Location:  Ibérian Peninsula

Grape Variety:  Tempranillo、Albarino、Garnacha、Palomino、Airen、Macabeo、Parellada、Xarel-lo、Carinena, Monastrell

Wine Produced:  The diversity of the climate and mountains made the spai

Principal Regions:  Rioja, Navarra, Piriorato, Valencia, Catalunya, Lamancha, Jumilla, Jerez

Brief Introduction

Spain is located on the Ibérian Peninsula and is the largest wine country in the world in terms of planting area. Spain has a long wine history that can be traced back to the second millennium BC. Even though it’s the biggest wine growing country, to understand the Spanish wine industry its helpful to look at the climatic zones that define the country. The variety of Spanish wine is the result of interactions of the three climate zones: the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the continent. It is also a mountainous wine producing country, competing with the likes of Switzerland and Austria.

Rioja has a long association with wine production and was actually the first ever wine region to gain DOC status. Rioja is a region of small growers, most of whom will sell their grapes to merchants or to other co-operative cellars. The vineyards are generally planted with bush vines. The plantings, of which, are dominated by over 75% of Red Rioja Wine a further 15% is Rose and Tempranillo.

Rioja wine is classified through its ageing period. From youngest to the oldest; Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva.

Grape Variety

• Garnacha
• Tempranillo