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Spain

The world's largest vineyard area, and a country in creative overdrive.

Wine history

Phoenicians planted vines near Cádiz around 1100 BCE. Sherry made Jerez internationally famous, and when phylloxera crossed into France in the 1860s, Bordeaux merchants moved to Rioja and brought barrel ageing with them. Since the 1990s, Priorat, Bierzo and Galicia have redefined what Spanish wine can be.

Major Wine Regions

Rioja
Ribera del Duero
Priorat
Rías Baixas
Jerez
Penedès

Important Grape Varieties

Tempranillo
Garnacha
Albariño
Monastrell
Palomino
Verdejo

Major Wine Styles

Oak-aged Rioja Reserva
Powerful Priorat
Saline Albariño
Traditional-method Cava
Solera-aged Sherry

Food Pairings

Jamón ibérico
Paella
Manchego
Roast suckling pig
Grilled octopus

Notable wines

Vega Sicilia Único
L'Ermita
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890
Tío Pepe Fino
Pingus

Recognisable brands

Marqués de Riscal
Torres
CVNE
Freixenet
Muga