Bumper crop of Spanish wine in store for 2016

Although many famous Spanish wines adorn tables the world over, it is often the case that much of Spain’s produce is bottled up and labelled as Italian or French.

If Spain wasn’t already considered one of the most glorious nations in the world – blessed with superb beaches, a wonderful climate, the healthiest diet and more gorgeous cities, pueblos and landscapes than you can shake a churro at – the fact that it is also the world’s biggest wine producer is the cherry on top of the very delicious cake…

And data published this week has revealed that the country is in line for a bumper year for wine production, with Spain on course to make more than 50 million hectolitres of wine this year. If you don’t know what a hectolitre is, then you’re not alone. But according to Wikipedia a hectolitre is “a unit of volume or capacity equivalent to 100 litres”.

Add that all up and that is a heck of a lot of wine.

So why the bumper crop? Spain’s assorted associations and bodies of grape growers and wineries reckon that the forthcoming harvest, due in September, is looking rather rosy, with current forecasts suggesting that there are enough grapes on the vines to surpass the 52.5 million hectolitre record set in 2013.

A relatively mild, wet winter and spring, followed by intense summer sunshine, has helped boost crop numbers, while the year has thus far been relatively free from crop disease, save for a few outbreaks of mildew and other ailments in the regions of Huelva, Galicia and Jerez. However, it is in the hinterlands of Castilla-La Mancha where approximately half of that record-breaking wine figure will be produced, and conditions there have been excellent, experts say.

Other regions on course to produce a bumper crop include Extremadura, Valencia, Ribera del Duero and world-famous La Rioja.

What’s more, wineries have begun growing more grapes in response to increased global demand for Spanish wine. While domestic demand regularly hits around 10 million hectolitres, Spanish wine’s improving reputation globally means that production in excess of 50 million hectolitres is certainly not a problem.

However, one little-known aspect of Spain’s record-breaking production is the fact that close to half of the volume shipped abroad goes to wineries in rival nations France and Italy, where the wine is often blended with other varieties and labelled as French or Italian purely to sate the demands of purchasers who still think that these two countries produce the finest plonk.

Spain is still relatively happy with this set up, because it means that pretty much every last drop of wine produced is sold, whether labelled as Spanish or not.

So even when Spain cannot take the credit, the world is unknowingly enjoying the best the country has to offer.