winemaking nation

Read time 5 Mins

Posted 15 Jun 2023

By
Amelia Ball

If you’re into wines with mass appeal that also give serious bang for buck, our guide to Spain’s best wine regions is here to help.

Anyone who’s ever been to Spain or sampled the goods at our own Spanish-inspired bars and restaurants will know this is a nation chock full of excellent food and drinks. Here, snacking is an artform, with the centuries-old tapas-style dining elevating ‘just grabbing a drink and a bite’ into a true occasion. Producers around Spain have also long put their stamp on so many different drinks, from wine and sherry to vermouth and spirits. But none of that comes close to scratching the surface of what this enticing country has to offer.

With almost 70 officially recognised wine regions, and nearly double the amount of official wine designations, Spain is one of the largest wine producers in the world; they typically rank in the top three. And while the Spanish are no strangers to making wine – they first gave it a go about 3,000 years ago – they’ve made huge progress in more recent times. As producers continue to refine their knowledge, vines and techniques, their wine quality climbs ever higher. New star regions are emerging, too, as seen with Tenerife in the Canary Islands, perhaps better known as a holiday hotspot (or the setting for Love Island Spain and Ex On The Beach, if that’s more your jam).

Spain has all the wine bases covered, from sparkling wines, crisp whites and richer styles to bright, youthful reds and more powerful expressions. Not only are these wines super food-friendly, but they also tend to be very approachable with prices to match. So, if you’re keen to learn more about the wines of Spain, we run through some of the key regions to know, plus a handful of examples to try.

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05La Rioja and Navarra

Andalucia

In the south of Spain, the mountainous wine region of Andalucia has a long history with sherry that dates right back to the 8th century. The wider coastal region may draw hordes of beach-loving tourists – it’s home to the Costa del Sol, after all – but it’s the prized white soils and vineyards, dotted with villages and olive groves, where the magic really happens. Thanks in part to its Mediterranean climate and mild conditions, sherry thrives here (it’s where you’ll find The Sherry Triangle, the only place that can officially produce sherry). Table wines are increasingly made across the region, but sherry remains the must-try, from bone-dry fino and oxidative oloroso styles to darker Amontillado and sweet Pedro Ximenez.

Key subregions: Condado de Huelva, Jerez, Manzanilla de Sanlucar, Montilla-Moriles, Sierres de Malaga
Top red grapes: Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot
Top white grapes: Pedro Ximenez, muscat, palomino
Must-visit wineries: Barbadillo, Tio Pepe
Wines to try: Barbadillo Manzanilla Solear, Gonzalez Bypass Tio Pepe Fino, Alvaro Domecq Fino La Janda, Barbadillo La Cilla Pedro Ximenez

Castile and Léon

Come to Castile and Léon for the world-heritage-listed towns full of stunning architecture from centuries ago, and stay for this region’s diverse wines. Despite this north-western growing area producing an array of grapes, this is prime red-wine territory, especially for tempranillo, which makes up many of the region’s most celebrated wines. Here, you’ll find the well-known designation of origin (DO) Ribera del Duero, but that’s just one of 15 across this important region. Castile and Leon wines are commonly tempranillo-dominant blends – from bright and supple to brooding and powerful – but its grenache and mencia also deserve a good look. And despite the region’s reputation for reds, whites aren’t forgotten either, with verdejo the shining variety (look for Rueda on labels to find this fresh grassy white).

Key subregions: Arribes, Bierzo, Cigales, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro
Top red grapes: Tempranillo, grenache, mencia, cabernet sauvignon
Top white grapes: Verdejo
Must-visit wineries: Emilio Moro, Bodega Descendientes de J.Palacios
Wines to try: Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Descendientes de J.Palacios Petalos Mencia, Marques de Riscal Rueda Blanco

Catalonia

France may have Champagne, but Spain has Cava, and this fresh sparkling wine hails from Catalonia in the country’s north-east, with Barcelona falling within this region. Still wines are also produced across Catalonia, and Priorat is one of the best-known places for reds in the whole country (it’s also one of Spain’s two official designations deemed the highest quality). However, Cava is still the star of the show here. While its production methods and classifications are similar to those of Champagne, these popular Spanish bubbles are often a lot more affordable than their French counterparts. If you’re new to Cava, expect dry, light and zesty sparklings with citrus flavours, while older expressions will show more complex, nutty notes.

Key subregions: Monstant, Penedes, Priorat, Tarragona, Terra Alta
Top red grapes: Grenache, mouvèdre, tempranillo, carignan
Top white grapes: Macabeo, parallada, xarel-lo, chardonnay
Must-visit wineries: Freixenet, Cordoniu, Bodega Villa Conchi
Wines to try: Freixenet Elyssia Gran Cuvee Brut Cava, Cordorniu Cuvee Barcelona Cava, Villa Conchi Brut Rose Cava

Galicia

If you think Spain’s just about red wine and sparkling, turn your attention to the country’s north-west and zoom in on Galicia. This wine region has been gaining massive momentum in recent times, particularly for its albariño. This fresh, dry and food-friendly white is loved for its stone fruit flavours, high acid and slightly salty kick, and the DO of Rias Baixas has become the go-to for this variety. Albarino isn’t the only wine to watch here, though. It’s joined by alicante, godello and torrontes in the whites, to name a few, and tempranillo, grenache and more in the reds. Being right on the border of Portugal, Galicia also grows many Portuguese grape varieties, with this neighbour’s influence showing in the region’s cuisine and culture, too.

Key subregions: Rias Baixas, Ribeiro, Monterrai, Valdeorras
Top red grapes: Mencia, grenache, tempranillo
Top white grapes: Albariño, godello, torrontes, alicante
Must-visit wineries: Pazo Pondal, Adegas Valminor
Wines to try: Leira Pondal Albarino, Torroxal Albarino, Pazo Barrantes Albarino

La Rioja and Navarra

Arguably Spain’s most famous region, La Rioja is loved the world over for its tempranillo wines, known as Rioja (re-yo-ha), but this is no one-trick pony. Neighbouring Navarra – you may know it as being home to Pamplona, where the annual running of the bulls happens – also turns out Rioja, plus other reds, whites and popular rosés. The reds from across the region are commonly tempranillo-dominant blends, mixing with varieties like grenache, graciano and carignan, as just three examples. And although the region’s whites may not get much airtime, they’re definitely worthy of your time; rare Rioja Blanco blends are particular highlights. With La Rioja covering very different terrain, including seven valleys with their own climates and conditions, be sure to try a selection of the region’s wildly different styles to see where your own tastes lie.

Key subregions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Oriental
Top red grapes: Tempranillo, grenache, carignan, graciano
Top white grapes: Macabeo (AKA viura), malvasia, grenache blanc
Must-visit wineries: Marques de Riscal, Marques de Murrieta
Wines to try: Marques de Riscal Reserva Rioja, Badiola Viura de Cabezadas, Marques de Murriata Reserva Tempranillo Blend