Have you ever tried any Spanish wine before? If not yet, then you should give it a try when you visit Spanish restaurants! There are 70 regions in Spain, and each of them is active in winemaking. The diversity of this country makes it a good place to see and try different variations of their wine.
Another good thing about wines in Spain is that you get to know the regions as you taste their specialties. Next to the rich flavour is a wide range of food that matches its flavour profile.
So if you want to know the things that make Spanish wine irresistible, then you should check the list below!
1. Variety of grapes
Not just one, not two, but there are various types of grapes in Spain that can be used in making it tasty. Can you believe that there are more than 600 varieties of grapes growing in Spain? However, not all productions use them all. They have their preferences in making their wine.
The most popular variety of grapes is the Tempranillo which means “small early one”, as it ripens easily. It’s a black grape that grows in various regions of Spain. It’s believed to adapt its flavour based on where it’s planted, and although it’s generally called Tempranillo, locals call it differently, depending on its location.
If you don’t know what you should try, then you can ask Spanish restaurants about their best seller.
2. Land and climate
Spain is known for being one of the countries that have many mountains, which makes its climate differs from one region to another even there’s sunlight year-round. In addition, according to experts, continuous sunlight increases the sugar level of wine, which also creates high alcohol content.
The general climate in Spain is categorised into 3— Continental, Oceanic, and Mediterranian. Moreover, although sometimes, people experience winter and summer, the main seasons in Spain are fall and spring.
3. Packaging
Did you know that even if you don’t have good storage in your house, Spanish wine can still maintain its expected taste? It’s because winemakers make sure that wine can age in the bottles or oak barrels even if it’s not cellared.
Similar to Italian and French, Spanish wine also have labels that indicate if the quality is high or not. High-quality Spanish wines are labelled Denominación de Origen Calificada (the short version varies depending on the dialect). As for your local shops, you can easily be spotted the label Denominación de Origen (DO).
4. Taste
Even though Spain has a diverse taste when it comes to wine, you can’t deny that its taste is exceptional. Did you know that in 2020, Spain consumed more than 9.6 mhl of wine? Although it’s not as much compared to Italy and France.
The taste range of Spanish wine comes from fruity to savoury, while its colour varies from white to deep red. So whatever your preference is, you can find it in Spain!
5. Texture
Aside from the taste, the texture is also another thing to consider when choosing your favourite Spanish wine. Normally, Spanish wine has a complex texture since there are different varieties of grapes used.
Fortunately, even though Spanish wines differ per region, it makes you crave something specifically for a certain kind.
6. Production
Spain is the third biggest wine producer in the world. In 2018, the main producers manufactures more than 44.9 million hectolitres of wine. However, this volume doesn’t cover independent wineries.
One great method of Spanish vineyards is that they don’t overcrowd planting grapes. Instead, they only plant a few per vines per hectare to avoid stress over fruits and control the population.
7. History
Aside from the overall procedure in making wine, the history of Spanish wine is just as rich and flavourful. Its story is interesting and long which can be discussed over a bottle of their finest wine.
It started over 3,000 years ago when Phoenicians (who are now called Andalusians) introduced winemaking in Iberians. From there, they begin to develop advancements even though Spain is going through wars.
Up to the present time, some wine producers still use the old way of making wine to maintain its quality.
Spanish wine has a lot of variations, and it’s never too late to try them all. You can have a glass or two when you visit Spanish restaurants, or even you travel to Spain. Whatever your preference is, it’s Spain certainly has it. Don’t forget to share with us your take on Spanish wine by leaving a comment below!
