1st country in term of surface in the world and 1st exporter of wine in volume*!
Spain is an important wine touristic destination with 12 wine regions and many wine estates ready to welcome you. There are about 23 wine roads from the north to the south of Spain! With very famous regions such as Cataluña, Rioja, Andalousia, Ribeira del Duero, Spain is also a first class gastronomic destination where you will be able to enjoy many regional specialities such as : paëlla, seafood, tapas, delicious meat…
1st country in term of vineyard surface, you will not stop facing and admiring vineyards during your journey.
Either you are travelling with your family, friends, or en pareja (in couple) Spain will charm you by its authenticity and its welcoming and charming inhabitants.
Inhabitants that litterally dedicate soul and body to the culture of wine that they produce for many centuries. Family bodegas (wine estates) or bigger bodegas reknown all over the world, everyone is allowing a fundamental space to their « copa de vino » (glass of wine) that can be taken at home or after work in one of the numerous tapas bar in cities. For those living in the countryside, viticulture is part of their every day life and each of them will have their preferred « vino de la mesa » ready to open at the coming friend.
During your stay, try to attend one of the numerous feria organized over the year, those traditional and cultural events going on all around the country gathering the entire population of the village like the Semana Santa (Holly week).
Spain is colourful and so are its wines too! Red wines mainly made out of Tempranillo in Cataluña or in Ribeira del Duero, of Carinena in Cataluña also and more specifically in the Priorat area, of Garnacha one of the most spread grape in Spain. Full bodied wines that shouldn't let you emotionless during your tastings at the wineries.
Wines that can also age very well. Spain has an ageing system consisting of Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva telling you how long the wine was aged in the barrel and/or in the bottle but this sytem can vary depending on the region you are staying at.
On the white wines side : wines that can be unexpected made out of Airen (the most planted grape in the world), of Pedro Ximenez to produce the famous Xérès inAndalousia or of Albariño when you go to Galicia mainly. Different styles frm the freshest ones (airen) to the most complex ones (with albariño). To taste with no hesitation and always with moderation.
You will also find sparkling wines such as the famous Cava produced in Cataluña out of Xarel-lo (but also Macabeu and Parellada). In short, there are wines for every palate, every taste so pack your bags and go on the wine roads of Spain to discover those maybe unknown grapes that were centuries after centuries selected and taken care of.
969 000 ha
65 DO
2 DOCa
To understand better the spanish wine classification, here is a pyramid that might help (there can be superior levels depending on the wine region).

DOC, DO : Denominacion de Origen Controlada, Denominacion de Origen (equivalent to the french AOC)
Vino de la Tierra : Wine of the earth (equivalent to the french IGP)
Vino de Mesa : Table wine (equivalent to the Vin de France)
* OIV data 2018