Oh, the beauty of Spanish wine. There’s so much to love about wine, and even more to fall in love with when it’s a beautiful Spanish red. Now, you may not get to head out on your trip to Spain right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan a stunning wine getaway for the future. To help you figure out the best places to visit, we’ve created a guide to the Spanish wine regions. Let’s face it—even most Spaniards don’t know all there is to know about their country’s wine. So if you’re visiting, you’re going to need some help. Below you’ll find some of the top-rated wine regions in Spain—we’ll talk about the beauty of the region as a whole, and some of their top producers and wineries. Grab your planner and let’s get started!
Bierzo
Located in the northwest province of León, the Bierzo wine region covers about 3,000 square kilometers. Though it’s not as popular as some of the others on this list, Bierzo is becoming one of the most promising wine regions in Spain. So what will you see when you visit? First, you’ll be greeted by beautiful green mountains and tons of historical sites; you get more than wine when you travel here. Head out on a hike in the morning, then make some stops at some of their popular bodegas.
Sipping Spots
- Descendientes de J. Palacios—the place that brought wine lovers to Bierzo in 1999. Cult bottles here can go for more than $1,200!
- Bodegas Estefanía—became a key player in recent years. Get a guided tour and generous pours for an incredible price.
- Dominio de Tares—another key pioneer surrounded by high-quality vineyards.
What to Love
For the last 20 years or so, Bierzo has been on a hot streak. They’re paving their way in the Spanish wine world, partly because of Mencía, a grape related to Cabernet Franc. When vinified well, it leaves wines with a superb structure, fine balance, and even better versatility. Better yet, when you visit Bierzo, you can find big-bodied Tempranillos and Garnachas and so much more! It’s a quiet area that offers a lot to its guests.
Penedès
Considered one of the country’s best wine-producing regions after Rioja, Penedès is also one of the most significant ancient viticultural areas in Europe. Again, when you travel here, you won’t get only good wine, but also stunning views and history as rich as the wine. You can visit easily from Barcelona and head down into Cava country. There are over 300 wineries in the area, with many boasting beautiful Cava varietals. But you won’t just find sensational sparkling wines here—you’re also sure to find a few bottles of red and white that you’ll want to take home with you.
Sipping Spots
- Cava’s most ubiquitous producers—Codorníu and Freixenet—offer low-end bubbly, complex Reservas, and beautiful history.
- Caves Félix Massana—spend a day behind the scenes and pop open some Cava bottles.
- Familia Torres—a beautiful place to seek out red and white wines of the region.
What to Love
This is a region you can visit easily if you’re heading on a general trip to Spain. As we mentioned, it’s not far from Barcelona, so you can make a day trip for Penedès easily. But truly, Cava is what to love about this region. It’s the premier sparkling wine of Spain, and its high acidity and semidry taste pairs magically with tapas. It’s a must-have!
Rioja
Now to the big name that everyone talks about when it comes to Spain’s wine regions. The region’s acclaimed red wines typically come from the Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano grapes. You’ll come here for red wine—beautiful, rich, deep reds. If you’re looking for white wines, this may not be the region for you, as whites account for only 10 percent of the region’s total wine production.
Because of the power of the region’s red wine, there are wine classifications to help consumers identify their favorite Spanish wines. You’ll see three classifications on the front or back of Spanish wine bottle labels—Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva.
- Crianza are fruit-forward, youthful reds that are aged in oak for a minimum of one year, then spend another year gaining in the bottle. It’s often considered the perfect partner when it comes to food pairing.
- Reserva reds increase in both complexity and price. These wines spend a minimum of one year in the barrel and another two years aging in either a barrel or bottle.
- Gran Reserva wines are considered the best of the best of Rioja’s reds. These wines require barrel aging for two years and a minimum of three additional years of bottle aging.
Sipping Spots
- CVNE—found in the Barrio de la Estación, this world-class winery offers powerful reds.
- Bodegas Bilbaínas—close to CVNE, you can visit one spot and head right into the other. This spot boasts many delicious wines to meet the needs of any group.
- Bodegas Campo Viejo—a traditional visit that you don’t want to miss. These wines embody the progressive styles of Rioja to satisfy any palate.
What to Love
Truly, what’s not to love? There are over 670 wineries, over 16,000 grape growers, and so much natural beauty, you’ll never want to leave. What’s to love? Visit and you’ll find out in no time!
The Sherry Triangle
Last on our list is the wonderful Sherry Triangle. Also known as the Jerez wine region, this is made up of three sunny towns—Jerez, Puerto de Santa Maria, and Sanlucar de Barrameda. It’s found in the sun-baked corner of southwestern Spain, and because of that, it has plenty of chalky, limestone-rich soil. These are the perfect conditions for growing Palomino and Pedro Zimenez grapes, which are what’s used to make the most delicious sherries.
Sipping Spots
- Bodegas Emilio Lustau—a well-known producer in the area, this is a magical place with even more magic in their wines.
- Bodegas Gonzalez Byass—one of the most prestigious sherry wineries in the world. Need we say more?
- Bodegas Williams & Humbert—head here to visit Europe’s largest winery, which sprawls nearly two million square feet. No to mention some unbelievable wines.
What to Love
Another wine region that’s not too far from popular tourist destinations, the Sherry Triangle is only about 90 minutes from Seville by car, and trains connect the entire region with the rest of Spain. If you’re a fan of sherry or simply want to delve more into this world, then this is definitely the place to fall in love.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to the Spanish wine regions. Plan a trip to one of these stunning spots soon! Until then, turn to Wines ‘Til Sold Out for wine deals galore. We have all the wine you’ll need until you’re sipping at a vineyard in Spain. Shop now!
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