Learn more about Spain:
- Myths and Misconceptions About Spain
- Essential Facts About Spain
- Interesting Facts About Spain: Geography
- Interesting Facts About Spain: Politics
- Interesting Facts About Spain: Culture
- Interesting Facts About Spain: Food
Facts on Spanish Wines
To learn more about Spanish wine, read this FAQ on Spanish Wine.- Grapes are the third biggest crop in Spain after cereals and olives.
- 15.5% of the world's vineyards are in Spain, making Spain the number one ranked country in the world in terms of area covered by vineyards.
- Spanish vineyards have a low yield (because of the dry climate) meaning Spain is only third in production behind France and Italy.
- Despite most of Spain's wine being red, 61.5% of Spain's vineyards are white. This is because Spain also makes a lot of brandy and sherry.
- The main red grape varieties in Spain are Tempranillo, Bobal, Garnacha (Grenache) & Monastrell.
- The main white grape varieties in Spain are Airén, Macabeo, Palomino & Pedro Ximenez.
- There are vineyards in all of Spain's 17 autonomous regions - from wet Galicia in the north-west to dry Murcia in the south-east.
- The biggest surface area of vineyards is in Castilla-La Mancha.
- The most densely planted vineyards in Spain are in La Rioja.
- 56.2% of Spanish wine is designated as a 'quality wine' (VCPRD - Vino de Calidad Producido en una Región Determinada or 'Quality Wine Produced in a Determined Region').
- Spain has 65 Denominación de Origen (DO).
- There are 41 areas with wines designated as Vino de Tierra ('Wine from the Land')
- One third of Spanish wine is exported. This figure is increasing.
- Spain's top customers are the UK, Germany and the USA.
- Spain is the fifth biggest exporter of wine to the US after Italy, Australia, France and Chile.
