Map of Spain Wine Regions Somehow, Spain seems to fly under the radar compared to its next door neighbor, France. Spain is actually the third largest wine producer in the world and has the most land dedicated to vineyards–over a million acres. Spanish wines range from great values to highly prestigious wines, such as Alvaro Palacios’ L’Ermita and Vega Silicia’s Unico. Why Love Spanish Wine? First, its an incredible value. Second, it pairs really well with Mexican food. Spain is a very diverse country so it helps to get a lay of the land. This map of the wine regions of Spain helps to put into context the various kinds of wines that grow throughout the country. Spain Regional Wine Map Available ➜ There are over 60 different regional DOs producing everything from light and zesty Albariño to inky black Monastrell. The best way to start understanding the area is to break it into 7 distinct climates. Galicia, very unlike the rest of Spain, is where lush green valleys are plentiful and the common cuisine includes lots of fresh fish.

Albariño is the champion grape of the sub-region called Rias Baixas (RYE-us BYE-shus), which skirts the coast. The area specializes in zesty white wines and a few aromatic red wines made with Mencía (MEN-thi-yah). The coast is a very diverse macro-region that contains the sub-regions of Valencia, Catalonia and Murcia. Catalonia is known for Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and a highly acclaimed red wine sub-zone, Priorat. Valencia and Murcia are warmer growing regions that produce a bulk of value wines from deep red Monastrell to aromatic white Malvasia and the widely planted Airén. The sub regions of La Rioja and Navarra are found in the Ebro River Valley. Here, Tempranillo is king and long-standing bodegas such as Lopez de Heredia and Marques de Murrieta make age-worthy wines. Navarra is known mostly for rosado (rosé) wine made with the grape Garnacha (aka Grenache). The region also produces oak-aged white wines of Viura (Macabeo). In Basque country, zesty white wines called Txakoli (“CHALK-olli” ) are common.

The Duero River is the same river as the Douro in Portugal. This region is notable for the minerally white wine, Verdejo, of Rueda and the bold red wines of Toro, Ribera del Duero and Leon. The wine grape of this region is Tempranillo and in Toro it’s called Tinta de Toro, where it is considered to be a slight mutation of the Tempranillo grape. Ribera del Duero is home to one of the most famous wineries in Spain: Vega Sicilia. The central plateau or Meseta Central is the inner plateau of Spain which is home to the capital city, Madrid. The area has an average elevation of 2,300-2,600 feet and is dry and sunny. Because of its climate characteristics, vines are spaced very far apart and close to the ground. Some of the best value red wines of Spain can be found here made of Garnacha, Tempranillo and even the rare, Petit Verdot. Andalucía is a very hot and dry region famous for Sherry. Stark white albariza soil makes Palomino Vineyards in Cádiz look like a moonscape. The even hotter, Montilla-Moriles produces fortified dessert wines that are called “PX“.

An aged PX, such as Bodegas Toro Abala, have similar nutty-date flavors like Tawny Port. The Islands (includes The Canary Islands)how early can i buy wine in texas The Islands of Spain offer a wide range of wines from Listan Negro-based reds to dessert wines made with Moscatel. best everyday red table wineThe volcanic soils of the Canary Islands add a gritty taste of rustic minerality. best white wine region australiaCurrently, there are very few exporters of the limited wines of the Islands of Spain. best wine books kindlePerhaps you might as well just make a point to visit.best wine consultant

Map Design (2013 edition) List of all Denominaciones de Origen (DO) on wikipediaSpanish red wines offer offer exceptional value and a bold entry into the red wines of Europe. what red wine goes best with indian foodHere are 7 major Spanish red wines to get a basic understanding of what the country has to offer. big house red box wine priceYou can find great sub-$15 fruity crowd pleasers but there are also bold high tannin red wines that easily match the top collector’s wines of the world.best online wine ratings Wine was introduced to Spain by the Phoenicians in 800 BC. best white wine christmas 2014Because of this, the wines of the Iberian peninsula are not the same French varieties we grow in the US.

The wines are striking and unique, they also match perfectly with rich foods including thick cut cheddar burgers, empanadas, bbq skewers and pork roast. A juicy and spicy style of Tempranillo that typically receives less than a year of aging. Because wines are not aged long, they are spicy, fleshy and tart. Most value-driven Tempranillo tastes this way and the most well-known example of it is Rioja Crianza. In Central Spain, there are sub-$10 wines which are ideal for traditional Spanish Sangria. Bold high tannin wines that embellish Tempranillo’s best qualities that are aged for several years in oak and bottle. The aging of Tempranillo softens the variety’s spiciness and flavors become almost sweet and dried. The extended cost of aging explains why this style typically costs more. Keep your eyes peeled for wines labeled with Reserva and Gran Reserva. Garnacha is known as Grenache in France, but the grape originated in Spain. This fresh and juicy style of Garnacha is a bouquet of sweet red fruit and a smooth iced tea like finish.

You’ll find this style of Garnacha in Northern Spain close to the border of France in the encompassing regions of Aragon and Navarra. Young Garnacha typically makes a wonderfully candied red fruit flavored Sangria. High end Garnachas are bold and complex with high tannin and dark raspberry flavors. These wines are aged longer and typically come from older vineyards. You can find single varietal Garnacha around Madrid, where old vines in high elevation vineyards produce concentrated wines. In Spain, blended Garnacha is matched with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cariñena and delivers bolder styles with blackberry and licorice. Monastrell is the same wine as Mourvèdre in France, but it’s actually a wine of Spanish origin. Wines are intensely bold with high tannin, black fruit and black pepper flavors. This wine is primarily produced in Central Spain from the Mediterranean coast in Valencia to inland to La Mancha on the central plateau. Most wines are produced in affordable style and offer excellent value.

The more aging in oak, the more mocha, chocolate and vanilla notes the wine will have. Mencía (pronounced Men-THEE-ah) is a unique medium bodied wine that grows in Spain and Portugal. Wine collectors have likened Mencía it to Grand Cru Burgundy because of its’ layers red fruit, floral aromas and moderate mouth-drying tannins. The wines are made in Northwest Spain around the encompassing region of Galicia and in Portugal in the Dão region. Wines from Bierzo and Monterrei tend to be more full bodied and wines from Valdoerras tend to be lighter. The Monterrei and Ribeira Sacra regions sometimes blend Mencía with other local grapes including Bastardo. A relatively unknown grape to the US due to very little importations, Bobal is known mostly in Central Spain where it’s prized for its deep opaque purple color, high tannins and black fruit flavors. The wines were once studied and characterized as having higher levels of resveratrol. Since the wine does have ample tannin, be sure to pair with a richly flavored meat, like carne asada.