The World's Top Ten Most Famous Wine Regions and Wine Holiday Destinations Part 9: SPAIN.

Wine Regions of Spain

THE WORLD'S TOP TEN MOST FAMOUS WINE REGIONS AND WINE HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS.

9. SPAIN.
Spain is the third largest wine producer in Europe behind France and Italy. This is due to very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on dry, infertile soil found in many Spanish wine regions.

Rosado.

For many Spanish vintners now making wine with shiny high-tech equipment, it seems as though it was only just yesterday when they were stripping off their clothes, hopping into the vats and crushing the grape harvest by foot. For all the modernization that the country has experienced, Spanish winemakers continue to respect the wisdom of the old ways - and the exceptional flavours that results from them.

Tempranillo Grape.

Spain has over 600 varieties of native grapes, but the country's wine production comes only from some 20 of these grape varieties.

Rioja City View.

Spain's most famous wine destination is RIOJA, which is divided into three regions: Rioja Alta; Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja.
Most recognised for its outstanding red, produced from the tempranillo grape, the region's wines are particularly distinctive because of the oak aging and delicious vanilla flavours. Rioja's red wines are aged longer before release than any other wine in the world hence their high quality and body. Rioja is often tought of as Spain's Bordeaux, although its wines have a delicacy more reminiscent of Burgundy.
The beautiful vineyards of Rioja lie on the River Ebro valley, with mountains to the north. The distinctive orangey-red soils of the Rioja Alta accounting for at least half the wine production. The highest quality grapes come from Rioja Alavesa a wide slope on the north of the Ebro. The Rioja Baja is a warmer climate and lies significantly lower down the slope on a flat area, with soils of alluvial deposits.

Albarino best white wine for fish
and seafood in the World.

Ribera Del Duero which is known for their Tempranillo grape production are also famous wine destinations. Its most legendary and expensive red wine in Spain, Vega-Sicilia's Unico is made here.

Jerez on the other hand is famous for its Sherry.

Penedes is famous for its sparkling wine as well as numerous good wines made with a full-fruit style.

Rias Baixas famous for its exciting white wines, such as Albarino which is a racy, refreshing wine considered one of the best matches in the world for seafood.

One of the best
Rioja Crianza Wine.




Crianza.

Priorato is a tiny isolated wine region just west of Tarragona in Catalonia but is famous for its Cabernet Saivignon, Carinera, Garnacha, Merlot, Syrah and Tempranillo grape varieties from which are produced excellent world famous wines.


Spain is world famous for its paella which comes in all forms and sizes, and which can be enjoyed by all tastes:

Spanish Paella.

Spanish paella.

Spanish Paella.