Rioja to Tempranillo: Get to Know the Best Spanish Wines

Spanish wine is world-renowned for the diversity and quality of its winemakers and is the third-largest wine producer globally.

The Mediterranean country’s millennia-old winemaking traditions span a variety of terrains. Spanish wine covers everything from zingy white wines to full-bodied and inky reds, playful sparkling wines, and exquisite sherries.

And while sangria is a fun punch to serve at parties, a little know-how before you click “add to cart” when shopping for Spanish wines can open your palate to a kaleidoscope of flavors.

Read on if you want to know your Crianza from your Gran Reserva and why Cava might just trump Champagne.

A Brief History of Spanish Wine

Winemaking began in Spain around 1,000 BCE. The Phoenicians brought it to the country first, and the Romans subsequently expanded winemaking. After expelling the Romans, the Visigoths continued the tradition.

The Moors conquered Spain in 711. The new Islamic leaders permitted but reduced winemaking during their rule, with some wineries producing raisins instead of wine. However, this Moorish influence  waned with the Reconquista of Spain in the 15th century.

Production flourished once more, with sherries and Riojas among those exported worldwide.

But in the 19th century, a little insect called phylloxera transformed Spain’s winemaking fortunes. This root louse did so by devastating wine production in France. French winemakers rushed to Spain, sharing advanced winemaking techniques that revolutionized the industry there.

Millions of liters of wine, particularly Rioja, flowed into France and further afield. Times were good, but pests, the Spanish Civil War (1936-39), and a dictatorship all hampered Spanish winemaking in the 20th century.

However, the country’s quality vineyards, often called fincas or bodegas, roared back to reclaim their place on the global winemaking map. Spanish wines are now among the most popular, affordable, and tasty wines on the market.

What Are the Most Famous Wine Regions in Spain?

La Rioja is the most famous Spanish wine region, with its instantly recognized tempranillo grape variety responsible for opulent red wines. But Spain, with its deep rivers, soaring mountain peaks, arid plains, and verdant forests, is a treasure trove of flavors and wines.

Spain labels its wines by region, the Old World wine way. Here are some of the most renowned wine regions in Spain. Some merge over regional boundaries, while others are area-specific.

Pro tip: Grape varieties and wine regions are different things. Asking for a Rioja means a wine from that area. Asking for an albariño—a specific grape variety—is asking for one particular type of wine made from that grape.

La Rioja Wine Region

The La Rioja wine region, sitting on the River Ebro, extends across the La Rioja region and seeps into parts of Navarra and the Basque country.

Tempranillo grape varieties dominate La Rioja, along with garnacha (Grenache), viura (white wine), and rosado for rosé wine. Navarra also produces lovely chardonnays. Some of Spain’s best wines come from the La Rioja zone.

Ribera del Duero Winemaking Region

In the northwest of Spain, the Ribera del Duero river cuts through Castilla y León, Spain’s largest state, before rushing into Portugal. Both Spanish and Portuguese winemakers use this river to help produce iconic wines.

Some of Spain’s most robust tempranillo wines come from Ribera del Duero. A mineral-tasting white called verdejo is produced in the Rueda area alongside classic sauvignon blancs, while mencía creates a tart red.

The Toro region is home to ancient vineyards that command some of Spain’s highest wine prices for their robust reds from the indigenous Tinto de Toro grape variety.

Northwest Spain and Its White Wines

Bierzo is where Castilla y León meets Galicia, a true boundary in Spanish winemaking. Heat gives way to verdant green lands, and Bierzo’s red wines bring acidity, while its white wines conjure up apples and fruits.

Further north, Galicia’s Rías Baixas is where the zesty albariño originates.

Catalonia’s Sparkling Wines

Spain’s northern Mediterranean coast produces wines that match its almost-perfect climate.

Cava, a sparkling wine made from viura, parellada, and xarel-lo varietals, is probably Catalonia’s most famous wine export. Cava rivals Champagne and has everything from zesty bouquets through to hazelnut aromas. Best of all, its high-quality taste usually comes with a much lower sticker price than its French rival.

The Tarragona region is home to the powerful Priorat area, a grape variety almost lost once to the phylloxera pest. Modern Priorats are red wines for those who like dense flavors and aromas.

Montsent and Terra Alta are up-and-coming regions to watch from Catalonia, as are its chardonnays and sauvignon blancs. The Catalan region also produces the majority of Spain’s pinot noir.

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Southern Mediterranean Spanish Wines

Below Catalonia lie powerhouse regions like Valencia, Murcia, and Jumilla, which are much warmer zones with must-try wines for lovers of fruity wine.

Monastrell and bobal top the rich red lists here, with syrahs and cabernet sauvignons. Many southern Mediterranean bodegas—another name for a vineyard—make popular sweet white dessert wines called moscatels using muscat grapes.

The Best Sherry-Producing Regions in Spain

Andalucía is Spain’s best sherry-producing region. The English pronunciation of the word “Jerez,” a leading sherry-making zone, led to the name sherry.

The potent sunshine in Andalucía extensively ripens grapes, increasing their sugars to create sweet dessert wines of worldwide importance. Aged sherries made from Pedro Ximénez grapes can be used like breakfast syrup since they’re so dense in their sweetness.

Spain’s Lesser-Known Central Plateau Wines

Spain’s capital sits upon a high plateau called the Meseta Central, or Castilla-La Mancha. This sunny and dry central plateau is around 2,500 feet above sea level, which are challenging conditions for winemakers. Not many people identify this area as Spain’s wine powerhouse.

Yet Castilla-La Mancha is Spain’s most extensive wine-growing region. Here, winemakers space their vineyards far apart and with grapes close to the ground for protection. The area grows vast quantities of airén, a robust, high-yield, and disease-resistant varietal used to make brandy and table wine.

Wine-growing regions in Castilla-La Mancha include Vinos de Madrid and Uclés, with garnacha, syrah, monastrell, and tempranillo as popular grape varieties.

Other lesser-known Spanish winemaking regions include the volcanic Canary Islands and its nascent wine and the Basque Country with its sparkling white txakolina. There’s also Extremadura with its fruity reds like tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon, plus many other regions, like Aragón, the Balearic Islands, and Arribes.

What to Look for on the Wine Label

Spain has over 4,300 wineries, with vineyards covering over 13% of the country’s total land. Reading a Spanish wine bottle gives vital clues to its taste, quality, and region of origin. Here’s how to spot a bargain and get a great bottle, following Spain’s DO system (denominación de origen).

A surefire stamp of quality is a bottle with a DOP, or denominación de origen protegida. This government-backed program, like French Appellations, recognizes a Spanish region’s winemaking skills, history, and culture. More than 70 Spanish regions carry a DOP mark.

Just two wines—Rioja and Priorat—have additional DOC stamps, or denominación de origen calificada. DOC means these wines are top quality, and the wineries must grow and bottle their wine within the region where the drink is made.

Other labels to look out for include:

• Vinos de Pago (VP): All the grapes for these wines come from just one vineyard to create unique characteristics.
• DO: Denominación de Origen is a hallmark of the quality of wine produced in one of Spain’s official regions.
• IGP: Wines in this category are considered solid, everyday wines with lower quality levels than DOs and DOPs.
• Vino: Translating as wine, these drinks are table wines made with grapes from anywhere across the country. They might also be called tinto (red) or blanco (white). Many say these are only good for making sangria.

Crianza or Gran Reserva?: Spanish Wine Labels Explained

You’ve identified your region and spotted its DOP label, so you’ve got a good idea of what to expect from your wine. Its aging classification is the next vital step to understanding.

From youngest to oldest, here’s how to understand the age of the wine you’re perusing. Older wines are often more expensive than younger ones, so be prepared to pay for aging:

• Joven (“young”) wines usually spend no time aging in oak barrels and are meant for drinking before they reach a year.
• Roble (“oak”) wines spend a few months in oak barrels.
• Crianza wines have aged and spent time in oak barrels. Red crianzas are at least 2 years old, and white crianzas 18 months, and both types must spend a minimum of six months in oak barrels. A Rioja crianza has to spend at least 12 months in an oak barrel.
• Crianza reserva: Red reservas age for at least 3 years and then 12 months in oak. White reservas age for 2 years and spend at least 6 months in oak barrels.
• Gran reservas are the top vintages. Reds are 5 years old, at least 18 months in oak or 24 months in oak for La Rioja. White gran reservas age at least 4 years with 6 months in oak barrels. Many winemakers age their wines much longer to reach peak quality.

With Cava, a brut bottle means sugar has been added during the winemaking process. Brut nature means no added sugar, often leading to a purer and drier taste.

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What Is Cava, and How Is It Different From Champagne?

Cava and Champagne, for many, are interchangeable sparkling wines that brighten up any occasion. Price is just one way to set them apart: Champagne is usually far pricier than Cava.

The two use different varietals. Champagne is fruity and fresh, blending pinot noir, chardonnay, and pinot meunier. Cava is zesty, fresh, and floral, blending parellada, xarel-lo, and macabeo.

The Mediterranean climate in Catalonia gives Cava winemakers an advantage over their French rivals, where growing conditions are cooler. The sunshine provides Cava winemakers with bountiful and versatile harvest times so they can choose the best time to pick for the sugar levels they need.

In contrast, Champagne makers may need more dosage (adding sugar) during production to achieve the desired taste.

What Are the Main Types of Spanish Wine?

There are more than 235 grape varieties in Spain, with more yet to be identified. The most popular is airén, produced in large quantities in Castilla-La Mancha, closely followed by tempranillo.

Some of the most important grape varieties in Spain include:

• Airén
• Albariño
• Bobal
• Cabernet sauvignon
• Cariñena
• Garnacha (grenache)
• Graciano
• Macabeo
• Mencía
• Merlot
• Monastrell
• Moscatel
• Parellada
• Syrah
• Tempranillo
• Verdejo
• Viura
• Xarel-lo

What Are the Best Spanish Red Wines?

The good news is that some of the best Spanish wines are usually affordable to most wine lovers.

Robust reds like Rioja crianza, with their DOC and DOP accreditations, are good bets, alongside Ribera del Duero, Priorat, and merlot. Mencía, bobal, and Terra Alta wines could fit the bill for those looking for something a little more adventurous.

What Are the Best Spanish White Wines?

The iconic sparkling wine Cava is a must-try. Choose brut bottles for something sweeter and brut nature for something drier.

Similarly, the crispness of albariño and citrus notes of verdejos are a joyous addition to most meals. White Riojas offer citrus and exotic fruit, and Spain’s sauvignon blancs and chardonnays are great value white wine options.

How Should Spanish Wine Be Paired With Food?

The Spanish love eating as much as they do making wine. To take a trip around Spain is to treat your taste buds to taste sensations from your glass as much as your plate. And it’s not all tapas and paellas.

Spain’s cuisine varies from heavy meats and stews to dancingly light seafood and everything in between. A long lunch menu with ideal Spanish wine food pairings could start with a Cava opener, ideal with some appetizers like Spanish cured serrano ham, strong Castilian cheese, or grilled fish.

Next up, it’s the starters, and an albariño or verdejo pairs perfectly with light bites like gambas al ajillo (garlic fried prawns) and sepia a la plancha (grilled squid) as easily as with mussels or razor clams.

Main courses can be either larger fish dishes or heavier meat dishes, with classics like lamb, chorizo, pork, and steak. If you’re sticking with fish, keep with the whites, or perhaps try a young tempranillo or a mencía.

If meat is on the menu, the tannins in red wines cut through the fat and help release the wine’s flavors. A Rioja crianza is a surefire winner. For some serious juiciness, go for a robust Priorat or Ribera del Duero. Finish off the meal with a dessert wine like moscatel or a sherry, and take a taxi home or wander back for a well-earned siesta.

Find the Best Spanish Wines

Spanish wines complement any occasion and meal, from a summer BBQ to a wedding or a fiesta. The dozens of regions and hundreds of grape varieties mean you can choose from bubbly Cava to seriously potent reds, with playful rosés and light whites in between. Sweet sherries and dessert wines make Spanish wine a complete set.

Spain’s regions produce unique flavors, with skillful winemakers blending grape varieties to create their masterpieces. The country has specialist vineyards that make wine with grapes from just one estate. It also has enormous industrial fincas that produce vast quantities of affordable table wine for everyday drinking.

Thankfully, high-quality Spanish wines are accessible to most budgets. To guarantee quality, look out for quality stamps like DO, DOP, and DOC. Then, spend time experimenting to find which regions and grapes you prefer. Remember to try the top-end gran reservas for a special treat.

Impress your friends with your food-pairing knowledge. With some research and understanding of your palate, you could soon become a connoisseur of Spanish wines.

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