Spain is one of the world’s largest wine producing regions. The country has the largest area of vine cultivation in the European Union and the world followed by France and Italy. It is the third largest producer of wine after Italy and France. Spain’s geographical position, its climatic differences and its wide variety of soil types makes it a privileged place for producing wines with very different characteristics.
Spain grows a number of different grape varietals. The primary white varietals are Airén, Macabeo, Albariño and Verdejo. The common red varietals are Tempranillo (the star grape of Spain), Garnacha Tinta (known as Grenache in other parts of the world), and Monastrell.
Wine is produced in many regions throughout Spain. Some of the well known regions are: Jumilla, Penedes, Priorat, Rias Baixas, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Rueda, Navarra, and La Mancha. Most Spanish wines will not reveal the grape variety on the label, they will usually show the region and expect you to know what grapes are grown in that region in order to decide the possible makeup of the wine.
Cava
Cava is Spain’s traditional-method sparkling wine. As you may be aware, sparkling wine can only be called “Champagne” if it comes from the Champagne region of France. Cava is Spain’s term for wine made in the same production method as Champagne. Like Champagne, Cava’s second fermentation takes place in the same bottle from which it is later served. The bottles must be cellared for a minimum of nine months, aging on their lees.
The grape varietals used in making Cava are: Macabeo ( or called Viura in Rioja), Xarel-lo and Parellada. Some producers now include Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (both traditional grapes used in production of Champagne). Pinot Noir, Garnacha and Monastrell are red grapes authorized only in the production of rosé Cavas.
Cava is classified by the sugar content and the time spent aging. Ranging from driest to sweetest, Cava is classified as: Brut nature, extra brut, brut, seco (dry), semi-seco (semi dry), and dulce (sweet).
Quality sparkling wines may use the terms “premium” and “Reserva”. The “Gran Reserva” indication may be used by sparkling wines that have been given the Cava designation and which have undergone ageing for at least 30 months from tirage to disgorging.
Sherry
Sherry is one of the best-known fortified wines of the world. The Sherry region of Spain is located in southwest Spain. The grapes used to produce Sherry are Palomino (the primary grape), Pedro Ximénez (sometimes seen as PX), and Moscatel.
Sherry can be either sweet or dry and can be found in any color from pale yellow through a range of tans and browns to nearly black. The three major styles of sherry are:
Fino – Pale, delicate, and dry, showing the unmistakable influence of flor yeast.
Oloroso – Golden or brownish, sweet or dry, with considerable oxidation and no flor aromas.
Amontillado – Older fino with rich, nutty characteristics that develop after the flor has died.