Spanish Wine

Spain's Storied History: One of Europe's Great Wine Countries

Often considered amongst the 'Big 4' European wine regions - alongside France, Italy, and Germany - Spanish wine holds a storied history, dating back to 1000 BCE. After a golden period in the mid-19th century, the country's wine industry struggled under the rule of Francisco Franco and has slowly climbed back to the top thanks to inventive winemakers entering the industry. With iconic estates like Vega Sicilia and Dominio de Pingus, and young upstarts Comando G and Espectacle del Montsant, the future of Spanish wine lies in promising hands. 

Spanish Wine: Prestigious Regions 

Spain's wine industry has four main appellations, with the top two belonging to the DO and DOCa. The only two regions currently in the DOCa are Rioja and Priorat- Spain's two most prestigious winemaking regions. Rioja is the grandmaster of all Spanish wine, first bursting onto the scene in the second half of the 19th century when French wine estates were failing due to the phylloxera outbreak. The region covers around 60,000 hectares and 90% of the total wine production is red wine- mainly Tempranillo. Some of Rioja's top wine producers include R. Lopez de Heredia, La Rioja Alta, and CVNE.

Spain's second DOCa, Priorat, is a region known for its unique "llicorella" soil, a reddish black slate with quartz and mica compositions. Located in northeast Spain near the Mediterranean Sea, the region's warm, dry climate mixes with the llicorella to create wines with ripe, dark fruit flavors. Two varieties are "recommended varieties," Grenache and Carinena, while Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot are often added into final blends. Ultimately, Priorat contains a "Gang of Five" wine producers who act as the face of the region: Clos Mogador, Clos Martinet, Clos Dofi, Clos Erasmus, and Clos de l'Obac. 

Ribera del Duero: Spanish Wine's Most Prized Region?

While not a DOCa like Rioja or Priorat, Ribera del Duero arguably possesses Spain's most prestigious estates - Vega Sicilia and Dominio de Pingus. Both are known for their fine expressions of Tempranillo, demanding high prices from wine enthusiasts and even higher ratings from renowned critics. Through experimentation and innovation, Pingus and Vega Sicilia have tamed the region's temperamental fields and hot, arid conditions, creating elegant wines with beautiful balance. 

Numerous publications have referred to each estate as the best in Spain, as the Wine Advocate noted, "In the price/quality sweepstakes, [Pingus] might be Spain's finest wine." Similarly, Vega Sicilia was named "Spain's most renowned estate" by The Wine Advocate and is colloquially referred to as "Spain's First Growth Estate." As each battles for the crown of Spain's top estate, only you can decide. Check out our collection and try out a bottle of each for yourself!