Producer Guide
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About

Spain

The light and warmth of Spain have long been popular with the world’s wine drinkers, as have its remarkable historical specialities. Recent years, though, have brought a new depth and richness to its offer, as the intricacies of previously neglected regions around its Atlantic margins, as well as in its mountainous interior, become apparent to the wine world. Many of those familiar historical specialities, meanwhile, are undergoing a period of reinvention: Spain is on the move.

Andalucía

Andalucía

56 producers

This sunny Southern region is a melting pot of cultures, home of flamenco and birthplace of the seemingly unassuming Palomino grape. Here though it’s transformed into Sherry; one of the most incredible fortified wines in the world. Look out too for the unfortified ‘Vino de Pasto’ putting a new spin on the region, and of course the hedonistic, unctuous Pedro Ximénez.

Aragón

Aragón

22 producers

Stretching from the slopes of the Pyrenees in the north to the arid plains in the south, Aragón wine is as diverse as the region itself. Unsurprisingly in the birthplace of Garnacha, here you can find some of Spain’s finest examples of these wines, especially from the ancient vines of Campo de Borja and Calatayud, as well as some interesting pockets of international varieties from the cooler Somontano.

Castilla y León

Castilla y León

82 producers

As the country's largest autonomous region that covers 1/5th of mainland Spain, Castilla y León is rightly revered for producing some of its very best wines. Here Tempranillo, known locally as Tinto Fino, Tinta de Toro or Tinta del País, is king, but you can also find vibrant whites from Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc and the wonderfully minerally Mencía from the granite slopes of Bierzo.

Castilla-La Mancha

Castilla-La Mancha

35 producers

Spain’s central plateau is home to a sea of ordinary wine, and one of the world’s most planted, and most forgettable grapes: Airén. But for those in the know there’s no shortage of fine quality wines. This guide shows you the diamonds in the rough from the new breed of quality-focused producers and the region’s 13 Vinos de Pago.

Cataluña

Cataluña

126 producers

Its unique place in Spanish culture shines through into the region’s idiosyncratic portfolio of wines. Indigenous varieties happily sit side-by-side with top quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and others. Its jewel in the crown is the wonderful old Garnacha and Cariñena vineyards that hug the rugged terrain of Priorat, grown on the famous llicorella soils and one of only two Spanish regions entitled to the DOCa designation. The vineyards of Penedès are home to the majority of the country’s top sparkling wine, Cava, but there’s a real buzz around the still wines too, particularly the textured whites from Xarel·lo.

Extremadura

Extremadura

9 producers

This vast region hugs the flanks of Spain’s border with Portugal and is home to one of the country’s newest DOs, Ribera del Guadiana. Long associated with high volume, bulk wine, the birth of this appellation has seen a movement to revitalize quality wine production, particularly from its suite of local varieties such as Cayetana Blanca and Alarije.

Galicia

Galicia

104 producers

This northwest peninsula forms part of ‘Green Spain’ named after its lush, verdant landscape. The whites have a unique freshness, epitomized by their flagship Albariño and the up-and-coming Godello varieties. The historic Treixadura finds its home here too from Galicia’s oldest sub-region, Ribeiro. This modern, exciting region is also home to some brilliant red wines, particularly from the Mencía vines grown on the impossibly steep slopes of Ribeira Sacra.

Las Islas Baleares

Las Islas Baleares

21 producers

This group of islands lies about 50 miles off the coast of Eastern Spain. Indigenous and international varieties dominate the viticultural landscape, most interestingly from Fogoneu, Callet, Manto Negro and Prensal Blanc. Most quality wines hail from the Island of Mallorca, home to the region’s two DOs, but there are plenty of other wines worth seeking out too, from inside and outside the appellations.

Las Islas Canarias

Las Islas Canarias

18 producers

On this remote archipelago that lies closer to Africa than Spain, can be found some of the world’s most extraordinary vineyards. The black, volcanic soils of Lanzarote create something akin to a lunar landscape, and the ancient Listán Negro vines of Tenerife with their uniquely coiled vines trained in cordon trenzado create a viticultural landscape that is totally unique in the world. The best wines, particularly from this island’s DO Valle de la Orotava can compete in quality with anything the rest of the country has to offer.

Madrid

Madrid

11 producers

Sitting at the top of Spain’s ‘table’, many of the wines perhaps remain a little more modestly ambitious than that. But in recent decades, a new generation of innovative winemakers have started to stamp their quality on traditional red varieties such as Tempranillo and Garnacha, plus Malvar and Albillo for the whites, vinified with traditional fermentation techniques, and the region’s unique production method known as sobremadre.

Murcia

Murcia

13 producers

In this topographically diverse region we find some of the world’s very best examples of the Monastrell variety, from the three DOs of Jumilla, Yecla and Bullas. The former particularly boasts some incredibly valuable stocks of ungrafted old vines; the region is at the forefront of Spain’s moves to protect this unique viticultural heritage. Whilst some white and rosé is made, this region is firmly red wine territory, with every quality level found within its boundaries.

Navarra

Navarra

22 producers

Continuing the theme of its more illustrious neighbor to the west, Garnacha and Tempranillo dominate here, but Navarra is also home to some of Spain’s most interesting Bordeaux blends harking back to when French vignerons flocked here to escape the phylloxera epidemic. As well as some outstanding red wines, this is also one of Spain’s most important regions for top quality rosé production, which accounts for around a third of the region’s total output.

País Vasco

País Vasco

17 producers

Basque country and home to the local and newly fashionable txakoli from the old Basque word ‘etxakoa’ meaning ‘made at home’. This crisp, light white wine makes a perfect match with the region’s incredible seafood. More ambitious versions can be found though, with some producers experimenting with barrel fermentation, lees ageing, skin contact, etc. to make complex, age-worthy wines of every color.

Rioja

Rioja

43 producers

This single region covers 17 autonomous communities and were it in France would probably have a couple of dozen appellations. Undoubtedly Spain’s most famous wine region producing arguably the world’s finest expressions of Tempranillo and Garnacha. At their best the whites too can compete for the accolade of the best wines of the country. Exciting developments include the revival of historical varieties, the preservation of ancient vineyards and highlighting regionality through the new ‘Viñedo Singular' classification.

Valencia

Valencia

21 producers

Bobal and Monastrell reign supreme for red wines made from Valencia’s three DOs. Unique to this region is the ancient Fondillón wine made in a rancio style from overripe Monastrell grapes, often aged for years in giant old solera systems. DO Utiel-Requena specializes in the indigenous Bobal, producing powerful, tannic reds. Valencia boasts four Vino de Pago designations – a testament to the ever-increasing quality of these appellations.