Spain

The wine country of Spain has experienced a tremendous upswing since the 1990s. Numerous bodegas and vineyards have been revived, newly planted and better developed. The numerous high altitudes in the country are blessed with plenty of sunshine and thus offer perfect conditions for growing wine. The large plateaus of Castilla y Léon and La Mancha in particular offer plenty of space for vineyards. No wonder Spain today has the largest wine-growing area in the world. The most important grape variety in Spain is Tempranillo, which is also called Tinto Fino or Tinta del País, depending on the region. The powerful Tempranillo wines with their fruity character and mild tannins have fans all over the world today. The best-known growing areas for Tempranillo are La Rioja and Ribera del Duero.

Whereby the grapes develop very differently depending on the region. The cool nights on the Duero make the Tempranillo grapes grow smaller and the skins thicker. Therefore, the must is more concentrated and the wine gets its typical spiciness. Perhaps this is the secret of the success of the enormous popularity of the Ribera del Duero – the wine region that has gone from nobody to world famous in just 35 years. What many people don't know is that Spain produces the most white wine in the world. In this country, these wines are still all too much in the shadow of the famous reds. One thing is clear: Spain still has much to discover for wine lovers and connoisseurs!