Spain is the third biggest wine producing country in the world so whether you prefer a full-bodied Tempranillo, or are more at home with a chilled Chardonnay, Spain’s wine growing regions have something to offer all palates. With so many different regions it can be hard to know the best places to visit. Luckily, we’ve created a list of some of the best regions Spain has to offer. Salud!
La Rioja
La Rioja, situated in the north of Spain, is perhaps one of the best known wine regions in the country, if not the world. Producing some beautiful full-bodied red wines, most commonly from the Tempranillo grape, this is an obvious yet essential journey for any wine enthusiast to make. Relax within the stunning architecture of Frank Gehry’s Marqués de Riscal Hotel, which has shades of his famous Guggenheim Museum design. Looking for an accompaniment to La Rioja’s famous red wines? The bordering Basque region has some of Spain’s most delectable bites, where locally sourced ingredients are prioritized by the famous Basque chefs.
Malaga
If you prefer something a little sweeter, a trip to Malaga may be more appropriate. Down on the south coast of Spain, this popular tourist destination is also home to some fantastic fortified and dessert wines. Commonly using Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel grapes, these sweet wines are experiencing resurgence in popularity in recent times. To the west of Malaga the Denomination of Origin Sierras de Malaga offers an alternative to the sweetness of Malaga’s dessert wines. Here you can find varieties of red and white with a more rustic, distinctive character.
Jerez de la Frontera
The word Jerez is Spanish for Sherry, which should give you a good idea of the type of wines that this region is recognized for. Not only is the province of Cadiz one of the most popular destinations in Spain, it also boasts one of the most uniquely elaborated wines in the country. Amontillado, Olorosos, Moscatel, these are just some of the varieties of grapes used in this regions to create some of the best Sherries in the world. Full of vibrant colour and energy, Jerez is also the birthplace of flamenco, this region offers wonderful entertainment worthy of accompanying any of the region’s excellent Sherries.
This is of course little more than a snippet of what Spain has to offer the wine aficionado. So if you’re planning city breaks to Barcelona or Madrid, it may be worth considering hiring a car and heading to one of these regions. Whether you are just starting out in your love of wine, or are a seasoned veteran, the country of Spain has much to offer all levels of wine connoisseur. So, what are you waiting for?
The post A Wine Lover’s Guide to Spain appeared first on Wine Life Today.