Guide Note

With the most acres of wine grapes planted, Spain is the third top producer of wine in the world. The majority of wine produced in Spain is also drunk there, but slightly over one third of Spain's wine production is shipped to other countries. The fortified wine sherry is well known throughout the world, as is Spain's Rioja and cava, but Spanish artisanship is leading to popularity of previously obscure varietals.

Fast Facts

1. 67 defined wine regions
2. Popular wine cocktail: Sangria
3. Spain: Third largest wine producer
4. 306,187,429 gallons produced per year
5. 62%: Sold in Spain
6. Average Spaniard drinks over 10 gallons of wine per year

1. Rioja
2. Cava
3. Sherry
4. Verdejo
5. Albariño
6. Temperanillo
7. Vega Sicilia
8. Dominio de Pingus
9. Valbuena
10. Tinta del Toro

The following quality classifications are listed from best to worst.

1. Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOCa)
2. Denominacion de Origen (DO)
3. Vino de la Tierra (VdiT)
4. Vino Comarcal (VC)
5. Vino de Mesa (VdM)