Southern Europe: One region, three exceptional wine nations

Red wine from southern Europe - fine wines from Mallorca to Italy

Southern Europe is known for its cuisine. When it comes to wine, among other things, various countries from this region offer delicious varieties that are well worth trying. Many good red wines come from countries such as Spain, Italy or Mallorca. Here you will find an overview of the background and interesting facts as well as information on some of the most popular grape varieties.

Red wine from Spain

Spain has built up a reputation for good wines over several millennia. The red wines from this southern European country are enjoyed all over the world.

History and key figures of Spanish viticulture

The history of Spanish wine goes back a long way. The Greeks brought the first influences into the country. It is assumed that viticulture began more than 1000 years before Christ.

Spanish wine was already popular around 200 BC. The Romans in particular appreciated the wines from Andalusia - they were already a kind of exclusive specialty back then.

From the 16th century onwards, wine became an extremely important factor in Spain thanks to the monasteries. The drink was now exported extensively to other countries such as England. Today, Spain has the largest wine-growing region in the world.

According to statista.de, it covered more than 950,000 hectares in 2022. France, which is in second place, has around 140,000 hectares less land used for winegrowing. In terms of quantity, Spain is consistently in third place in the ranking of the world's leading wine-growing countries.

More than 35 million hectoliters were produced in the southern European country in both 2021 and 2022. Only French and Italian winegrowers produced larger quantities of the drink.

Well-known red grape varieties from Spain: Tempranillo

Looking at red wine production, there are several well-known and particularly tasty grape varieties in Spain. Some are grown in different areas, others only in one region of the country.

Probably the most famous of the Spanish varieties is Tempranillo. Its versatility is what makes this grape so popular, as it can be used to produce both young and mature wines. In terms of taste, it offers a combination of fruit and tannins.

The grape variety has been cultivated for several centuries, although it is also commonly known under a number of synonyms such as Cencibel. The Tempranillo wines produced in the Spanish regions of Toro, Rioja and Ribera del Duero are particularly well-known.

Other popular Spanish grape varieties

There is also a whole range of other red Spanish grape varieties that stand out due to their individual characteristics and are popular among connoisseurs. These include, among others:

• Monastrell,
• Garnacha Tinta

• and Bobal.

  Monastrell is characterized by the fact that it tolerates heat and drought much better than other grapes. Accordingly, it is mainly produced in the south of Spain and is considered a good basis for strong red wines with sometimes spicy aromas.

Garnacha Tinta, on the other hand, is mainly grown in two areas in Aragon. It is a guarantee for wines with a strong fruity flavor, while acidity and tannin are less prominent.

Bobal is a grape that has only become significantly more popular in the last two decades. It is mainly cultivated in south-eastern Spain. In terms of aroma, the grape has strong tendencies towards black fruits such as currants.

Red wines from Mallorca

Mallorca is an important part of southern Europe, partly due to its culture and high popularity among tourists. When you think of Mallorcan drinks, the first thing that comes to mind is certainly the many different types of beer that are produced there.

History and important figures

However, Mallorca also has a long history of viticulture. The first wines were cultivated here as early as 2000 years ago. The island's wines flourished particularly well in the 19th century, when many of the wine-growing regions in France were massively affected by phylloxera.

Later, however, the winegrowers on Mallorca suffered the same fate. Today, around 45,000 hectoliters of wine are produced on the island every year. The cultivation area used for this is around 2300 hectares.

Perfect climate for good quality and popular grape varieties

In terms of numbers, Mallorca is nowhere near the largest producers in Europe. However, this does not detract from the quality of Mallorcan wines. This is primarily due to the fact that the climate here is very conducive to viticulture.

As in other wine-growing countries, there are several grape varieties for which the island is famous. These include Malvasia and Mantonegro in particular. Sometimes these are blended with other grape varieties during production. The result is versatile red wines that guarantee a strong and unique aroma.

Italy's red wines

Italy is known for its high-quality cuisine. Pasta, pizza and various fish dishes are particularly popular around the world. Anyone who is interested in good wines will quickly realize that Italy also excels in this area and is one of the most important wine-growing nations in Europe. The wines from this southern European country are famous all over the world.

History and important facts about Italian viticulture

The history of Italian wine is closely linked to Greece, as it was the Greeks who brought the drink to the country over 1000 years BC. These Greek wines then dominated the market for a long time.

It was not until two centuries before Christ that Italian wines gained significantly in reputation. The winegrowers of the time used the knowledge they had received from the Greeks. Wine was extremely popular among all social classes in the Roman Empire, which was ruled by famous rulers such as Julius Caesar, and became a kind of popular drink over time.

To this day, the wine nation has hardly lost any of its splendor and greatness. In 2022, almost 50 million hectoliters of the drink were produced in Italy - more than in any other country in the world. Italian winegrowers use a vineyard area of around 700,000 hectares.

Red wine from Italy - the best-known grape varieties

As in other wine cultures, there are a whole range of red grape varieties in Italy that enjoy great popularity or have a special status for historical reasons. These include, among others:

• Aglianico,
• Gropello,
• Sangiovese
• and Merlot.

Aglianico is an extremely noble grape variety that is mainly cultivated in the south of Italy. It is one of the oldest grapes known to Italian wine culture. The grape was brought over by the Greeks several millennia ago. The wines made from it require a long maturing period and have a high tannin content.

Gropello is mainly cultivated in Lombardy, more precisely on the western shore of Lake Garda. The vine has a fresh and fruity taste, while the wines have a comparatively low alcohol content and low acidity.

Sangiovese, on the other hand, is the most widely cultivated grape variety in Italy. It is used very extensively in Tuscany, where it most likely originated. It is also cultivated in Umbria, Latio and on the island of Elba. The Sangiovese grape offers its fans wines with an extremely fruity taste and an aroma reminiscent of berries.

Merlot has its origins in the south of France, more precisely in Bordelais. The grape has now also established itself in Italy and is mainly cultivated in the north-east of the country. The grape variety is particularly appreciated for its fruity and soft aroma. Incidentally, Italian winegrowers also use Merlot for blending with other varieties such as Sangiovese.

Conclusion

Red wines are grown in various countries in southern Europe. These include Italy and Spain. Both countries are among the world's leading wine nations and have a long history in this area. Mallorca also has a tradition in viticulture that goes back 2000 years. In the last few centuries in particular, red wines from the island have become increasingly popular. This development is not entirely surprising: after all, Mallorca has an ideal climate for winegrowing.