A Wine Tour of the Iberian Peninsula

Home to some of the world’s most revered wine regions, the Iberian Peninsula boasts a rich viticultural history, which dates from 4000 to 3000 B.C. Spain is the world’s third-largest wine producer, with more acres planted under vine than that of any other country. Its neighbor Portugal is the seventh-largest producer; its 14 official wine regions include the Douro, the world’s oldest wine demarcation.

In addition to their award-winning vineyards, Spain and Portugal’s wine regions offer rich historical and cultural treasures, world-class recreation and entertainment, as well as luxury resorts and Michelin-starred restaurants. Luxury Defined explores four of the Iberian Peninsula’s world-class wine regions: Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero, and Portugal’s Douro Valley and Alentejo.

SPAIN

Joan Miró’s “The Farm”, now hanging in the National Gallery, communicated the essence of Spain to one of the country’s most famous British admirers. Ernest Hemingway said of the painting: “It has in it all that you feel about Spain when you are there and all that you feel when you are away and cannot go there.” Spain is the third largest wine-producing country and includes the La Rioja region, where a unique terroir and masterful viniculture give the eponymous rich red wines their distinctive power. Best known for its world renowned reds (tinto), the best-known and most widely-used variety is Tempranillo. Other grapes used include Garnacha Tinta, Graciano and Mazuelo. Rioja wines also include white (blanco) or rosé (rosado). The climate is Atlantic, with wet winters, mild temperatures and strong winds. The vines are trained along granite posts (called parrales) and wires so as to protect them from humidity and to maximize their exposure to the sun in summer. Christie’s achieved the world record for the artist in 2012 with Joan Miró’s Painting-Poem, which realized £19,081,250.

RIOJA

Located south of the Cantabrian Mountains along the Ebro river, La Rioja benefits from a continental climate and gave its name to the first Spanish Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC), a prestige that has made Rioja wines known across the world. Both a province and an autonomous region, La Rioja sits between Navarra and the Pais Vasco to the north, Aragón to the east, and Castilla León to the west and south. 

Don’t miss: Rioja’s award-winning vineyards include Lopez de Heredia in Haro, Bodegas Muga in Haro, and Bodegas Marques de Riscal in Laguardia, which is also home to the spectacular Frank Gehry-designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal and its Michelin-starred restaurant, Bistro Restaurant 1860.

Getting here: Located 1.5 hours’ drive south of Bilbao Airport. Spain’s most celebrated wine region is composed of three sub-regions: Rioja Alta in the west, Rioja Alavesa in the north, and Rioja Baja in the southeast.

RIBERA DEL DUERO

The Ribera del Duero DO is located in the country’s northern plateau that produces some of Spain’s most prized and acclaimed wines. Tinta Fina or Cencibel, the local names for Tempranillo, is the dominant variety, sometimes blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot. The Rías Baixas DO is home to white wines made predominantly from the Albariño grape.

Don’t miss: Ribera del Duero is home to 170 bodegas including the world-renowned Vega Sicilia in Valbuena del Duero, Tinto Pesquera in Pesquera de Duero, and Peñalba López and hotel on the historic Torremilanos estate near Aranda.

Getting here: One of Spain’s greatest wine regions, Ribera del Duero is situated in the autonomous region of Castile and León on Spain’s northern plateau, less than a two-hour drive north of Madrid.

PORTUGAL

PORTO & THE DOURO VALLEY

Port was given its name for the Portuguese city of Porto, from which the wine became a favorite across Europe in the 1700s. Long enjoyed by sophisticated palates worldwide, port is variously taken as a dessert wine although it comes in dryer varieties. Recently the owners of a group of quintas, ancient port-producing estates along the Douro River, have proclaimed themselves the Douro Boys (although one is a woman). Their mission is to show the world that traditional port grapes, like Tinto Roriz and Touriga Nacional, can produce top-notch reds and a few whites.

Don’t miss: The Douro’s finest quintas, or wine estates include Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta Nova, and Quinta dos Malvedos. The region is an epicurean haven and offers an array of gourmet restaurants including three Michelin-starred restaurants: Largo do Paço at the Hotel Casa da Calçada, Pedro Lemos, and The Yeatman, all located in Porto.

Getting here: The Douro Valley stretches from the city of Porto to the eastern border of Portugal. Its spectacular terraced vineyards and two-millennia viticultural history have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Located just under three hours’ drive from Lisbon international airport, the Douro Valley can also be accessed via the regional airport of Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, approximately 10 miles from city center.

ALENTEJO

Located in the south of Portugal, Alentejo is separated from the rest of Portugal by the Tagus River and is typically very dry and hot. While this region is world famous for its vast cork production, in recent years it has garnered attention for its wines, and eight separate areas bear the Alentejo DOC designation. The wines of Alentejo are predominantly red made from the Tempranillo grape but are also made from other indigenous varietals. The Algarve region is the southernmost in Portugal. Well known for its beaches, it is also known for having an excellent terroir for growing vines and its unique maritime climate and limestone soil provide an excellent base to its full-bodied reds.

Don’t Miss: A guide to the Alentejo wine region can be picked up in the beautiful medieval town of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the capital of the province. Alentejo’s most famous vineyards include Herdade do Mouchão in Casa Branca, Herdade do Esporão in Reguengos de Monsaraz, and Quinta do Carmo in Reguengo, part-owned by the Rothschilds’ Chateau Lafite. Often referred to as Portugal’s gastronomic soul, the region boasts many noteworthy restaurants such as Quinta do Mouro in Estremoz, and the award-winning L’And Vineyards restaurant and resort in Montemor-o-Novo.

Getting here: Located approximately three hours’ drive north of the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, Alentejo is the agricultural center of Portugal. The province is vast, covering one third of the entire country, and is divided into eight sub-regions: Portalegre, Borba, Redondo, Évora, Reguengos, Vidigueira, and Granja/Amareleja Moura.