Spain Spain is Europe’s second best wine producer (third largest is the world), but with a very spotty history of bulk, unimaginative wines. The same blended grapes could legally appear behind many labels, yet Spain was one of the first to have laws defining quality. There is a national preference for long-aged wine and Spain has created a unique appellation system and set of terms that reveal how long the wine has been stored. The word Crianza means the (red) wine has been aged for at least two years in a cask , while Red Reserva and Gran Reserva wines spend a year and two years, respectively, in a barrel, and can’t be released for sale until they are three and five years old.
| Primary Grapes: |
Tempranillo, Garnacha (Grenache), Malvasia, Viura |
| Secondary Grapes: |
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling |
| Production: |
900 million gallons annually |
Primary Wine
Region(s): |
Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Navarra, Rias Baixas, Penedès, Jerez |
| Premium Labels: |
Abadia, Marques de Caceres, Marques de Murrieta, Pesquera, Remelluri, San Vincente, Marqués de Cáceres |
| Best Values: |
Abadia, Borsao, Enate, Montecillo, Muga, Torres, Torre Oria, Vina Mayor |
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