Spanish Wines

Spain remains one of the world’s great wine-producing countries, sporting nearly 3 million acres of grapevines, more than any other country in the world.

Among red varieties, Tempranillo is by far Spain’s most recognized grape; second in the hierarchy of Spanish wine is Cava, a sparkling wine made using the classic Champagne method.

While the best wines in Spain hail from the northern third of the country, where the climate is not as hot and dry as in the south and where there is elevation from various mountain ranges and oceanic influences, grapes are grown throughout the Spanish wine regions, from Palomino in the southwest to Monastrell (another name for Mourvèdre) in the southeast to Garnacha in Aragón and Priorat to almost everything under the hot Spanish sun in sprawling La Mancha in the dead center of Spain.

As a highly regionally diverse wine nation, the Spanish wine region has well over 50 denominated regions including Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra, Priorat, Rías Baixas and others.

Our Spanish wine guide includes thousands of Spanish wine ratings and Spanish wine reviews; sort by region, price, variety or producer.

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100

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Viña Sastre 2006 Pesus Red (Ribera del Duero)

Cellar Selection

Price $750

If there’s any such thing as the perfect Spanish red, Pesus is it. A blend of 80% Tempranillo with other grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine sees 200% new oak, resulting in a thick, dark, tannic beauty that bubbles over with toast, cola, mint, chocolate and spice aromas. The mouth is sheer heaven; a mile deep in terms of berry flavor and more, but… — M.S. (10/1/2010)

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Viña Sastre 2005 Regina Vides Tempranillo (Ribera del Duero)

Price $195

From vines that are between 80 and 100 years, this is a marvelous example of top-notch Spanish red wine, regardless of region and grape variety. Hails from four vineyards, and the product is dark, concentrated, sultry, masculine and impressive. Giant black fruit flavors, texture, richness, coffee and cola make it truly special. Drinkable now; best in 3–5 more years. — M.S. (10/1/2010)

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Alvaro Palacios 2003 L’Ermita Red (Priorat)

Price $440

Super pricey but this is a knock-your-socks-off wine with a gorgeous bouquet that shows not even a hint of syrup or jam. The palate is like a nova; it bursts with plum, blackberry and cinnamon. No harshness, not too tannic, and splendid on the finish, where toast and chocolate appear and stick around for a long time. It’s 80% old-vines Garnacha and 20% Cabernet… — M.S. (10/1/2005)

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Bodegas Roda 2001 Cirsion Red (Rioja)

Editors' Choice

Price $200

Dark as night, pure as silk, and rich as a sultan. This one wine defines the best of the new wave; a great high-end product from a perfect vintage. It’s intense, spicy, racy and still soft enough to wrap yourself around. Licorice, crushed peppercorn, chocolate, espresso and blackberry are just some of what you can pull from this baby. Cellar a few years then explore. — M.S. (9/1/2004)

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Viñedos de Paganos 2005 La Nieta Tempranillo (Rioja)

Price $150

The best new release in the Eguren family’s collection of modern Rioja wines is this small-production, 100% Tempranillo. It’s a true nuevo classico with proper touches of smoked meat, herbs and sweet black fruits as well as a lush, round mouthfeel that culminates in a mile-long finish. Destined to rock your socks off. Just over 300 cases produced. Imported by… — M.S. (9/1/2007)

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Aalto 2006 PS Tempranillo (Ribera del Duero)

Cellar Selection

Price $115

A beautiful but enormous style of red wine with char, leather and saturated black fruit aromas. There’s also some lemony oak that will shed itself with time. Overall, it’s rich, delicious and a real fruit bomb with chocolate, vanilla, caramel, coffee and mocha, all of which are reflections of the oak aging it sees. PS stands for s seleccionados, and it’s really an… — M.S. (10/1/2010)

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Bodegas Gutiérrez de la Vega 1999 Casta Diva Fondillón Sweet Monastrell (Alicante)

Editors' Choice

Price $88

Fondillón represents the pinnacle of red Spanish dessert wines, and the 1999 vintage just might make your jaw drop. Subtle but expansive on the nose, with a blend of baked dark-fruit and cinnamon aromas, it is liquid heaven in the mouth, with excellent balance and flavors of roasted plums, black cherry, nutmeg and chocolate. This is pure, structured and outstanding… — M.S. (10/1/2012)

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Bodegas Roda 2009 Cirsion Tempranillo (Rioja)

Price $250

Solid as a battleship, with lemony oak, marzipan and layer upon layer of black fruit aromas. Almost syrupy in its richness but not fully; it’s chewy and creamy, with vital acids. The flavors are mega ripe and rich, emphasizing blackberry, black cherry preserves, fudge and fig paste. Yet at the same time it’s an ethereal wine; the epitome of modern Rioja. Drink now… — M.S. (4/1/2012)

Most Reviewed Sub Regions

Andalucia Catalonia Central Spain Galicia Levante Northern Spain Spain Other Spanish Islands

Most Reviewed Varietals

Albariño Cabernet Sauvignon Grenache Mourvèdre Red Blend Rosé Sherry Spanish Red Spanish White Sparkling Tempranillo White Blend

Most Reviewed Wineries

Bodegas Faustino Bodegas Valdemar Coto de Hayas CVNE El Coto Marqués de Cáceres Muga Prado Rey Sierra Cantabria Telmo Rodríguez Torres Vega Sindoa

2007 Trump Brut SP Reserve

Rich and luscious scents of baked apple, dried pineapple, honeyed…

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