Spain

Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world, following Italy and France.  Spain has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 600 varieties planted throughout Spain, through 80 percent of the country’s wine production is from only 20 grapes.  Archaeologists believe that grapes were first cultivated in Spain sometime between the third and fourth centuries BC.  In recent years, the quality and production volume of premium wines has begun to overtake the presence of generic Spanish bulk wines on the market, establishing Spain’s reputation as a serious wine producing county that can compete with other producers in the world wine market.