Spanish Wine
Spain is one of Europe's 3 big wine producing nations (along with Italy and France).
It has a long history of winemaking with diverse and rich wine regions, each with its own unique characteristics and grapes.
Source Briscoebites
Spanish Regions
Galicia
Asturias
Cantabria
País Vasco
Navarra
Castilla y León
Rioja
Aragón
Catalunya
Extremadura
Madrid
La Mancha
Valencia
Murcia
Andalucia
Jerez–Xérès–Sherry
Canary Islands
Mallorca
Famous Subregions
Ribera del Duero
Rueda
Toro
Cigales
Spanish DO System
Vinos de Pago (VP):
DOC Wines from individual vineyards or wine estates.
Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC):
The highest-quality in Spain. For regions with above-average quality and quality control.
Used only by Rioja and Priorat: Rioja DOCa (1991) and Priorat DOCQ (2003).
Denominación de Origen (DO):
Wine produced in a geographcal area with designated grapes,
maximum yields, limits of alcoholic strength and other quality standards or limitations.
Traditional and widely used in Spain.
DOP (Denominación de Origen Protegida)
The EU-recognized term for wines that come from a specific region with
distinctive quality and characteristics.
Vinos de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VC):
Wines and grapes from a specific region.
Vinos de la Tierra (Land Wine):
Wines from a broader geographical area with some reputation or quality
linked to that area.
IGP (Indicación Geográfica Protegida).
Same as Vinos de la Tierra.
Vinos de Mesa (Table Wine):
Wines with no geographic indication. The most basic wine level.
DOP (Denominación de Origen Protegida)
Spanish wine also uses DOP markings, which are part of the European Union’s quality classification system.
Prior to the EU standard, Spain used DO (Denominación de Origen), and the DO term is still commonly used and recognized by consumers.
Spanish wine bottles may display DOP, DO, or DOCa, depending on the producer’s preference and export market.
For EU compliance and exports, DOP is increasingly used, but DO still holds strong cultural recognition.
Spanish DO Regions
Galicia
- 1 Rias Baxias DO
- 2 Ribeiro DO
- 3 Ribeira Sacra DO
- 4 Monterrei DO
- 5 Valdeorras DO
Castilla y Leon
- 6 Bierzo DO
- 7 Tierra de León DO
- 8 Cigales DO
- 9 Arribes DO
- 10 Toro DO
- 11 Tierra del Vino de Zamora DO
- 12 Rueda DO
- 13 Ribera del Duero DO
- 14 Arlanza DO
La Rioja
- Rioja DOCa (15)
Euskadi (Basque)
- 16 Txacoli de Álava DO
- 17 Txakoli de Bizkaia DO
- 18 Txakoli de Getaria
Navarra
- Navarra DO (19)
Aragon
- 20 Campo de Borja DO
- 21 Cariñena DO
- 22 Calatayud DO
- 23 Somontano DO
Catalunya
- Catalunya DO
- 24 Costers del Segre DO
- 25 Terra Alta DO
- 26 Tarragona DO
- 27 Montsant DO
- 28 Priorat DOCa
- 29 Conca de Barberà DO
- 30 Penedès DO
- 31 Pla de Bages DO
- 32 Alella DO
- 33 Empordà DO
Mallorca
- 34 Binissalem DO
- 35 Pla i Llevant DO
Valencia
- 36 Valencia DO
- 37 Utiel-Requena DO
- 38 Alicante DO
Murcia
- 39 Yecla DO
- 40 Bullas DO
- 41 Jumilla DO
Castilla La Mancha
- 42 Almansa DO
- 43 Manchuela DO
- 44 Ribera del Júcar DO
- 45 Uclés DO
- 46 Mondéjar DO
- 47 La Mancha DO
- 48 Valdepeñas DO
- 49 Méntrida DO
- 50 Vinos de Madrid DO
Extremadura
- 51 Ribera del Guadiana DO
Andalucia
- 52 Condado de Huelva DO
- 53 Manzanilla-Sanlúcar DO
- 54 Jerez-Xérès-Sherry DO
- 54 Manzanilla DO
- 55 Málaga DO
- 55 Sierras de Málaga DO
- 56 Montilla-Moriles DO
Canarias
- 58 La Palma DO
- 59 El Hierro DO
- 60 La Gomera DO
- 61 Abona DO
- 62 Tacoronte-Acentejo DO
- 63 Valle de Güímar DO
- 64 Ycoden-Daute-Isora DO
- 65 Valle de La Orotava DO
- 66 Gran Canaria DO
- 67 Lanzarote DO
Cava DO
- (Multiple regions all over Spain)
- About 95% is produced in the Penedès area in Catalonia (30)
Spanish Grape Plantings
The most famous red wine grapes are Tempranillo and Garnacha.
The most famous white wine grapes are Verdejo and Albariño.
Because of a large bulk production, Airén is the most planted white grape.
Tempranillo Airén Garnacha Macabeo (Viura) Bobal Alicante Bouschet Monastrell (Mourvèdre) Pardina (Cayetana Blanca) Verdejo Merlot Cab Sauvignon Syrah Chardonnay XarelloSource: OIV Note de conjoncture mondiale 2023
Spanish Red Wine Grapes
Spain is home to over 400 grape varieties.
Below is a list of the major Spanish red wine grapes.
