A Brief History of Spanish Wine Production
Spain is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. The country has a long and storied history when it comes to viticulture, and its wines have been enjoyed by royalty and commoners alike for centuries. Today, Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world, behind only Italy and France. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some interesting facts and figures about Spanish wine production.
Spanish Wine Production Statistics
Spain is currently the third largest producer of wine in the world, behind only Italy and France. In 2017, Spanish wineries produced a total of 2.9 billion bottles of wine. The majority of Spanish wine production takes place in the autonomous regions of Catalonia (which produces 21% of all Spanish wine), Andalusia (19%), Valencia (11%), and Extremadura (10%).
The most widely planted grape variety in Spain is Tempranillo, which accounts for almost one-third of all grape vines planted in the country. Other popular varieties include Garnacha Tinta (aka Grenache), Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre), Airén, Macabeo (aka Viura), Verdejo, Palomino Fino, and Parellada.
Place of Origin
Spanish wines are generally classified according to their place of origin. The five main categories are Vino de la Tierra (“land wine”), Vino de Mesa (“table wine”), Vino de Calidad con Denominación de Origen (“quality wine with a designated origin”), Vino de Pago (“single-estate wine”), and Vino Espumoso (“sparkling wine”).
A Rich History of Viticulture
Spain has a long and rich history when it comes to viticulture, and today it is the third-largest producer of wine in the world. If you’re a fan of Spanish wines, be sure to try some from different regions and producers to get a sense of the country’s incredible diversity. Salud!
