Map of Spain Wine Regions

Super Underrated Spain

Somehow, Spain seems to fly under the radar compared to its next door neighbor, France. Spain is actually the third largest wine producer in the world and has the most land dedicated to vineyards–over a million acres. Spanish wines range from great values to highly prestigious wines, such as Alvaro Palacios’ L’Ermita and Vega Silicia’s Unico.

 
Spain is a very diverse country so it helps to get a lay of the land. This map of the wine regions of Spain helps to put into context the various kinds of wines that grow throughout the country.
 

Map of Spain Wine Regions

Major Wine Regions in Spain

There are over 60 different regional DOs producing everything from light and zesty Albariño to inky black Monastrell. The best way to start understanding the area is to break it into 7 distinct climates.

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  Albarino vineyards. Olé Imports

  
  

  Northwest “Green” Spain

  Galicia, very unlike the rest of Spain, is where lush green valleys are plentiful and the common cuisine includes lots of fresh fish. Albariño is the champion grape of the sub-region called Rias Baixas (RYE-us BYE-shus), which skirts the coast. The area specializes in zesty white wines and a few aromatic red wines made with Mencia (MEN-thi-yah).
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  Monastrell in Yecla. Ryan Opaz

  
  

  Mediterranean Coast

  The coast is a very diverse macro-region that contains the sub-regions of Valencia, Catalonia and Murcia. Catalonia is known for Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and a highly acclaimed red wine sub-zone, Priorat. Valencia and Murcia are warmer growing regions that produce a bulk of value wines from deep red Monastrell to aromatic white Malvasia and the widely planted Airén.
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  La Rioja Region. Àlex Porta i Tallant

  
  

  Ebro River Valley

  The sub regions of La Rioja and Navarra are found in the Ebro River Valley. Here, Tempranillo is king and long-standing bodegas such as Lopez de Heredia and Marques de Murrieta make age-worthy wines. Navarra produces a large volume of rosado (rosé) wine of Garnacha. The region also produces oak-aged white wines of Verdejo and Viura(Macabeo). In Basque country, zesty white wines called Txakoli (‘CHALK’olli ) are common.
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  Ribera del Duero. Olé Imports

  
  

  Duero River Valley

  The Duero River is the same river as the Douro in Portugal. This region is notable for the rich white Verdejo of Rueda and the red wines of Toro, Ribera del Duero and Leon. The wine grape of Toro, called Tinta de Toro, has long been considered a mutant of Tempranillo. Ribera del Duero is home to one of the most famous wineries in Spain: Vega Sicilia.
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  Old vine Garnacha. Olé Imports

  
  

  Central Plateau

  The central plateau or Meseta Central is the inner plateau of Spain which is home to the capital city, Madrid. The area has an average elevation of 2,300-2,600 feet and is dry and sunny. Because of its climate characteristics, vines are spaced very far apart and close to the ground. Some of the best value red wines made of Monastrell come from this area.
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  Albariza soil in Andalucia. Chris Juden

  
  

  Andalucía

  Andalucía is a very hot and dry region famous for Sherry. Stark white albariza soil makes Palomino Vineyards in Cádiz look like a moonscape. The even hotter, Montilla-Moriles produces fortified dessert wines that are called “PX“. An aged PX, such as Bodegas Toro Abala, have similar nutty-date flavors like Tawny Port.
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  Canary Islands. Jose Pastor Selections

  
  

  The Islands (includes The Canary Islands)

  The Islands of Spain offer a wide range of wines from Mencia-based reds to dessert wines made with Moscatel. The volcanic soils of the Canary Islands add a gritty taste of rustic minerality. Currently, there are very few exporters of the limited wines of the Islands of Spain. Perhaps you might as well just make a point to visit.

Sources
List of all Denominaciones de Origen (DO) on wikipedia

By Madeline Puckette
I'm a certified wine geek with a passion for meeting people, travel, and delicious food. You often find me crawling around dank cellars or frolicking through vineyards.