Spain's winemaking history can be traced back to the Phoenicians in about 1100BC with evidence of vines being cultivated since 4000 BC. It wasn't until Spain was conquered by the Roman Empire that the country's wines were exported. However, these trade routes to northern Europe collapsed with the Roman rule. By 1250, Christians had reclaimed the country from the Moors and wines were again shipped to England.
Christopher Columbus' discovery of the West Indies in 1492 opened up an important New World market for Spanish wines.
Development of winemaking quality was slow with no real progression for centuries leaving vines vulnerable to phylloxera, which proved devastating for Spanish winemakers. This led to an influx of skilled practitioners from France, giving new expertise and impetus to the industry in the late 19th century.
The country's DO appellation system was formed in 1926, but civil and then world wars saw export markets die and vineyards become neglected. It wasn't until the 1950s that the Spanish wine industry saw recovery with large co-operatives producing inexpensive bulk wine for the domestic market.
The quality evolution really began around 1975, with the restoration of Spain's monarchy and greater economic development which drove a rise in demand for higher quality wines from a growing middle class.
Partly funded by EU finance, private estates emerged from the co-operatives and international grape varieties were introduced to satisfy this developing market. From this movement, just two estates so far have established the status and reputation of great Spanish investment wines to date.
