The wine regions of Spain are the world’s second-biggest exporters of vino. But to taste the history, diversity and meaning of wine in the country, go experience it locally.
Visit Spanish wineries to discover the secrets of the wine’s elaboration, have a stay among the vineyards, or take a tasting course. If that sounds too good for your budget, it isn’t. You can still get great quality wine. The average bottle costs under $11.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Gonzalo Azumendi. Image Location: Rioja, Spain.
When is the best time to visit Spanish wineries?
Go to Spanish wineries from April to October, especially from late September to mid-October. That’s when the harvest happens. You’ll also see beautiful foliage and can go mushroom hunting.
What is the best wine region of Spain?
Rioja
With over 500 wineries, Rioja is the first wine region in Spain to be certified as a denominación de origen calificada, or ‘denomination of qualified origin’ (DOCa), the country’s highest rank in wine regulation.
But don’t confuse the Spanish province of La Rioja with Rioja wine; the Rioja wine region extends into the provinces of La Rioja, Navarra, and Basque Country. The Rioja wine region is further divided into the subregions of Rioja Alta, Rioja Oriental, and Rioja Alavesa.
How train travel made Rioja the best wine region of Spain
Thousands of years ago, Romans planted vineyards, but the reputation of the region grew more recently. In the 19th century, a plague devastated vineyards around Bordeaux, France. The region’s winemakers turned to Rioja to get their supply, sharing their technique. It was thanks to the rail connection between the two regions that this collaboration worked.
Where do you fly into for Rioja?
The closest major city to the Rioja wine region is Bilbao, but if you’re flying internationally, there are no direct flights here, so heading for airports in Madrid or Barcelona is your best bet.
From Madrid, you can take the train to Bilbao, with the fastest service taking approximately 4h 30m. Alternatively, take the train from either Madrid or Barcelona to Logroño (between three and four hours from either city).
Image Credit: Getty Images, Gonzalo Azumendi.
What are the main wine regions in Spain?
Beyond Rioja: more Spanish wine regions worth visiting
Ribera del Duero
Located north of Madrid, the Ribera del Duero region covers the provinces of Burgos, Valladolid, Soria, and Segovia. From Spain’s capital, you can take a 3h 16m bus to Peñafiel, where you’ll be centrally located to enjoy the best wines of the region. Here, you’ll find mature and powerful wines, with very marked aromas derived from their aging in wood. Because of their intensity, the region’s wine will remind you of Australian wines.
Priorat
In Catalonia, Priorat is the other wine region with DOCa status, just like Rioja. Located about 100mi south of Barcelona, you can easily get there by train. The journey from Barcelona Sants station to Marça-Falset station takes around 2h and offers fantastic views of the Mediterranean. To get transportation to the wineries, book visits ahead and ask them to pick you up.
Rías Baixas
This region is in Galicia, in the northwest of Spain, and the destination of the most famous pilgrimage route, El Camino de Santiago. Monastic tradition along the path to Santiago led to a rich wine culture influenced by French pilgrims.
To see more of the region, book a train from Madrid to Galicia’s capital, Santiago de Compostela (the quickest service can get you there in 3h 1min). After a few days of exploring the city’s famous cathedral and food, head to Rías Baixas on the Atlantic coast. To get there, take a 45min train from Santiago to the city of Pontevedra.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images. Image Location: Spain.