And this is not just out of love for our country – the figures support such statement. Throughout the country, there are certain regions that stand out for registering the first plantations, while others are noteworthy for having won a number of awards, or for being areas with the best designation of origin. And if there is one thing we Spaniards have is winemaking expertise and high-quality wine production.
But let us go back in time to the arrival of this traditional culture in our country, which was brought by the Phoenicians in the year 3,000 BC.Â
Although it must be said that the first harvests date back to 1,100 BC. and where found in the area now known as Cadiz, very close to The Wine & Country Club (Ronda, Malaga). This goes to show that both the lands of Cadiz and Malaga have a remarkable track record in winemaking.Â
Since then, the Visigoths, Arabs and, above all, the Christians upon the Reconquest of Spain promoted Spanish wine well beyond their own borders, thereby establishing the idea of export. They certainly paved the way for others to come.
The Wine Figures Are A Proud Boast
Spanish wines are not only well-known and esteemed worldwide, they have also been recognised by different international awards. The figures provided by the sector via the Spanish Wine Federation are living proof of this.
Spain ranks number three in the world of wine producers. Last year recorded 37.3 million hectolitres, but the average annual amount of wine and must production usually stands between 40 and 42 million hectolitres.
In contrast, Spain ranks first in another category: it is the main vineyard in the world in terms of space with a total of 949,565 hectares of vineyards (13Â % of the world total).
The industry gets a silver medal in terms of volumes exported. With over 2 billion litres sold abroad in 2020, the value of said export amounts to €2.6 billion, which makes Spain the third largest wine exporting country in the world (in terms of value). This international nature is also marked by the nearly 3,075 wineries that export to 189 countries worldwide (2018 data).
The value wine contributes to the national economy is also reflected in the total turnover of the wineries, which (on average) amounts to €5.3 billion per year. In addition, the activity of the wine value chain accounts for 2.2 % of the gross value added. Moreover, wine is a great tourist magnet, with close to three million people visiting wineries and national museums each year—which means a spending level of some €80 million per year.
Another strength of the Spanish wine industry is environmentalism. There are currently over 121,200 hectares of sustainable and ecological wine-producing land, which yield over 400,000 tons of wine grapes.
Finally, the vine varieties that differentiate us the most are Airen, Tempranillo, Bobal and red Garnacha.
We definitely find ourselves in the country of wine par excellence, and this is borne out by the industry’s enviable track record and overall good health. It is therefore little wonder that Spanish wine labels fill domestic and international wineries alike. Because we at The Wine & Country Club are well aware of this, we are firmly committed to the deep-rooted culture and passion for wine that shines through our winemaking team. Here you will find a wine country that strives to preserve a centuries-old tradition and contribute a rich and vibrant industry.