Spanish wines are those produced in Spain, in southwestern Europe. Spain is the third largest wine producer country in the world after France and Italy. In Spain grow over 600 grapes varieties but most wines produced here use the following grapes, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Airen, Macaeo, Parellada, Xarel- lo or Monastrell.
Some of the best known wine producing regions in Spain includes Rioja, Ribera Del Duero (known for their production of Tempranillo), Jerez, birthplace for the worldwide famous Sherry, Rias Baixas and Catalonia. This last region includes Penedes, the land where Cava is produced and the famous Priorat region for some tasteful wines.
Already under the Roman Empire rule, Spain was a wine making region. At that time wine was exported through the empire and the largest producing regions were found in Tarragona (Catalonia) and Andalucía (South of Spain).
Another hit on history of wine making tradition in Spain was the colonization of the New World. After Christopher Columbus reached Americas, the missionaries and conquistadors brought in their trips to the new colonies European grape vines.
Towards the end of the 19th century a notable progress on wine production was made thanks to the creation of a Catalan sparkling wine, Cava.
According to the Spanish law you can find in Spain different labeled wines, Crianza are red wines aged for 2 years and that spent, at least 6 months in oak; Reserva, meaning a red wine aged for 3 years with 1 year in oak and Gran Reserva, a red wine that has spent 5 years aging and 18 months in oak. For Gran Reserva white wine the aging can be 4 years and 6 months in oak.
