7 Under-the-radar Wine Regions in Spain With Some of the Best Vineyards in the World

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, certainly one of eight volcanic islands that type the Canary Islands, sits off the northwestern coast of Africa. A geographically numerous island, it boasts greater than 20 native grape varieties, together with reds—castellana, listán negro, listán prieto, tintilla—and whites—burra blanca, baboso blanco, and listán blanco. When phylloxera unfold in Spain, it by no means made it to the Canary Islands, so there are nonetheless endemic vines that weren’t grafted onto American vines after the Nineteenth-century plague. Gran Canaria obtained its personal Denomination of Origin in 2005, and immediately there are dozens of wineries spanning from the northwest to the northeast, with some additionally positioned within the middle.

Wineries to Go to: Do not miss a wine tasting at Señorío de Cabrera, a small vineyard owned by couple Agustín Cabrera and Felisa Vega, who develop 4 grape varieties close to the city of Telde. Additionally cease in at family-run Bodegas Bentayga in Caldera de Tejeda, a volcanic basin within the Tejeda mountains the place pink and white grapes are grown at elevations between 3,280 and 4,265 toes.

The place to Keep: Immerse your self in nature on the Parador de Cruz de Tejeda, with unimaginable views of the mountains and a central location close to a number of wineries. On a transparent day, you’ll be able to see the very best peak in Spain, Teide, on the neighboring island of Tenerife. Or, go for the southern aspect of the island and test into the Seaside Palm Beach Hotel.

Lanzarote

The northernmost Canary island, Lanzarote, has a novel panorama; Some components of the island resemble what you might think about Mars or the moon to appear like, because of a 1730 volcanic eruption. It lasted six years, overlaying a part of the island in volcanic ash.

Vineyards in Lanzarote are certainly one of a form—mini craters, or hoyos, are dug by hand to develop grapes in volcanic ash, referred to as picón. Because the island receives little rain, the ash retains moisture from the morning dew, its major water supply. Many wineries construct a semicircle of rocks across the hoyos, every with its personal fashion, to guard the vines from the Atlantic Ocean commerce winds. The wine area, La Geria, is made up of round 30 wineries and obtained the Denomination of Origin in 1993.

Wineries to Go to: The oldest vineyard within the Canary Islands and one of many 10 oldest in Spain, El Grifo has been making vino since 1775 with the prized varietal malvasia volcánica. Additionally go to Vega de Yuco, a family-run vineyard that produces white, pink, and rosé wines and presents a vino pairing with chocolate.

The place to Keep: Regardless of the place you determine to sleep for the night time, you are normally by no means greater than an hour’s drive away from the wine area. Elegant and sprawling, Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort offers all of the luxurious comforts on the south aspect of the island in Playa Blanca, whereas homey Hotel Fariones is lower than a 20-minute drive to La Geria.

L’Empordà, Catalonia

Located within the autonomous neighborhood of Catalonia in northeastern Spain, L’Empordà hugs the Costa Brava of the Mediterranean Sea. Its Catalan identify comes from the Greek phrase Empuries, and there may be archaeological proof that wine was made there as early because the sixth century.

In 1975, the Empordà Denomination of Origin was established, and immediately there are greater than 50 wineries there, with many rising white grenache, gray grenache and pink grenache, together with the pink carignan grape varietals. The realm can be recognized for full-bodied reds, whites, and rosés.

Wineries to Go to: Cala Jóncols, a certified-organic vineyard, prides itself on being the smallest winery in Catalonia, positioned within the Cap de Creus Pure Park. After reviving vineyards in 2000, family-owned vineyard Martín Faixó makes white, rosé, and pink wines.

The place to Keep: Unwind between the Pyrenees mountains and the ocean on the Costa Brava’s stress-free Hotel Cala Jóncols or at Casamar Restaurant & Hotel, run by brother and sister María and Quim Casellas. For a extra central location, keep at Palau Fugit, an 18th-century palace in Girona’s outdated quarter.

Rueda, Castilla y León

Castilla y León is the most important autonomous neighborhood in Spain, and Rueda is certainly one of its 13 Denominations of Origin. The realm is famend for its white wine. With round 70 wineries, Rueda additionally has its personal Wine Route. The scenic Douro River passes via the north of the area between the cities of Segovia and Ávila.

Verdejo is among the hottest white grape varietals in Rueda. With chilly winters and scorching summers, many wineries harvest the grapes at night time when temperatures are cooler to stop fermentation earlier than the grapes will be processed.

Wineries to Go to: Within the outdated quarter of Tordesillas, go to the final working wine cellar at Bodega Muelas, a fifth-generation vineyard that grows its personal grapes and combines older strategies with a contact of modernity throughout manufacturing. Yllera Bodegas & Viñedos has a giant wine cellar that homes Arrope restaurant, led by Michelin-starred chef Martín Berasategui.

The place to Keep: Base your self in Parador de Tordesillas, a manor house-style lodge in a quaint city on the Douro River, the place Portugal and Spain divided territory in 1494 and signed the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Priorat, Catalonia

Priorat, recognized for pink wines, is a mountainous area the place vineyards are grown on steep slopes in various microclimates that give grapes their distinctive taste profile. It is positioned roughly two hours from Barcelona.

Slate, referred to as llicorella in Spanish, is a part of the soil construction, serving to preserve it moist, which is important with sizzling summers, little rain, and harsh winters. Plus, the slate forces the roots to develop deeper to entry water and vitamins, giving the grapes an intense taste.

Priorat, named certainly one of Travel + Leisure‘s best places to travel in 2025, was a thriving wine area till the late Nineteenth century, when phylloxera worn out the vines, forcing communities to go away. Winemakers returned to Priorat within the mid-’80s and now there are round 115 wineries, predominantly rising grenache and carignan, in addition to the French varieties cabernet and syrah.

Wineries to Go to: Perinet has three vineyards—some north-facing and south-facing, offering completely different taste profiles within the grapes. One other must-visit is Mas Martinet, owned by Pérez Ovejero, who started in 1981 with a give attention to sustainability and artisan wine.

The place to Keep: Base your self on the renovated farmhouse Gran Hotel Mas d’en Bruno, the place the rooms overlook varied vineyards and employees can organize vineyard visits.

Toro, Castilla y León

Toro is understood for daring pink wines with the native varietal Tinta de Toro. One of many Denominations of Origin in Castilla y León, Toro can be certainly one of 9 wine routes which were licensed by the Spanish Affiliation of Wine Cities (ACEVIN). Toro produces rosé and white wines with varietals that embody malvasía castellana, verdejo, and albillo actual.

Wineries to Go to: Since 2000, Elías Mora has been owned and operated by Victoria Benavides, who combines fashionable expertise and ancestral information. One other standout is Bodegas Fariña, a third-generation family-run vineyard that hosts an annual summary artwork contest to decide on the label for his or her Primero wines.

The place to Keep: Really feel like a royal at renovated citadel Castillo de Monte La Reina outdoors the historic city of Toro, the place you’ll be able to go to wineries at your leisure in addition to their very own on-site vineyard, Bodega Monte la Reina.

Basque Nation

Txakoli, an effervescent white wine typically drunk as an aperitif or paired with seafood, is uniquely Basque. There are vineyards in all Basque provinces and every has its personal Denomination of Origin: Txakoli de Álava within the province of Álava, Bizkaiko Txakolina in Bizkaia, and Getariako Txakolina in and across the coastal cities of Getaria and Zarautz.

Indigenous grape varieties are acidic with citrus and floral notes, together with hondarrabi zuri (zuri interprets to white in Euskera) and hondarribi zerratia (little or small) and hondarrabi beltza (black).

Many vineyards are grown on steep slopes that face south and southeast for max daylight, particularly essential in a area that is typically overcast and receives loads of rain. Some wineries in Bizkaia make rosé txakoli, which is a mix of two varietals—hondarrabi zuri and hondarrabi beltza.

Wineries to Go to: Expertise Bizkaia’s Bodega Gorka Izagirre, which has been rising three indigenous Basque grape varieties since 2005 or, close to the city of Getaria, Gañeta, a third-generation vineyard the place they make three sorts of txakoli.

The place to Keep: For stunning views, head to the small, rural Hotel San Prudentzio within the hills of Getaria.