Measured by the size of its total cultivated area of currently 964,000 hectares, Spain is the largest wine country in the world. Vines were already cultivated in Iberia more than 3,000 years ago. Some of today’s vineyards can be dated back to 1,100 BC. During this time, the Phoenicians founded the city of Gadir (Cádiz) in Andalusia. From here they conducted their wine trade throughout the entire Mediterranean region. The Romans, according to chroniclers, raved about Spanish wine from Baetica (Andalusia).

The country has a varied climate, topography and soils suitable for growing a wide range of grape varieties. Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world after Italy and France. There are over 60 wine regions in Spain, each with their own unique characteristics and wine styles. The best known regions include Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Rias Baixas and Jerez.