Spain is the third largest producer of wines in the world. Wine is made in all parts of Spain, it has vineyard acreage is equivalent to that of France.
Spanish grapes are richer; therefore the resultant wine produced has high alcoholic strength.
When the Protestants were prosecuted in Bordeaux, many fled from France and settled in Spain.
Spain produces very little white table wine, which can compete in international market.
Sherry being by far the most popular international wine of Spain.
Wines coming from southern region on the Mediterranean coast from areas like Levante, between Valencia and Alocante are heavy and strong and are indispensable accompaniment to a very famous Spanish rice dish called Paella a la Valencia which is a paella of rice, fish, chicken, prawns, mutton etc.
QUALITY GRADING
VINO DE MESA: It is a term for Spanish table wine.
INDO (INSTITUTE DE DENOMINACION DE ORIGEN): it is the Spain equivalent of France AC and guarantees geographical origin of wine. The system was introduced in 1970, and local council was created to administer it. Each council is known as a Consejo Regulador. By 1989 the number of DO region had increased to over thirty,
The Spanish laws are not as stringent as AOC but wines labeled DO mean guaranteed standard.
MAIN WINE PRODUCING REGIONS OF Spain
RIOJA
LA MANCHA
CATALONIA
MONTILLA MORILES
VALENCIA
NAVARRA
ANDALUCIA
WINES OF RIOJA
It has three districts produce a variety of wines varying from the fine vintage kind to what might be called “seconds” or even thirds
This wine growing region is situated in North Spain along the banks of river Ebro.
This region is named after tributary of Ebro, Rio oja.
It is the Spain’s best table wine vineyard. The Rioja is divided in three areas:
Rioja Alta
Rioja Alavesa
Rioja Baja
The first two make better wines. The hotter drier Rioja Baja makes heavier wine, not so good individually, but often useful to add body in a blend with others.
The better areas are on either side of the river Ebro and the character of soil is influenced by alluvial deposits of the river, also has calcareous clay.
The climate is temperate. Manu of Rioja wines have alcoholic content ranging from 14% to 22%. Rioja is famous for red wines although white wine is also produced in this region.
Famous wines are: Castel Pomal (Vina Pomal) – red wine, Villa Paceta – red wine, Villa Zaco – white wine.
The vintage year is marked on the labels of Rioja wines as Cosecha.
The grape varieties used for making Rioja wines are:
Tempranillo – red wine
Garnacha – red wine
Viura – white wine
Malvasia – white wine.
Quality classification of Rioja wines are:
Gram Reserva: – the wine which has been aged in wood for 3 years and in bottle for 2 years.
Reserve: – the wine which has been aged in wood for 2 years and 1 years in bottle.
Vino De Crianza: – wine aged for minimum of one in wood and few months in bottle.
Garantia De Origen: – no age guarantee is provided. The only guarantee is that it is from Rioja.
Bordeaux and Burgundy type bottles are used for bottling and best had when young i.e. white wine. The red wines are matured for 10 years or more.
WINES OF LA MANCHA
It is the home of Don Quixote, is situated in South East of Madrid. It produces white and red DO wines but chiefly known for its red wine.
The best known red wine of this region is Valdepenas, which is very often carafe wine in restaurants, particularly in the south of Spain. It is made light and thin and drunk young, like Beaujolias, although it has none of Beaujolais charm, perfume and taste of grape.
Valdepenas means valley of rocks indicating nature of soil. This is used for making summer drink called Sangra in Andalucia.
WINES OF CATALONIA
It produces excellent wines. The Catalonian region includes the province of Tarragona. The most important wine of this district is Priorato, a wine which may be either sweet or dry, golden or deeply red.
The method of making in Tarragona is very interesting and different, the dry red wine is put into demijohns (large bulbous bottle in wicker basket) of two gallons capacity, half buried in very fien sand outdoors. A small hole is made in the cork to allow oxygenation to take place and left furing spring and summer month in the sun. In this period wine deposits a great deal of colouring matter and mineral salts and when emptied into Bocoyes (casks of about 140 gallons). The wine is kept till next spring and process is repeated over three years or more.
Another wine from Catalan district is Alella, it can be white or red, generally white is superior quality. They are rather sweet, go very well with shellfish.
Also from Catalona district is Panades . Panades is dry or sweet white wine . Most of Spain’s quality sparkling wines are produced in this region.
WINES OF MONTILLA MORILES
This area has chalky soil and produces wines similar to Sherries. The wines of this region are fermented in earthenware – Tinajas. Whereas all Sherries are vinified in wood.
This is demarcated area named after two towns south of Cordoba.
WINES OF VELENCIA
This in east is another famous wine growing region . Vintage is only for 3 months i.e. august to October due to vineyards being near the sea.
The white wines of this place are famous and go very well with a local dish called paella a la Valencia; rice preparation with assorted meat, chicken, fish and seafood.
WINES OF NAVARRA
This is located south of Pyrenees. Rose wines are specialty of this place. The best wines come from the Vincola Navarra in Pamploma.
The wines of this place are not yet widely distributed outside Spain.
WINES OF ANDALUCIA
This region is famous for Sherry. Sherry is blend of wines of various years and styles. Blending is designed to ensure uniformity year after year.
Since sherry is a blended wine there are no vintage years. The best sherry in the world comes from Andalucia in South West Spain.
Jerez de la Frontera is the main town, where the sherry is manufactured.
The wine produced in this region cannot be duplicated anywhere.
Sherry, the name being corruption of Vino De Jerez is strictly, the fortified wine is produced in a district in a region Jerez de la Frontera.