Wine Map of Spain

Spain has more land under grapes than any other country, over 30% more than in France or Italy. Portugal is the fourth highest in Europe.

Spanish wine grape varieties, especially Albarino and Tempranillo are being planted extensively around the globe, including in Australia.

Winemakers are gaining experience with them and the momentum for both are growing as more are coming onto the market.

Consumers are catching on so the thirst for knowledge about Spanish wine regions is growing.

But most people have only a hazy idea of the wine areas on the Iberian Peninsula so it is timely that Steve De Long has just released his new Wine Map of the Iberian Peninsula.

We all know that Portugal makes port, but what about its other important wines, such as Vinho Verde or the dozens of other wine styles and demarcated regions. You'll be surprised how diverse and interesting the wines of Portugal are.

Tempranillo is the stand out variety of Spain and it is the dominant variety in the red wines of Rioja and Ribiera Del Duero, but wine is made in many other regions from the Albarino country of Galicia, to the sharp Txakoli whites in the Basque country, to the lovely roses and reds of the rapidly emerging Navarra region. There are dozens of other regions as well.