Spain

With over 1.1 million hectares, Spain is the world's largest country in terms of vineyard area and the third largest in terms of wine production , after Italy and France. The Spanish ampelographic heritage is one of the richest in the world, with over 400 native varieties . However, 80% of production is concentrated on 20 grape varieties, including Tempranillo, Garnacha and Monastrell (which finds one of its best expressions in the Jumilla area of Murcia) for the reds, Albariño, Palomino, Verdejo and Airen for the whites and the three white grapes that form the basis of Cava: Parellada, Xarel-lo and Macabeo.

The main wine-growing areas include La Rioja and Ribera del Duero , both famous for the production of Tempranillo (which in some regions is also called Tinto Fino), Rías Baixas in Galicia, an area famous for the production of white wine based on Albariño, and finally Catalonia, with the sub-areas of Penedes and Priorat, where the most prized Spanish classic method sparkling wine, Cava , is produced.