Vino de España wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

Vin de table

« Vino de España » is the broadest tier of Spain's wine classification system: it covers wines that fall outside both the Denominación de Origen framework (DO, DOCa) and the protected geographical indication known as Vino de la Tierra. It is therefore not tied to any delimited area — grapes can be harvested anywhere in Spain, including a blend of several regions within a single wine. Spain holds the largest area under vine of any country in the world, spread across markedly different soils and climates, from the Atlantic-influenced northwest to the hot, dry summers of the central plateau and the Mediterranean south. No grape variety is mandated: producers can draw on the whole of Spain's vineyard, whose most widely planted varieties are tempranillo and airén, followed by garnacha tinta, bobal and monastrell. This freedom from geographical delimitation and varietal restriction sets « Vino de España » apart from Spain's regional designations, which are far stricter on origin and permitted grape varieties.

The wines of this appellation

« Vino de España » covers every colour produced in Spain: red, white, rosé and sparkling wines, in styles ranging from simple, fruit-forward wines made for quick drinking to single-variety wines built around one grape such as tempranillo, garnacha tinta or airén. When the wine's composition allows it, the label may state the vintage as well as the grape variety or varieties used. Aromatic profile and structure therefore vary widely according to grape variety, area of harvest and the style a producer is aiming for, from light, fruity wines to fuller, more structured blends. Most are made to be drunk young, within two to three years of harvest; some single-variety wines from more structured grapes can hold a little longer. This diversity of colours and styles lets them pair with everyday dishes as much as with tapas, depending on the colour and style chosen.