Spanish wine, known in particular for its high alcohol level, is full of secrets. The history of wine in Spain reveals just how present it has always been across the Iberian peninsula, where it has been around for almost 2,000 years. As the world’s largest vineyard, Spain has an appellation system and great wines that we invite you to discover.
History of Spanish wine
In Spain, growing vines has a long history: from the Romans of antiquity to the Reconquista, all the way to the wines we know today. Spanish wine reflects this rich history.
That said, we have to wait until the 19th century for the Spanish vineyard to take shape. Indeed, the arrival of phylloxera in Europe, a devastating aphid, led the owners of Bordeaux vineyards to invest in Rioja, a region that had so far been spared. It was at this point that French merchants took Spanish wines to a new level thanks to their expertise in blending. Such a change allowed Spanish wines to develop enormously over the following century.
So, from the 1970s onward, the wines of the Iberian peninsula began to enjoy real success, particularly in the countries of northern Europe. Such success naturally has a downside: commercial practices with little focus on quality developed (very short fermentations, the use of low-end equipment, and so on).
As a result, it was not until the mid-1980s that high-quality wines developed. Spain’s accession to the European Union allowed it to receive funds that let it move forward in great strides. The period also saw a great deal of enthusiasm around Spanish wines, and estates appeared in every corner of the country. It was at this time that great projects were born, such as the creation of vineyards and investment in modern, technological equipment. At the height of the frenzy that Spanish wines were enjoying, the bottle labels were dreamed up and designed by the greatest artists.
That said, the frenzy has calmed down today. However, Spain benefits from an excellent level of equipment within its vineyards, thanks in particular to these years of development. Today, wine culture in Spain is especially widespread.
Spanish wine culture
Wine in Spain is produced on a large scale, the country having the largest vineyard in the world. That said, wine consumption by the Spanish tends to be falling. Finally, Spanish wine exports tend to be growing.
Harvest and production in Spain
Spain has a considerable surface area dedicated to wine and grape growing. The Spanish vineyard covers more than 1 million hectares. So Spain is the leading country in the world in terms of surface area dedicated to wine, ahead of China and France.
In addition, the region of Castilla-La Mancha accounts for more than half of the country’s surface area dedicated to wine. That said, the production volume of Spanish wine remains lower than that of France (a little over 40 million hectolitres).
Wine consumption in Spain
The Spanish drink relatively little wine. Indeed, it is one of the countries in Europe where wine consumption is lowest. Probably for cultural reasons, beer is often preferred to wine by the Spanish.
So, according to a study by the economic mission of the French embassy in Spain, between 1986 and 2006, wine consumption fell by 40%. Furthermore, according to the study, the drop in consumption of Spanish wines is explained by a fall in consumption of table wines.
Exports of Spanish wines
While wine consumption by the Spanish is falling, exports, for their part, are rising. Depending on the year, wine exports represent between 20% and 30% of production. In particular, Spanish exports are concentrated on the European Union (and France first of all). Spain then exports its wine to the United States, China and Japan.
Finding your way around Spanish wines
It can sometimes be difficult to find your way around Spanish wines. So we have gathered together all the elements that will let you understand wines in Spain and choose the best estates for your tastings.
Spanish wine vocabulary
To understand Spanish wine, you first have to find your bearings among the appellations. There are four levels of appellation to distinguish. First, “Vino de Mesa” (VdM) are the first appellations, close to Vin de France. Then there is “Vino de Tierra” (VT), which can be likened to French IGP. Then come “Denominacion de Origen” (DO), which are close to AOP in France. Finally, “Denominacion de Origen Calificada” correspond to high-quality wines, the equivalent of the grands crus in France.
That said, it is possible to find one last level of appellation: “Vino de Calidad con indicacion geografica” (VC). This is an appellation reserved for excellent wines that are not produced within a DO.
Finally, there are three mentions for the aging of wines: “vino joven” (young vines), “reserva” (wines aged for at least three years, including at least one in barrel), and “Gran Reserva” (for wines aged at least five years, including at least three in barrel).
So, now that these terms are defined, you have all the keys to find your way around Spanish wines.
Great wines of Spain
First, “Rioja” (DOC) is a great appellation in which you find, in the overwhelming majority, red wines. For excellent wines, we can only recommend producers such as Artadi or Benjamin Romeo.
“Priorat” is Spain’s second DOC. To taste excellent wines there, turn to Terroir Al Limit.
Finally, “Ribera del Duero” will let you taste softer, finer wines. For that, Vega Sicilia will be perfect, with an undeniable softness of tannins.
You now have all the keys to taste excellent Spanish wines! With a bit of luck, we’ll soon do a podcast on the subject.
