Galicia has a unique climate in Spain. Lush green valleys in the mountains lead to cities along the water where the cuisine includes lots of fresh fish and the famous ‘pulpo a la gallega’. 

The Albariño grape makes the signature wines of Rías Baixas. These are tangy, zesty and refreshing white wines.

By contrast Godello from Galicia is fuller-bodied, round and smooth, ensuring there is something for everyone.

Herbal, floral and elegant reds from Ribeira Sacra and from Bierzo just across the border also provide a point of difference from the rich, oaked reds found in other parts of the country.

The Ebro and Duero River Valleys produce some of Spain’s most noteworthy Tempranillo wines.

The Tempranillo grape is at its finest when grown in vineyards close to the Ebro and Duero rivers which claim the famous and historic region of Rioja and  the prestigious Ribera del Duero respectively. This however is not just a part of Spain famous for red wines.

Further south In Rueda the white grape variety Verdejo reigns and has the ability to produce vibrant, refreshing fruity wines.

Catalonia is famous for its range of sparkling wines, include of course Cava. Made in the same way as Champagne but using indigenous Spanish grapes. This fizz has a distinct savoury Spanish finesse. To understand the range and quality of these Spanish bubbles check out our Discover Cava clip!

Grapes from old vines have never tasted so good than when they are harvested and made into wine in Priorat. Old vine Garnacha and Cariñena are responsible for one of the finest and most powerful wines coming out of Spain, these vines grown on the rare llicorella quartz produce wines shining with complexity.

Further south along the coast there are many fruity delights. The main grape varieties are Monastrell (grown in the Southern Rhone in France where it is called Mourvedre) and Bobal. Both grapes deliver ample fruit to the wines made from them. Monastrell gives you big rich baked black fruit and if you prefer something a bit lighter with vibrant red cherry then Bobal is the one for you!

Paella Valenciana is the star dish from which all other paellas owe their form. It’s either made with chicken or rabbit. It is best to pair it with a young and fruity red wine, served slightly chilled. And white wine lovers should look for a wine that has spent some time fermenting in the barrel, such as a chardonnay.

The Meseta Central, otherwise known as the Central Plateau, produces nearly half of the wine in all of Spain! It is also home to many small top wine Spanish bodegas (wineries).

While there is a great deal of white Airén growing here, the jewel in Meseta’s crown is old vine Garnacha and Petit Verdot, which when grown higher up in the Meseta creates wines with elegance and longevity.

Cheese lovers must try the Manchego cheese which can be perfectly paired with Cava, young Tempranillo or Malvar.

Andalucía is famous for the historic Sherry. The bright white albariza soil makes the Palomino vineyards around Jerez appear other worldly. The best Sherries and definitely the most food friendly ones are the dry styles. These include Manzanilla from Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Amontillado as well as the rich and nutty Oloroso. Watch the clip Explore Sherry to find out more!

In Montilla-Moriles the Pedro Ximénez grape is grown to make a variety of different styles including a lusciously sweet Sherry.

In the overlooked Sierras de Málaga they make dry, still wines. The beautiful dry Moscatel (Muscat de Alexandria) wines from this area show the great diversity you can find in Andalucia.

The Spanish Islands, including the far-off Canary Islands offer a wide range of wines from Listán Negro-based reds and clean mineral whites made from Listan Blanco. You can also find aromatic sweet whites made with Moscatel.

The Canary Islands produce elegant wines with rich mineral undertones due to the dramatic volcanic landscape.

Rabbit dishes are famous, specially the “conejo al estillo canario” which can be paired with a Listán Negro

The home of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne – is arguably the world’s most important wine-producing country. The climate is incredibly diverse. In the South, you’ll find a prevalence of bolder, fruitier red wines made with grapes like Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. As you move to the cooler north, you can find zesty white and sparkling wines and elegant reds.

Bordeaux
Many of the world’s most prestigious wines come from Bordeaux with its famous Chateaux. The region is divided into the Left Bank, which includes the famous district of Médoc home to many famous First Growths with wines made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon and the Right Bank, where you’ll find the prestigious appellations of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.

Burgundy
The Burgundy region or Bourgogne as it is called in France produces some of France’s famously exclusive wines, due to their rarity. One of Burgundy’s best-known wines is Chablis, a Chardonnay wine made near the village of the same name. In Burgundy’s capital, Beaune, Pinot Noir dominates.

Champagne
Another region with much prestige and luxury connotations is Champagne. Champagne produces biscuity, bready, fruity complex wines suitable for those special occasions sparkling wines. Sparkling wines in France made by the same traditional method as Champagne but made outside the region are known as Crémant.

Languedoc-Roussilon
This area in southeast France is the largest wine region in the country, a lot of production here is bulk wine, such as red Carignan that stays on the domestic market. However there are many small producers making superb wines from the local grape varieties and other regional French varieties.

Loire Valley
The centrally located Loire Valley region produces much of France’s white wines from a variety of wonderful local varietes that all display racy acidity. Wines produced in the Loire include; Muscadet which is a a light, dry white wine made with Melon Blanc, Vouvray made with the distinctive appley Chenin Blanc found in the sub-region of Touraine subregion and Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé which are flinty, crisp dry white wines made from the herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc.

Rhône Valley
The Rhône, split into two parts, makes delicate, peppery Syrah wines in the North (The Northern Rhône) which have a superb reputation. In the Southern Rhône you can find the famous appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape where Grenache is blended with Syrah and Mourvèdre, as well as easy drinking Côtes du Rhône wines.

The home of Moscato, Chianti, Amarone and Prosecco – has a rich and diverse wine heritage dating back more than two thousand years. Famous for its bewildering diversity of both grape varieties and wine styles.

Italy is divided into 20 regions, all of which produce wine and contain smaller various wine regions. The most significant, when both quality and quantity are taken into consideration, are Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto. However there are lesson-known regions producing world-class wines which can offer fabulous value for money.

Italian wine is one of the most difficult regions to get to know because of the complicated labelling terms, where manty wines are labelled with the small region they come from rather than the grape variety, like in France and in Spain.

Tuscany
Is home to the Chianti region which is the most famous region for Sangiovese. For white wines in this region you can find Trebbiano, which one of Italy’s most grown white grape varieties as it brings acidity to blends. There is also Vermentino which is richer, floral and herbaceous.

Piedmont
Located in northwest Italy Piedmont is the home of more DOCG wines than any other Italian region, among them such well known and respected DOCGs of Barolo, Barbaresco, and Barbera d’Asti. Although the regions is famous for its powerful, tannic, and floral red wines made from Nebbiolo, the fantastic sweet, white, sparkling Moscato d’Asti wines should not be overlooked!

Veneto
Is known for the Valpolicella region which produces the seductive and full-bodied Amarone della Valpolicella. Besides the great red blends of Valpolicella made with Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara, there are also several fine Merlot-based IGT wines in this area. For white wines, Garganega is the white grape that makes Soave, a wine that offers some weight on the palate and can be made in a serious oaky style as well as a light and fruity.