Top 10 Spanish regions to watch

(TDB) - Often touted as one of the most dynamic wine producing countries in the world, the only constant with Spanish wine it seems, is change.

Spain’s wine map is ever evolving, with new DOs and Pagos frequently popping up as wine growing regions come to light that merit official recognition. Happy to fly the red and yellow flag, the UK wine trade is bubbling with enthusiasm for Spain’s diverse and intriguing array of wines. Unfortunately, while their praise is more than justified, many of Spain’s most avant-garde wines are too small scale – and too expensive – to receive significant exposure in the UK.

One native grape that has successfully crossed the Atlantic is the attractively aromatic Albariño, which is enjoying its moment in the sun in both the on and off-trade. Atlantic grapes like Mencía and Godello meanwhile, are gradually finding their way into the UK.

Tapping into a growing consumer thirst for authenticity and provenance, winemakers in Spain have been busy reviving little-known indigenous grapes such as Rufete, Prieto Picudo and Juan García, leading to characterful, terroir-driven wines with a distinctly Spanish stamp.

The current Spanish wine boom in the UK owes a lot to forward-thinking Spanish restaurants like Fino, Pizarro, Camino, Cambio de Tercio and Ibérica, which are taking risks with their wine lists and shining a light on Spain’s unsung regions. Read on for our round up of the ten most exciting emerging regions in Spain and the native grape varieties they are hanging their hats on.