ADVERTISING: Advertorial — A journey through Spanish wine: The history, grapes, regions and pairings
Laura Olson
Spain has a long and storied history of winemaking, with archaeological evidence showing grape cultivation and wine production dating back to the Phoenicians in 1100 B.C. The Romans expanded Spanish viticulture substantially, establishing vineyards across the Iberian Peninsula. While Muslim rule in medieval Spain restricted wine production for a time, Spanish wine flourished again in the centuries that followed. Today, Spain is the third largest wine producing country in the world after Italy and France.
Several grape varietals originated in Spain and are now planted worldwide. Tempranillo, the predominant red grape, thrives in the hot, arid climate of central Spain. It produces medium to full-bodied wines with flavors of cherry, plum, tobacco, and leather. Garnacha (Grenache) also originated in Spain and is now popular across southern France and California. White grapes like Albariño, Verdejo, and Macabeo are also native to Spain and make both still and sparkling wines.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
