Andalucía, a region in southern Spain has a long and diverse winemaking history. While not that famous for its wines as some other Spanish regions like Rioja or Ribera del Duero, the region is known for its beautiful landscapes and quality winemaking tradition. Traditional methods are still common in this region involving amongst others the use of mules for ploughing and harvesting.
Andalusia's viticultural history stretches back more than 2,000 years with winemaking by the Phoenicians. These vineyards were the cradle of the first Spanish wines. The region became really known for wines such as Sherry when exporting them within Europe. That was until the 19th century, when diseases struck European vineyards, including Jerez and Malaga, which are smaller wine regions within the Andalucia wine region.
Andalusia has a hot climate. That is why vineyards are often situated in the cooler coastal or higher-altitude areas. These vineyards thrive in mountainous regions like Sierras de Malaga, Sierra Nevada, and Alpujarras. The area offers a range of cultivated grapes, from local to international varieties, making it a very diverse wine region. Some vineyards, even at 1,000 to 1,400 meters, produce wines with grapes like Pinot Noir, which is very uncommon in a south mediterranean area.
