
Spanish wines ranked 3rd in the world in production according to FAO statistics for 2010, with a total production of 3.6 million metric tonnes. Portuguese wines followed with 587K metric tonnes in 2010, ranking 11th in the world.
Portuguese wines come from the famous wine regions of Porto, Douro, Dao and Alentejo. The Douro Valley of Portugal has the world's oldest appellation system.
Spanish wines include those from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Toro, Cava, Bierzo, Priorat, Penedes, Yecla, Carinena, Rueda, Rias Baixas, Campo de Borja, Montsant, Zamora, Manchuela and Montilla.
Our current Portuguese and Spanish wine gems feature many grape varietals, including Tempranillo, Carinena, Garnacha, Monastrell, Syrah, Mencia, Bobal, Albarino, Parellada, Xarel.lo, Verdejo, Muscat, Macabeo and Pedro Ximenez.
"Time ripens all things; no man is born wise."
--Miguel De Cervantes, Spanish adventurer, author, & poet (1547 - 1616)