Andalucía, one of the oldest regions related with cultivation and production of wines as grapevine trees was introduces by Phoenicians while trading around Mediterranean.
Wine grapes cultivated area is occupying over 40.000 ha.
Main Influences
- Atlantic Ocean (Brings more humidity and rainy days)
- Mediterranean (Brings slightly humid and hot air)
- Different Altitudes (Lower slopes cause dry and extremely hot conditions while upper slopes cause more early moisture)
- Range of Mountains separating shoreline from inland (Separating areas from seas, it cases extremely dry and hot conditions)
All these makes the wine production in Andalucía different from region to region causing existence of micro-regions with proper terroir.
Historically Andalucía was very famous for the production of sweet & fortified wines enriched by any distilled spirit, usually Brandy.
Nowadays the fortified and sweet wines are still highlight around western part of Andalucía but even the classic red and white are rising up, above all in upper altitudes.
Areas of production are divided in following D.O.
- D.O. Jerez
- D.O. Condado de Huelva
- D.O. Montilla-Moriles
- V.C. Lebrija
- D.O. Málaga
- D.O. Sierras de Málaga
- D.O Granada
D.O. Jerez
D.O. Jerez is occupying south-west of Andalucía in Province of Cádiz close to cities like: Jerez, Puerto de Santa María, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Chiclana.
The production is focused on famous Sherry/Jerez – fortified wines made of white grapes in wineries which belongs to oldest ones in Spain carrying more that 200 years of history.
In generally this area is heritage of ancient production of fortified wines while Phoenicians were settled around this land.
Authorized Grape Varieties:
WHITE: Palomino de Jerez, Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel.
Official Quality Label:
Recommended Wineries:
Osborne – Puerto de Santa María
Tío Pepe – Jerez de la Frontera
Bodegas Barbadillo – San Lúcar de Barrameda
D.O. Condado de Huelva
Founded in 1.932, this D.O. is located in Huelva Province, historically known as “Condado de Niebla”.
Basically the production is focused on fortified wines and classic white wines. But even red and rosé can be traced.
Special place has a production of “Vino de Naranja – Orange Wine”, made of white grapes being macerated together with peels of orange.
Lying on the shoreline of Atlantic Ocean the special climate is reflected in proper wines.
Authorized Grape Varieties:
WHITE: Palomino Fino, Listán B, Garrido Fino, Moscatel de Alejandría, Pedro Ximénez, Zalema, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Verdejo.
RED: Syrah, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.
Official Quality Label:
Recommended Wineries:
Bodegas del Diezmo Nuevo – Moguer
Marqués de Villalúa – Villalba de Alcor
D.O. Montilla-Moriles
In the middle of Andalucía in Province of Córdoba is located another D.O. producing mainly sweet and desert wines. All this close to towns like: Montilla, Puente Genil, Cabra and Aguilar de la Frontera.
Here you can find the oldest Andalusian winery Bodegas Alvear dating year 1.729, so pretty close to 300 anniversary.
Authorized Grape Varieties:
WHITE: Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel, Baladí – Verdejo, Layrén (Airén), Montepila, Moscatel Grano Pequeno.
Official Quality Label:
Recommended Wineries:
Bodegas Alvear – Montilla
Bodegas Toro Albalá – Aguilar de la Frontera
V.C. Lebrija
Small wine region located in Sevilla Province, next to river “Guadalquivir” covering municipalities Lebrija and El Cuervo with only one registered winery.
Predominate fortified wines but even sweet and classic red and white are produced. The climate is very influenced by Atlantic Ocean.
Authorized Grape Varieties:
WHITE: Palomino, Moscatel de Alejandría, Sauvignon Blanc, Palomino Fino, Vidueno.
RED: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tintilla Rota and Syrah.
Official Quality Label:
Recommended Wineries:
Gonzáles Palacio – Lebrija
D.O. Málaga
Region with extremely long history of sweet wine production since times of Phoenicians and Romans.
Unfortunately the worst impact for D.O. Málaga was Phylloxera in 19th century when the whole agricultural sector went down even with surrounding towns. Recently the D.O. is resurrected in smaller dimensions.
The region shows huge differences of climate, close to Mediterranean there is fresh air with significant humidity like in mountains “Montes de Málaga” while inland around Antequera city the climate is dry with hot air.
Authorized Grape Varieties:
WHITE: Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel de Alejandría, Moscatel Grano Menudo, Lairén – Airén, Doradilla,
RED: Romé.
Official Quality Label: D.O. Málaga covers only sweet wines over 15% till 22% of alcohol grade.
Recommended Wineries:
Bodega Antigua Casa de Guardía S.L. – Málaga
Bodegas Quitapenas – Málaga
Bodegas Málaga Virgen – Fuente de Piedra
D.O. Sierras de Málaga
Large area covering hills of Axarqía Region and fields around cities like Málaga, Álora and especially Ronda surrounded by mountains called “Serranía de Ronda”.
Young D.O. founded in 2001 to separate production of classic red, white and rosé wines with alcohol grade up to 15%, from sweet wines.
Different conditions on every corner of this region due to different altitude and influence of Mediterranean or Atlantic Ocean around Ronda makes the wine production really diverse. Even the grape varieties are large in compare to other D.O. as every micro-region of wine plantation require its own style.
Authorized Grape Varieties:
WHITE: Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel Morisco, Moscatel de Alejandría, Viognier, Chardonnay, Macabeo, Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Lairén, Doradilla, Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Verdejo.
RED: Tempranillo, Romé, Garnacha, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Monastrell, Graciano, Malbec, Tintilla de Rota.
Official Quality Label:
Recommended Wineries:
Finca La Melonera – Ronda
Bodegas Excelencia S.L. – Ronda
Bodegas Jorge Ordónez & Co. – Vélez Málaga
Bodegas Pérez Hidalgo C.B. – Álora
D.O. Granada
The youngest D.O. in Andalucía stepping up from V.C. to D.O. classification in 2018. The largest D.O. within Andalucía with wineries spread around La Alpujarra – Contraviesa and even rest of Province of Granada around cities like: Deifontes, Guadix or Huéscar.
Mainly are produced classic red – white – rosé wines but even sparkling wine and small production of sweet wine can be traced.
The climate is very different from area to area influenced by Alborán Sea or by dry hot climate inland. In generally here can be found the highest vineyards in Spain reaching over 1.300 m.a.s.
Authorized Grape Varieties:
WHITE: Vijiriega, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Moscatel de Alejandría, Moscatel Grano Menudo, Pedro Ximénez, Baladí, Palomino, Torrontés.
RED: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Monastrell, Romé, Petit Verdot.
Official Quality Label:
Recommended Wineries:
Senorío de la Nevada – Villamena
Bodega Cuatro Vientos – Murtas
Bodegas Al Zagal – Cogollos de Guadix
Bodegas FonteDei – Deifontes
Bodegas Nazaríes – Albunol
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