
Beyond Rioja: 5 Underrated Spanish Wine Regions
Ronda, Spain at Puente Nuevo Bridge.
Most travelers who come to Spain for wine often go to the same few places. Rioja. Jerez. Even Catalonia for cava.
Spain remains one of the world's most influential wine-producing countries, with the largest vineyard area globally and the third-highest production in the European Union after France and Italy. As of 2024, domestic wine consumption reached 9.76 million hectoliters, a 1.3% increase from the previous year, driven in part by stable prices and a rebound in tourism that bolstered on-premise sales in restaurants and hotels. That same year, Spain's wine tourism industry was projected to generate $4.1 billion, representing 11% of the European market.
Nearly 3 million people visited Spain for wine tourism in 2023, an 18.2% increase from the previous year. While much of this activity centers on established hubs like La Rioja and Ribera del Duero, the sector's expansion reflects broader interest in Spanish wine culture—including lesser-known regions now drawing attention for their distinct production methods and grape varieties.
Beyond the major names, a quieter movement is reshaping the country's wine production and attracting a new kind of visitor as slow travel and quiet travel (and even silent travel) take greater hold over tourism.
'For discerning travelers or collectors, the Málaga wine region offers some incredibly unique finds,' says Nicky Lloyd, founder and CEO of Rootz Wine Tours, via email. 'In Axarquía and Manilva, look for aromatic muscat wines that showcase the purity and freshness of the Mediterranean landscape. Ronda's high-altitude wines have a distinct minerality and elegance that you won't find in many other places, offer a great ability to age and evolve over time. Antequera's wines, with a focus on local varieties and traditional winemaking methods, offer a fascinating glimpse into the region's past.'
These five underappreciated regions are gaining attention among travelers seeking something unfamiliar.
Lovers Rock in Antequera, Spain.
Antequera sits at a crossroads in Andalucía. Its history stretches back millennia, but its wine production has largely remained outside the spotlight. Local producers work with grapes sourced nearby and focus on small-scale bottlings with distinct characteristics.
The area's climate and elevation allow for flexibility in winemaking approaches, but production remains limited. What the region offers is accessibility and a quieter setting just outside the main tourist corridors. Between Seville and Málaga, Antequera is easily reached but often overlooked, offering a slower pace and a more personal experience with its wines.
Lloyd notes there's also a real push here towards eco-conscious viticulture.
'Unlike some of Spain's larger, more industrial wine regions, Málaga's winemakers often work with small, family-run operations that prioritize sustainability as a way to preserve the land for future generations,' Lloyd says. 'Organic and biodynamic farming practices are becoming increasingly popular, especially in places like Ronda and Antequera, where the terrain and climate lend themselves to low-intervention farming. Producers here are dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint, using organic fertilizers, and embracing natural pest control methods."
Frigiliana is a village in the province of Málaga, located within Axarquía, a comarca—or district—of Andalucía in southern Spain.
To the east of Málaga, Axarquía clings to steep hillsides that resist mechanization.
'Axarquia remains a very traditional place for wine production in particular,' says Lloyd. 'Here, old-world techniques still shape the character of the wines. The only way to prune and pick the grapes is by hand. They still use mules to plough the hillside in between the vines."
Lindsay Gregory, founder and director of the Luxury Villa Collection, suggests a lack of rain is the major factor as well.
'They have to use local autochthonous grape varieties and methods, which need less water because of this,' says Gregory. 'Also, many of the wineries are mostly bio-natural or organic, so they have to be totally in tune with the land."
The region is known for sweet moscatel wines, though red romé grapes native to the area are also widely used. With more than 2,200 hectares under vine, Axarquía is part of the Málaga and Sierras de Málaga denominación and is home to numerous small wineries.
Nearby Frigiliana is considered among the most scenic villages in Andalucía, and tastings are often paired with visits to whitewashed hill towns. Though not widely visited, Axarquía is the primary subzone for wine within the Málaga area, making it relatively easy to reach for those willing to move beyond the usual stops.
El Puerto de Santa María in Andalucía, Spain.
Part of the Cádiz-based Sherry Triangle, El Puerto de Santa Maria is frequently passed over in favor of Jerez de la Frontera. But this smaller town features historic bodegas and sherry houses producing high-quality wines with deep roots in the region's past.
Producers focus on sherries including manzanilla, palo cortado and amontillado, often using methods passed down through generations. Family-run operations dot the town's narrow streets and offer access to tasting experiences in more intimate settings than those found in larger cities.
El Puerto de Santa Maria is one of three key towns in the sherry-producing area, and though it receives less attention, it remains central to the region's identity. Traditional bodegas and aging facilities are still in use, and some are paired with on-site dining that features regional specialties.
Ronda, Málaga, Spain.
Perched above a deep gorge in southern Spain, Ronda has emerged as a serious wine destination with a focus on small, independent producers.
"Malaga is a curious region. It has 49 wineries, 28 of which are in Ronda,' notes Lloyd. 'However, the area under vineyard is equally distributed between Axarquia, Antequera and Manilva. The majority of the wineries in Ronda are small boutique organic wineries with a production of less than 15,000 bottles per year. Whereas the coastal regions of Axarquia and Manilva mainly produce sweet wines and dry wines from muscat and Pedro Ximénez, Ronda has a greater focus on full-bodied, aged red wines.'
Boutique operations work with varietals including petit verdot and malbec. Many tasting rooms are located just outside town, with views over the countryside and surrounding mountains. Some of the area's most noted wineries occupy restored historic buildings, including a 16th-century monastery.
'Ronda is definitely taking off as a wine destination in its own right,' says Gregory. 'The 'Sherry Triangle' is now firmly on the map thanks to local initiatives like International Sherry Week, which was founded by Chelsea Anthon 12 years ago, working with a growing list of English-speaking Sherry educators.'
Lloyd echoes the growing tourism infrastructure in Ronda. 'The region has built up a solid following over the last 10 years for its consistently and well-made, high-quality, fruit-driven wines with good aging potential. The region offers an ideal climate for wine making with consistently warm springs and summers to encourage perfect ripening of the grapes.'
Alquézar, Somontano de Barbastro, Huesca, an autonomous community of Aragón, Spain.
Set at the base of the Pyrenees in Aragón, Somontano has become a center for experimentation and modernization. The region's name means 'beneath the mountain,' and its diverse topography supports both native and international grape varieties.
Growers work with moristel, parraleta, syrah, gewürztraminer and merlot. Winemaking here gained momentum in the late 20th century, and many producers combine modern facilities with long-established techniques. Wineries such as Sommos and Viñas del Vero have helped shape the area's reputation for innovation.
With fewer visitors and proximity to historic villages and national parks, Somontano appeals to travelers seeking a quieter destination. The wines are varied, with crisp whites and structured reds, and the setting offers a contrast to Spain's more heavily trafficked regions.

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Washington Post
4 hours ago
- Washington Post
Sweat, tears, devotion: Pilgrims cross the wilderness to honor the Rocio Virgin in Spain
EL ROCIO, Spain — Their faces, hats and flamenco dresses caked in dust, hundreds of pilgrims gathered around an ox-driven carriage with their icon of the Virgin Mary after slogging on foot, horses and wagons through dirt roads for nearly 12 hours. The festive flamenco music stopped, the ubiquitous beer bottles and wine glasses were put down, and the Catholic faithful prayed an evening rosary by pine trees in the wilderness a few miles from the hamlet of El Rocío. 'One can drink and hang out. Our best friends are here. But it's essential to pray,' said Meme Morales, who's been doing this pilgrimage since the early 1990s, this year with her two grown daughters. 'The Virgin is something that forms part of our life.' Venerating the Rocío Virgin has been a tradition since the main icon was discovered near this village in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia around the end of the 13th century. It has grown into one of world's largest, most unique Catholic pilgrimages. For days before Pentecost weekend, about a million people do the 'romería del Rocío' in swirling clouds of dust that's as pervasive and natural as the faithful's devotion. It looks like a rolling, wild party, even among the religious brotherhoods, more than 130 of whom participate, taking different paths from around the region and as distant as Brussels. Morales' group is the Triana brotherhood. From when they break camp around dawn until well into the night, they sing flamenco songs, many specific to each brotherhood — accompanied by guitar and rhythmic clapping. Homemade food and copious amounts of water, beer and sherry are shared with friends and strangers alike. But there are prayers at every break along the country paths, priests to hear confession at day's end, conversations about the pope, mission trips and social outreach, even solemn Masses in the fields. 'Without that, this wouldn't make any sense. 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He quoted Pope Leo XIV 's first public words about God's love for everyone — adding, to laughter, that love included those at that moment receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation behind the wagon still grasping their beer bottles. 'There's a profound sense of spontaneity in El Rocío … just like in the Gospel when Jesus goes to have dinner with folks,' Sánchez said later. 'We have a lot of time to come to God crying in life, but that's not El Rocío.' One reason for the pilgrimage's down-to-earth nature is El Rocío's location, in the wetlands and sand dunes of the Guadalquivir River's estuary, said Juan Carlos González Faraco, a University of Huelva professor who has studied the pilgrimage. Until the last few decades, when large-scale greenhouse farming and natural protected areas have taken over, it was a malaria-prone wilderness frequented mostly by cattle and horse ranchers. That's allowed the centuries-old pilgrimage tradition to continue without the strictness of other places of devotion to Mary . It has stayed in the hands of the brotherhoods instead of the institutional church, said González. He's a member of the main brotherhood from Almonte, the closest town to the sanctuary that manages its white church filled with golden images and orange sand from the pilgrims' footsteps. Its president, Santiago Padilla, spent hours at the sanctuary's doors Saturday, solemnly welcoming each brotherhood as they arrived. 'They come laden with intentions, supplications, prayers. And it's the moment we shake their hands, we hug and we give thanks to the Virgin for this pilgrimage they made,' said Padilla, whose family has been pilgrims for generations. Padilla wore an impeccably white jacket and formal riding kit, like many members of the brotherhoods who do the pilgrimage on horseback. Women wear shawls and long, flaring dresses or skirts — to better ride sideways on horses and protect themselves from the brush and the sun. Such outfits might look like Spanish stereotypes, but they pay homage to the working traditions of many families from the area. 'Everything that has a good presence takes us a bit closer to God,' said Ignacio Sabater Wasaldúa, the Triana brotherhood leader. He rode horses this year alongside his son, helping lead the dozens of wagons and thousands of pilgrims on foot. The brotherhoods stress that their commitment to Christian life transcends one yearly pilgrimage — though it draws inspiration from it and they wouldn't consider missing it . 'El Rocío should be a model for society, with affection and solidarity,' Sabater said. Triana, for instance, maintains a chapel with daily Masses and brings nearly 200 youth from marginalized backgrounds to the brotherhood's house in El Rocío for a summer camp. 'I'm a rociera the whole year,' said Macarena Ruíz, who started participating in the late 1980s and whose three children are camp counselors. Despite Spain's growing secularization, youth remain involved in the pilgrimage, whether to maintain a family tradition, make new friends or live out their faith. This year, Triana's youth group organized Eucharistic adoration late into the second night at camp. 'That's the assurance that this will not be lost,' said Esperanza García Rivero, whose grandfather took his wagon on the pilgrimage in the 1940s. Hidden beneath the traditions and the festivities, many pilgrims are motivated by promises they made to the Virgin. After a double mastectomy for breast cancer, Paloma Maria had a large Mary tattoo designed between her shoulders. 'It's her who takes care of me. My Rocío Virgin is everything for me,' said the young woman from Cordoba. Maria Mendoza also came to give thanks when, together with García and her close Triana friends, she walked into the sanctuary Saturday after the brotherhood was formally received in front of it. More pilgrimage events awaited, culminating in Sunday night's final procession of the Rocío icon to visit every brotherhood in town. It's a massive scrum that lasts hours, after which the faithful make their long return journeys, on foot, horses and carts. But this was the first moment when the women were finally face to face with their Virgin. Tears quickly mixed with sweat and dust on their faces. 'So many thoughts swirling, for you, for your friends … it's just an explosion,' Sara de la Haza whispered. Then someone in the crowd intoned the Triana's salute to the Virgin. The friends wiped their eyes and started joyfully singing — 'You are the white dove, you are what I've loved the most since the day I was born.' ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Associated Press
4 hours ago
- Associated Press
Sweat, tears, devotion: Pilgrims cross the wilderness to honor the Rocío Virgin in Spain
EL ROCIO, Spain (AP) — Their faces, hats and flamenco dresses caked in dust, hundreds of pilgrims gathered around an ox-driven carriage with their icon of the Virgin Mary after slogging on foot, horses and wagons through dirt roads for nearly 12 hours. The festive flamenco music stopped, the ubiquitous beer bottles and wine glasses were put down, and the Catholic faithful prayed an evening rosary by pine trees in the wilderness a few miles from the hamlet of El Rocío. 'One can drink and hang out. Our best friends are here. But it's essential to pray,' said Meme Morales, who's been doing this pilgrimage since the early 1990s, this year with her two grown daughters. 'The Virgin is something that forms part of our life.' Venerating the Rocío Virgin has been a tradition since the main icon was discovered near this village in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia around the end of the 13th century. It has grown into one of world's largest, most unique Catholic pilgrimages. For days before Pentecost weekend, about a million people do the 'romería del Rocío' in swirling clouds of dust that's as pervasive and natural as the faithful's devotion. Feast and faith as pilgrims make their way It looks like a rolling, wild party, even among the religious brotherhoods, more than 130 of whom participate, taking different paths from around the region and as distant as Brussels. Morales' group is the Triana brotherhood. From when they break camp around dawn until well into the night, they sing flamenco songs, many specific to each brotherhood — accompanied by guitar and rhythmic clapping. Homemade food and copious amounts of water, beer and sherry are shared with friends and strangers alike. But there are prayers at every break along the country paths, priests to hear confession at day's end, conversations about the pope, mission trips and social outreach, even solemn Masses in the fields. 'Without that, this wouldn't make any sense. It would be a picnic,' said Patricia Rodríguez Galinier, who oversees liturgical celebrations for the Triana brotherhood. Based in a neighborhood by the same name in Seville, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) away, it's one of the largest and oldest, founded more than 200 years ago. Rodríguez had just helped set up Mass by the Triana 'simpecado' — meaning 'without sin.' It refers to their version of the icon of the Virgin, carried by an ox-driven cart covered in silver and fresh flowers. At each night's camp, wagons are set in a circle and people gather to worship through the night. With the oxen tied to small trees and some riders still on horses in the 90-degree weather (33 Celsius), more than 700 faithful listened to the homily by their spiritual director, the Rev. Manuel Sánchez. He quoted Pope Leo XIV 's first public words about God's love for everyone — adding, to laughter, that love included those at that moment receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation behind the wagon still grasping their beer bottles. 'There's a profound sense of spontaneity in El Rocío … just like in the Gospel when Jesus goes to have dinner with folks,' Sánchez said later. 'We have a lot of time to come to God crying in life, but that's not El Rocío.' Popular devotion rooted in a place at the margins One reason for the pilgrimage's down-to-earth nature is El Rocío's location, in the wetlands and sand dunes of the Guadalquivir River's estuary, said Juan Carlos González Faraco, a University of Huelva professor who has studied the pilgrimage. Until the last few decades, when large-scale greenhouse farming and natural protected areas have taken over, it was a malaria-prone wilderness frequented mostly by cattle and horse ranchers. That's allowed the centuries-old pilgrimage tradition to continue without the strictness of other places of devotion to Mary. It has stayed in the hands of the brotherhoods instead of the institutional church, said González. He's a member of the main brotherhood from Almonte, the closest town to the sanctuary that manages its white church filled with golden images and orange sand from the pilgrims' footsteps. Its president, Santiago Padilla, spent hours at the sanctuary's doors Saturday, solemnly welcoming each brotherhood as they arrived. 'They come laden with intentions, supplications, prayers. And it's the moment we shake their hands, we hug and we give thanks to the Virgin for this pilgrimage they made,' said Padilla, whose family has been pilgrims for generations. A return to countryside roots Padilla wore an impeccably white jacket and formal riding kit, like many members of the brotherhoods who do the pilgrimage on horseback. Women wear shawls and long, flaring dresses or skirts — to better ride sideways on horses and protect themselves from the brush and the sun. Such outfits might look like Spanish stereotypes, but they pay homage to the working traditions of many families from the area. 'Everything that has a good presence takes us a bit closer to God,' said Ignacio Sabater Wasaldúa, the Triana brotherhood leader. He rode horses this year alongside his son, helping lead the dozens of wagons and thousands of pilgrims on foot. The brotherhoods stress that their commitment to Christian life transcends one yearly pilgrimage — though it draws inspiration from it and they wouldn't consider missing it. 'El Rocío should be a model for society, with affection and solidarity,' Sabater said. Triana, for instance, maintains a chapel with daily Masses and brings nearly 200 youth from marginalized backgrounds to the brotherhood's house in El Rocío for a summer camp. 'I'm a rociera the whole year,' said Macarena Ruíz, who started participating in the late 1980s and whose three children are camp counselors. Despite Spain's growing secularization, youth remain involved in the pilgrimage, whether to maintain a family tradition, make new friends or live out their faith. This year, Triana's youth group organized Eucharistic adoration late into the second night at camp. 'That's the assurance that this will not be lost,' said Esperanza García Rivero, whose grandfather took his wagon on the pilgrimage in the 1940s. Sweat and tears before Mary, mother of God Hidden beneath the traditions and the festivities, many pilgrims are motivated by promises they made to the Virgin. After a double mastectomy for breast cancer, Paloma Maria had a large Mary tattoo designed between her shoulders. 'It's her who takes care of me. My Rocío Virgin is everything for me,' said the young woman from Cordoba. Maria Mendoza also came to give thanks when, together with García and her close Triana friends, she walked into the sanctuary Saturday after the brotherhood was formally received in front of it. More pilgrimage events awaited, culminating in Sunday night's final procession of the Rocío icon to visit every brotherhood in town. It's a massive scrum that lasts hours, after which the faithful make their long return journeys, on foot, horses and carts. But this was the first moment when the women were finally face to face with their Virgin. Tears quickly mixed with sweat and dust on their faces. 'So many thoughts swirling, for you, for your friends … it's just an explosion,' Sara de la Haza whispered. Then someone in the crowd intoned the Triana's salute to the Virgin. The friends wiped their eyes and started joyfully singing — 'You are the white dove, you are what I've loved the most since the day I was born.' ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.


Forbes
5 hours ago
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