Spain; Versatile & Grand

Spain is the largest wine country in the world in terms of planted area. However, in terms of volume, Spanish wines are in third place. This is due to the low yields that are all due to the sometimes harsh conditions under which the vines are planted. The heat and dryness, almost desert-like, also play a major role. And because irrigation of the vineyards is prohibited by law, the number of vines per hectare is low. The yield is also much lower than in other European wine countries. As a result, Spain has the largest planted area in the world , but is only the third producer in terms of volume. This is separate from the quality of Spanish wines; which are very versatile, characterized by temperature differences throughout the country. Most vineyards are located in the north and east . Well-known wine regions are Rioja, Navarra, Ribera del Duero and Valdepeñas . Rioja is Northern Spain's most famous red Spanish wine. With the exception of La Mancha (the heart of Spain), which is the largest wine region in the world. Spain's best-known grape variety for the production of Spanish red wines is the Tempranillo . Other well-known grapes of Spanish origin are the Garnacha , better known internationally as Grenache and the 'Murviedro', better known as the French Mourvèdre. In the whites, a number of grapes stand out; Macabeo provides the fruit for a large number of wines in the north and northeast of Spain, the Albariño provides the fruit for Rías Baixas, the Verdejo provides the fruit for Rueda and the Palomino for wines from southern Spain, Jerez.