Wine Producing Regions of Spain
Central Spain: Castilla-La Mancha, Murcia, Valencia and Madrid
Autonomy Regions with corresponding DO's (dominación de orígin)Ø Castilla –La Mancha o Almansa, La Mancha, Manchuela, Mentrida, Mondejar, Valdepenas Ø Murcia o Bullas, Jumilla, Yecla Ø Valencia o Alicante, Utiel-Requena, Valencia Ø Madrid o Vinos de Madrid
Red GrapesTempranillo (locally called Cencibel) in general is the best quality grape. Others that thrive in the Southeastern part in DO’s like Valencia and Jumilla include Monastrell, Garnacha Tinta and Tintorera, and Bobal.
White GrapesAiren is the dominant grape in Castilla-La Mancha and Merseguera in the Levante. Malvar is an indigenous grape found in the DO Vinos de Madrid as well as Albillo.
ClimateThe high central plain has a continental, semi-arid climate. Further east in Levante it is wetter, and less extreme.
SoilVaried, with sandy clay throughout, but rich in limestone in places.
AspectOn the high central plain the vines are planted in large plots. The vineyards are more scattered further Southeast in the rolling Levante hills.
Northeast Spain: País Vasco, Navarra, La Rioja, Aragón, Cataluña, and the Balearic Islands
Autonomy Regions with corresponding DO’s (dominación de orígin)Ø Pais Vasco o Chacoli de Guetaria-Getariako Txakolina, Chacoli de Vizcaya-Bizkaiako Txakolina
Ø Navarra o Navarra, D.O.Ca Rioja
Ø La Rioja o Rioja
Ø Aragon o Calatayud, Campo de Borja, Carinena, Somontano
Ø Cataluña o Alella, Catalunya, Conca de Barbera, Costers del Segre, Emporda-Costa Brava, Penedes, Pla de Bages, Priorato, Tarragona, Terra Alta
Ø Balearic Islands o Binissalem-Mallorca, Pla I Llevant Red GrapesTempranillo, Garnacha, Tinta, Carinena, Monastrell, Moristel and Graciano are the main ones. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are also grown.
White GrapesMacabeo (Viura), Garnacha Blanca, Xarel-lo, Parellada, Malvasía are the principal varieties, with some Chardonnay.
ClimateThis varies, from the damp northern Basque coastline to the pleasant moderate conditions of Rioja and the Catalan coastline, to the semi-arid parts of southern Aragon and inland Cataluña.
SoilThere are very varied, from the reddish-brown limestone of Navarra and Carinena to the calcareous clay of parts of Rioja and Penedes chalk.
AspectVineyards are found on flat plateau land, costal hills and high inland terraces.
Rioja – Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta, and Rioja Baja
Red GrapesTempranillo is the most important variety, followed by Garnacha Tinta and a little Mazuelo and Graciano. There is some experimental Cabernet-Sauvignon.
White GrapesViura (Macabeo) is the main white grape. There are tiny amounts of Malvasia and Garnacha Blanca.
ClimateThe Sierra de Cantabria protects most of the vineyards from the Atlantic weather, and for the most part, Rioja is sunny and temperate. Rioja Baja, to the South-East, has a Mediterranean climate and is hotter and more arid.
SoilRioja Alavesa has yellow calcareous clay soils, as do parts of Rioja Alta. Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja are mainly alluvial silt, with ferruginous clay on the higher ground.
AspectVines are planted on relatively high ground in the Alavesa and Alta sub-regions, usually between 400 and 800 m (1312 and 2625 ft). In the Baja the ground slopes down to nearer 300m (985 ft) and the vines are planted on the flat, fertile valley floor.
Aragon and Navarra
Red GrapesThey are the varieties most predominant in northern Spain. Garnacha Tinta is the main grape and there is some Graciano too. Increasing amounts of Tempranillo, Cabernet-Sauvignon , Merlot and Mazuelo are being grown blending with Garnacha. There is even some experimental Merlot and Pinot Noir, Moristel and Passaleta, which was exclusive to Somontanto.
White GrapesMacabeo (Viura) is the most common white grape variety. There are also planting of Malvasia, Moscatel and Chardonnay.
ClimateIn the north the vineyards are hit from the cooling winds off the Pyrenees. The further south you go the climate becomes more continental and even semi-dry in parts.
Soil Aragon and Navarra soil is generally reddish-brown with lesser limestone and well-drained subsoil.
AspectIn the north the vineyards are planted in the green valleys and further they are along mainly the tributaries.
Cataluña
Red Grapes Garnacha Tinta, Carinena, Monastrell and Tempranillo (locally calledUll de Llebre) are the main traditional grapes, with increasing amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and even Pinot Noir.
White GrapesMacabeo, Garnacha Blanca, Xarel-lo and Parellada are the chief varieties, with decreasing amounts of Malvasia. New wave whites use Riesling, Muscat, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc.
ClimateCoastal Cataluna enjoys a Mediterranean climate and it becomes drier and more extreme further inland.
SoilThis varies, depending on whether you are in the rugged mountainous areas or nearer the coast. There is some limestone in the northern coastal regions. The Penedes lowlands have sand while the highlands have clay. Quartzite and slate make up a special soil called “llicorella” in hilly Priorat.
AspectThere are low-lying vineyards on the coast at between sea level and 200m, while inland the vines can be set into terraces on the sides of steep foothills, up to 800m in Priorat and Terra Alta, or on alluvial river valley floors, as in Tarragona.
Northwest Spain: Galicia and Castilla y Leon
Autonomy Regions with corresponding D.O.’sØ Galicia o Monterrei, Rias Baixas, Ribeira de Sacra, Ribeiro, Valdeorras
Ø Castilla y Leon o Bierzo, Cigales, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro
Red GrapesThere are many varieties of varying quality but Galicia’s best red is Mencia. In Castilla y Leon Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), Garnacha Tinta (Alicante) and Mencia do well.
White GrapesAlthough there is lots of high-yielding Palomino, Albarino and Godello are Galicia’s leading whites for quality wines. Rueda’s Verdejo is the star of Castilla and has more character than most Spanish white varieties.
ClimateIt is very wet and cool on the coast in Galicia and the climate becomes increasingly warm and dry as you travel inland past the mountains.
SoilThere are very varied, from the alluvial deposits found in Galicia’s Rias Baixas and Ribeiro, to Rueda’s sandy and chalky soils, the ferruginous soil of Bierzo and the stony land of Cigales.
AspectBecause of the reliance on river valleys for viticulture in both regions, the vineyards are characterized by terracing from the river level up the hillsides, and also on plateau in Castilla y Leon.
Ribera del Duero
Red GrapesMost of the grapes are Tinto Fino or Tinta del Pais, a local name for Tempranillo. There is also some Garnacha Tinta, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
White GrapesWhite wines are not included in the Ribera del Duero DO but Albillo is sometimes included in the red blends.
ClimateThe climate is a mixture of continental and temperate – dry summers and long cold winters with a serious risk for frost as late as May due to the high altitude.
SoilThere is clay and alluvium near the river Duero and more limestone on high slopes.
AspectThere is high-altitude viticulture, with the vineyards at 700-850m. Vineyards are near the river and climb up the valley slopes.
Southwest Spain – Andalucía, Extremadura, and the Canary Islands
Autonomy Regions with corresponding D.O.’sØ Andalucia o Condado de Huelva, Jerez, Malaga, Montilla Moriles
Ø Canary Islands o Ø Extremadura o Ribera del Guadiana
Red GrapesThere is a little experimental Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo in Montilla-Moriles and several international grape varieties around Ronda. In Extremadura the main red varieties are Garnacha and Tempranillo
White GrapesPalomino Fino is the classic sherry grape with Pedro Ximenex (PX) is grown throughout Andalucia’s wine regions.
ClimateCooling Atlantic breezes moderate the hot summer temperature in Condado de Huelva, and Malaga’s coastal vineyards also benefit from sea breezes. Inland Montilla-Moriles has a hot continental climate.
SoilJerez has its famous chalky albariza soil and Montilla-Moriles also benefits from limestone soils. There is reddish sandy soil in Condado de Huelva and varied soils in Malaga. In Extremadura, the soil is rather jagged with vines planted on hillsides. Soils can be slate-rich, dark brown acid and sandy soils, and rich fertile soils, high in nutrients and very permeable.
AspectCondad de Huelva’s vineyards start at just 25m above sea level. The land rises to gentle slopes in Jerez and Málaga, and up to 300-700m in Montilla-Moriles.
Source: The New Wine Atlas, Oz Clarke(hit back arrow to return) |
