Spain
Spain is a global viticultural powerhouse defined by its diverse landscapes and its unique aging system, which categorises wines like Rioja and Ribera del Duero by their time in oak (Crianza to Gran Reserva). The country’s red wine identity is built on the versatile Tempranillo grape, which produces elegant, strawberry-noted reds in the north and powerful, concentrated styles in the high plateaus, while the rugged, slate-soiled Priorat offers intense Garnacha blends. For white wines, the focus shifts to the "green" Atlantic coast, where Albariño yields crisp, saline-rich bottles, and the high-altitude plains of Rueda, home to the aromatic Verdejo. From the traditional-method sparkling Cava of Penedès to the complex fortified Sherries of the south, Spanish wine offers a spectrum of styles that balance ancient tradition with modern freshness.