A trip to Spain is not complete without a visit to some of the best wine regions in Spain. Winemaking in Spain dates back to 1100 BC. Spain is the third-largest producer of wine in the world. It also has the largest area of land, 2.4 million acres, dedicated to wine growing. In total, there are 138 wine designations in Spain and 7 distinct climate regions. Popular Spanish wines include Rioja, Tempranillo, Albariño, Godello, and Sherry.
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Best Wine Regions in Spain: Northern Spain
Galicia
By Claudia Tavani of My Adventures Across The World
Not many people know it, but Galicia, in the North of Spain and on the border with Portugal, is one of the best wine regions in Spain, where the Albariño and Mencia wines are found. Not only that, there are many vineyards and wineries (bodegas) in the region which are perfect places to learn about the wine-making process, and where you can go wine tasting.
The best places to visit to try Galician wines are Rías Baixas, Ribeira Sacra, D.O. Monterrei, and O Ribeiro, but if you are short on time and don’t want to travel far from Santiago, you will be glad to know that at just 30 minutes drive there’s the fantastic Pazo de Gallego, a vineyard with an annexed restaurant and beautiful boutique hotel in a historic palace (pazo, indeed).
The owner of the winery is a man that spent most of his adult life in England, so he welcomes English-speaking guests to take them around the vineyard and the historical residence, where it is said that the Canon of the Cathedral de Santiago used to live. The winery is a family-run business, so the owners matters into their own hands to make sure that top-quality wines are produced.
During the wine tasting, you will be given access to the secrets of the wine and even into that of the tasting, from how to hold the glass while drinking, to how to savor and smell it. The Albariño wine at Pazo de Gallego is light, crisp, and fragrant, and a delightful accompaniment to many fish dishes.
Vinos de Madrid
About 30 minutes south of Madrid lies a newer wine region: Vinos de Madrid. This region has hot summers and cold winters which can make it difficult to grow wine grapes. However, several wineries in the area have found success in producing some delicious wines.
Garnacha Tina (Grenache), Tempranillo, and Albillo Real Malvar are the most common wines found in the region. However, you can also find Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc.
There are 44 wineries in the region. To visit you will need to make appointments prior to visiting.
We opted to visit Bernabeleva, which produces a variety of Grenaches and multiple other types of wine. The winery has been around since the 1920s and offers tours by reservation. You can make an appointment via email Monday to Saturdays.
If you get hungry, head to Bar Restaurante Valleyglesias for some delicious tapas. You can also opt to try a wide variety of wines there as well.
This wine region was nice due to it not being very popular or busy. The wines were delicious and the area was very beautiful. These things make it one of the best wine regions in Spain.
Your visit will include a tour and tasting which will take about 2-3 hours. The unique part about Bernabeleva is that you get to taste the wine straight from the barrel prior to it being bottled. We ended up trying about 12 different wines. There are several wineries in the area if you would like to stop at more than one.
Best Wine Regions in Spain: Southern Spain
Cádiz
By Krista of Krista the Explorer
The province of Cádiz in southern Spain is known worldwide for its production of Sherry and is a dream destination for wine lovers or those interested in learning about the production of wine.
What makes this province so special is that there is only a specific area that is allowed to make Sherry and actually call it that on the bottle –the Sherry Triangle. The triangle is made up of three key cities: Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa María. If you draw a line connecting them, it makes the shape of a triangle, and all of the space between that triangle is where you will find the ideal climate for the special grapes that Sherry is produced with.
What is fascinating about this area is that despite the cities being close to one another, they all receive slightly different weather patterns, meaning the Sherry from one city will have a slightly different taste than that of its neighbour. Sanlúcar de Barrameda actually produces a white Sherry known as Manzanilla, and this can only be produced in Sanlúcar, so it’s well worth going on a budget-friendly tour of Bodegas Barbadillo if you are in the city.
A trip to El Puerto would not be complete without stepping back in time and going on a joint castle and Sherry tour run by Lustau, who have their bodegas (winery) within the castle itself. But it is Jerez that is truly the heart of Sherry production and has an abundance of wineries to choose from such as Tío Pepe, whose name is synonymous worldwide with Sherry.
There’s no other region in the world quite like the Sherry Triangle, so the next time you are planning a trip to southern Spain do not forget to add it to your itinerary! Cádiz is definitely one of the best wine regions in Spain.
Catalunya
By Kat of Wandering Bird
If you are searching for Spanish wine (and really, who isn’t), make sure you include Catalunya in your travel plans. Catalunya is a region in the north-east of Spain, near the Pyrenees and French border. Barcelona is the capital of the area and makes a great base for your stay.
There are many Catalan wines produced in the area, but the most famous is probably Cava, a fresh sparkling wine, or the black wines (which are actually really deep red) called vi Negre in Catalan. There are also plenty of white wines produced- many of them dry.
Catalonian wines tend to be high in alcohol content and full-bodied, due to the region’s warm weather and the grapes which grow there. They are also high in minerals, due to the granite, slate and chalk soil.
One of the most famous wine regions in Catalunya is Penedès, which is one of the oldest wine regions in Europe. This area is the home of Cava (although it is possible to get Cava which is not from this region.) Make sure you visit Cava Mestres, a family-owned business that has some of the oldest Cava on the market.
Another great winery is Abadía de Poblet, the only Catalonia winery inside a Cistercian monastery! They continue to grow the wines in accordance with the traditions of the Cistercian monks.
If you are motorhoming in Spain, many of the wineries will allow you to stay overnight after your tour, meaning you can indulge without worrying about driving. If not, an organized tour might be a good option for you to get back to your hotel safely. No matter what, Catalunya is one of the best wine regions in Spain.
Priorat
By Victoria of Guide Your Travel
The Priorat is a renowned wine area located in northern Spain just south of the city Barcelona. It is one of the best wine regions in Spain. This is one of two wine regions in Spain that is certified with the DOQ, the highest wine certification in the country. Priorat wine is world-famous and popular in many international countries. The tradition of wine-making in this part of Spain dates back to the 12th century when monks began perfecting the craft.
If you are coming to the area make sure to stop by the Cellars Masroig, a small winery with reasonable prices and incredible wine options. Located in the tiny town of El Masroig this winery has a picturesque backdrop with beautiful vineyards and some great nearby restaurants. Make sure to try their red wine Rojalet Vin Negre which is considered one of the best. They also sell a variety of artisanal products and even offer some organic wines.
The Finca Cucó de Selecció is another well-known wine worth trying. It is made using a mixture of the Carignan and Red Grenache grapes and has toasty and bright notes. Some other great nearby wineries you should be adding to your itinerary include the Clos Berenguer and the Gran Clos del Priorat.
Jerez Triangle
By Joanna of Andalucia in My Pocket
The area between Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, and Sanlúcar de Barrameda is known as the Jerez Triangle wine region and is one of the best wine regions in Spain. This area is famous for the production of sherry, the fortified wine famous all over the world.
There are three varieties of grapes grown in the Jerez Triangle, all used to make different types of sherry: Palomino, Pedro Ximenez, and Moscatel. 90% of the grapes used in making sherry wine are Palomino. The soil that the vines are grown on is mostly chalky, combined with clay and sand. This and the extremely hot summers, with very little rain, and the salty breeze of the Atlantic Ocean make perfect conditions for growing the sherry grapes.
In order to produce sherry, the winemakers are fortifying the wine with grape spirit until it reaches an alcohol percentage of 15.5%. Everything over 17% is aged.
If you have had cherry before, you might recall it is a sweet, fortified wine. That is because most of the sweet sherry (also called crema) goes to export. If you taste the sherry in Spain, you will notice it is actually dry, with a nutty flavor. The most common types of sherry are Manzanilla, Fino, Amontillado, and Oloroso.
If you visit Jerez de la Frontera or any other town or village in this area in late autumn or early winter, you will be able to taste the mosto, the first pressed batch of wine that has fermented already and it’s not filtered. Usually, bars that sell it will have a sign outside saying “Hay mosto”. It is usually accompanied by a simple stew of chickpeas, chorizo and chard, or by Ajo Caliente, a dish of tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and stale bread. They are both delicious and remind of the meals that the workers have whilst picking up the grapes in the vineyards.
Granada
By Paulina of Paulina on the Road
Granada is a province of beautiful landscapes surrounded by snow-covered mountains and mansions and is one of the best wine regions in Spain. The province has a rich agricultural culture and gastronomy, and it is famous for producing wines. It has a climate having both continental and Mediterranean influences. Due to the climate and agricultural culture, Granada VC mainly produces red wines. However, it does not mean that you will only find red wines there.
It is popular for wines and there are a lot of types found there. Some of the notable wines produced in the region include Bodegas Fontedei, Bodegas Los Barrancos, and Horacio Calvente Almendros.
Both Andalucía and Granada have a wonderful winemaking tradition that they are following for years. The province believes that the Romans first introduced viticulture to Granada and since then the wine culture is continued. The VC permits a large variety of wines popular all over the world. But there are some of them that people like the most. These include Vijariego, Pedro Ximenez, and Verdejo in white wines and Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Monastrell in red wines.
Some of the top wineries that people like in Granada include Bodegas Barranco Oscuro, Bodegas La Divisa, and Ron Montero. There are even more wineries that one can count. They all offer undiscovered flavors and types of wines including Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, and counting more. You can taste these wines in one of the best restaurants in Granada.
This is the reason why people like this wine region. There are a bunch of wine varieties and all of them are easily accessible. Moreover, it’s a tradition for Granada. You might find some common wines that are also found in other parts of the world. But the province majorly produces local wines that are only available in that region.
Other Wine Regions in Spain
There are so many amazing wine regions across the world. La Roja, Ribera del Duero, and Almansa are some of the other best wine regions in Spain. In total, Spain has 69 wine regions. While Spain holds some amazing regions, perhaps pair your Spain trip with a visit to Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States are well worth visiting for their wine regions. No matter what, you cannot go wrong with a trip to Spain.
