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pain’s vine-grow-
ing country is a mosaic of very
diverse terrain and climatic condi-
tions. Growing areas vary from
semi-arid southern lands to wet
northern ones while in the central
tableland vines have adapted to
extremely cold, dry winter weather.
Vine & climate
Spain’s vineyards are character-
ized by their often-extreme climatic
conditions. Vines may be found
growing in desert or volcanic
regions or in landscapes blanketed
by snow. They can grow success-
fully in places with very low annual
rainfall, like
the central
and southeastern
dry regions, or in
extremely damp areas
like those of northwest-
ern Spain, influenced
by Atlantic weather.
In fact, in some
areas the strength
of the winemaking
tradition
is en-
cour-
aged
by the
grape-
vine be-
ing the
only plant
capable
of surviving
and flourishing
in extreme tem-
peratures. None-
theless, in gen-
eral terms, vineyard
development benefits from a warm
and relatively dry environment with
plenty of sunlight, long summers,
and winters that are not too harsh.
Temperature is a key factor in
regulating vines’ basic functions
such as respiration, transpiration
and photosynthesis, which are
activated by warmth. If tempera-
tures are high, ripening speeds
up, yielding sweet and sometimes
fortified wines
(licorosos). In the
northern grow-
ing
regions, or those
at
high altitude, where
temperatures are lower, ripening is
slower and more difficult, produc-
ing wines with a lower alcoholic
content and marked acidity.
Moderate conditions play a vital
role in the vine’s physiological
characteristics. In northern and
northwestern Spain, vines receive
2,000 hours of direct annual
sunlight, and in the Gulf of
Cadiz and certain southeastern
areas, more than 3,000
hours annually -
one of the
highest
figures
worldwide.
Rainfall is a key
factor in the
development of
the vine, affect-
ing not only the
harvest’s volume
but also the fruit’s
quality. Winter
rainfall improves
the quality of
the wine harvest
while a modest
shortfall of summer
rainfall helps to
produce abundant
grapes, although
not necessarily of
the best quality.
Very often the best
vintages coincide
with hot, dry sum-
mers.
Other weather
features also affect
Spanish vineyards.
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MAGAZINE - MARCH 2012