| Spain has long been recognized for its
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| | to produce a better table wine.
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| fortified wines, particularly sherry, or
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| | Catalona's premiere wine region of
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| Jerez as it's known locally, but in
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| | Penedes, located less than an hour south
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| recent years both production and quality
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| | of Barcelona, produces a range of still
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| of its table wines has improved
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| | wines ranging from delicate whites to
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| remarkably.
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| | heavy reds, as well as the flagship Cava.
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| The third largest producer of wine in the
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| | Some of the more remote, or smaller
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| world after France and Italy, Spain is
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| | regions include Priorat, Rias Baixas, and
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| now making inroads on to the
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| | Ribera-del-Duero.
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| international market for table wine due
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| | The wine region of Somontano is located
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| to improved marketing and better quality
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| | on a high plateau in the ski region of
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| production of its reds and whites.
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| | Huesca, at the foot of the Pyrenees
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| However, it's the fortified wine sherry
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| | Mountains. The name Somontano literally
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| which is produced in the region around
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| | means Under the Mountain
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| Jerez de la Frontera, which has been the
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| | But it is the region of Toro, a
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| country's main export for hundreds of
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| | relatively little known area located in
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| years, with most of the sales being to
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| | Zamora province, that has Spanish wine
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| the United Kingdom.
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| | writers excited. Many believe this is
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| Wine-making in Spain dates back to the
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| | Spain's most promising wine region.
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| Roman Empire and was also influenced by
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| | Spanish wines fall into two main
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| an early Greek settlement.
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| | categories:
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| There are four red grape varieties with
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| | DOCa Denominacin de Origen Calificada is
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| the most famous and noble being the
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| | the highest quality category for Spanish
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| Tempranillo, followed by Garnacha (also
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| | wine and the wines must be bottled in the
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| called Grenache), Graciano and Mazuelo..
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| | region. Only Rioja and recently also the
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| Crianza wines have been aged for two
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| | Priorat wine region received DOCa status.
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| years, Reservas for three years and Gran
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| | DO Denominacin de Origen , the second
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| Reservas (also known as Reservas
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| | category is much like the French AOC that
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| Especial) are aged for at least five
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| | includes the most renowned classical
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| years.
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| | Spanish wines. The wines have to meet the
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| The harvest is influenced by the warm,
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| | specifications of the Consejo Regulador
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| hot, dry climate, which means the yield
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| | (Supervision of the individual wine
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| for Spanish grapes is usually quite low.
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| | regions), who then determines whether a
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| Harvest takes place from August-October.
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| | wine-maker is entitled to use the DO
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| There are many wine regions in Spain with
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| | label for his wine.
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| the first being Rioja, which extends for
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| | Table wines are classified as VdlT Vino
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| about 120km along both sides of the Ebro
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| | de la Tierra, which are wines from areas
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| River and is bounded by mountains on
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| | with no DO status as yet, but with an
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| either side.
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| | identifiable regional character, VC Vino
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| Navarra has transformed itself from
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| | Comarcal, is the label given to areas
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| producing generally oxidized roses to
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| | that do not have great claims on quality,
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| full-bodied reds in a very short time.
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| | while VdM Vino de Mesa is wine produced
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| Garnacha, once the workhorse rose grape
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| | from grapes from unclassified areas or
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| has been replaced by the Tempranilo grape
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| | blended from different classified areas.
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