Interesting Facts about Spanish Wines

1. 5 Fascinating Facts about Spanish Wines With all the passion and hot attitude as they live, Spanish people make their wine. And it turns out to be incredible. Spain’s wines are like the nation itself: vibrant, diverse, and celebratory. You’ll understand why they’re so popular as soon as you take your first drink. Spanish cuvées are constantly surprised, especially at the table, where they combine nicely with local cuisine, thanks to regional, unique grape varietals. Here’s our fast introduction to Spain for aspiring somms, including everything from significant historical events to locations, grape varietals, and inspiring wine lists. OLDER HISTORY THAN YOU THINK The relationship between Spain and the grapevine dates back over 3,000 years. Even before vines were cultivated in France, this perfect match existed. People from Greece and Phoenicia (now Lebanon) were the first to practice viticulture in the south of the peninsula. Enchanted by the Spanish environment and terroir, the Romans contributed to the spread of grapes a few centuries later. RICH GRAPE VARIETY There are over 600 grape varietals in Spain, but only about 20 are used to make the great majority of wines. The Airén variety is the most widely employed in the production of white wines, but Verdejo and Albarino are the most well-known for their high quality. Garnacha is a popular red grape variety that produces high-quality red and rosé wines. Cencibel – also known as Tempranillo – is used to make full-bodied Spanish red wines in other parts of the world.

2. THEY ARE INSPIRING The cubism style was inspired by Pablo Picasso’s period in Horta de Sant Joan, a DO Terra Alta village two and a half hours south of Barcelona and near the Catalan border town of Tortosa. Beginning in 1901, Picasso spent time there while dividing his time between Barcelona and Paris. In reality, you can see components of people from towns in many of Picasso’s paintings, as well as vineyards where he slept beneath the stars on occasion. Many of his pieces, including Bottle and Wine Glass on a Table from 1912, feature wine directly. ARE VERY POPULAR Spain has some of the best wines in the world thanks to its significant viticulture knowledge and oenological advancement. La Rioja wines are among the most popular – and well-known – in the world. Red, white, and sparkling wines from the region are widely available in Spain and around the world, and they account for a significant portion of Spanish wine exports. This is owing to the large range of wines produced in this region offering an exceptional balance of quality and price. As a result, there is something for everybody. ONE OF THE BIG THREE The three largest wine-producing countries are Italy, France, and Spain. According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), Spain produced 40.7 million hectoliters of

3. wine in 2020, accounting for 53 percent of global wine production along with Italy and France. To buy the best french wines and Spanish wines visit the My Wine+ online store.