Spain

Spain has the world’s largest area under vine, however due to its dry, infertile soil and the fact that the vines are widely spaced producing smaller yields, its presence on the international market remains limited. Although there are over 600 indigenous Spanish varieties planted throughout, 20 of them make up the majority of the Spanish exports. With the easy ability to ripen grapes Spain has been able to keep their wines competitive in the international market.

In Spain the winemaking philosophy is to elaborar (to elaborate) rather than fabricar (to produce/make) the nature of the grapes and the wine they produce.