Home to the world’s largest vineyard area, Spain boasts a winegrowing history that is ancient and discontinuous. Several events throughout its three millennia of viticulture have threatened the industry, including the Moorish conquest of Iberia, the phylloxera crisis, a devastating Civil War, and several decades under a fascist regime, during which winemaking customs lost favor to bulk production and cooperatives. Today, Spain’s languages, cultures, and food and wine traditions remain distinct—long after the country's unification in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
Spain’s heritage styles—its deep-hued rosados, nutty rancios, and slowly aged gran reservas—are now joined by more contemporary aesthetics. While some growers have adapted to a modern palate, others hold to tradition. Others still seek to reimagine classic Spanish wines for the 21st century, reclaiming indigenous grape varieties and marrying innovation to ancestry. Born from these varied philosophical approaches is a Spanish wine industry equipped with the diversity and talent to capture new generations of consumers while safeguarding a long-cherished identity.
Anthropological studies have found trace evidence of Vitis vinifera in Spain dating as early as 3000 BCE. Fragments of vine wood and other vestiges of ancient grapes have been identified at three sites in Southern Spain. The introduction of viticulture to Iberia, however, is widely attributed to the Phoenicians, who arrived and established what would become Cádiz in today’s Andalucía approximately
“This is in addition to the Vi de Finca scheme that already exists for Catalonia more broadly. Established in 2002, Vi de Finca recognizes specific growing zones and single vineyards. (Priorat's…
Hey Anthony! Great question. Vi de Finca is a bit closer to Vinedo Singular in Rioja than to Vino de Pago. The designation recognizes single sites across Catalunya that are already in DO's, The major requirements…
Regarding the origins of wine in Andalucia, I've seen lots of people referencing Strabo's Geographica as evidence of the Phoenicians bringing wine to the region. However I've found the text they often quote merely describes the presence of a wine economy rather than attributing its origins to either the Phoenicians or the Turdetani (pre-roman people group of Andelucia): "Large quantities of corn and wine are exported from Turdetania, besides much oil, which is of the first quality."So yes the Phoenicians established Cadiz, yes they had a history of travelling wine, but the viticultural origins of Andelucia seem more like conjecture rather than something we have concrete evidence for. Does anyone have any further resources on the ancient viticultural origins of Andelucia and Sherry?
Hey Clementine! The biggest evidence for Phoenician viticulture is the Castillo de Doña Blanca, an ancient winery that includes a press that dates back to the 3rd century BCE. In regards to the existence of Vitis Vinifera here, the domestication of wild grapes happened between 7000-4000 BCE. Then around 3000 BCE, it spread to the Levant. This puts its arrival in Spain around 1000 BC and 500 BC, thanks to the Phoenicians. Therefore, it would be quite impossible for any Vitis vinifera to be here pre-Phoenician arrival.