Spanish Wine Tour Vacations

Around 60 million tourists visit Spain every year, partly due to the climate (315 days of sunshine per year) partly due to rich and diverse culture and history ( Spain has been controlled by the Roman Empire and Muslim invaders from North Africa, creating an unparalleled mix of architecture and traditions) and many come to sample the regions famous wines. Spain has been a hotspot for travel in Europe for many years now, particularly with North Western Europeans such as Scandinavians, Germans and British tourists. But over the last few years the Spanish government has invested hugely in the travel and transport infrastructure to service the countries growing population ( of which over 1 million are British ex-pats) and to prepare the country for the ever increasing amount of visitors. The government is also laying down strict planning guidelines to ensure building and overdevelopment do not completely overwhelm the present rustic Mediterranean charm of the nation.

Spain is one of the easiest and most affordable of the world's tourist destinations to get to - particularly from the UK, Europe and North America. For instance there are cheap airfares available from the main Spanish airports to the USA every day. Unlike many countries in Europe, prices in Spain are relatively cheap so wont come as a shock to US visitors and the climate is very agreeable as long as you don't visit Southern Spain in the middle of summer when it can be too hot for some. Best visit North Spain in the summer and Southern Spain in the Spring or Fall. The Canary Islands which are under Spanish rule are actually located just of the shore of North Africa and are intolerably hot in summer months, but are very popular in the winter months when the climate is very comfortable with lots of sunshine.

If you like the beach and are visiting Europe you have to check out the Spanish coast. Spain was the European country to receive the most blue flags in the 2006 awards ( Blue flags are European awards for cleanliness and safety of sea side areas and beaches). For the wine connoisseur's among you Spain is famous for its wine making and there are many officially recognized routes to explore throughout Spain - or of course you could hire a car and plan your own itinerary. The main wine routes are

* Jumilla wine route - in the Region of Murcia ( South east Spain). The city of Murcia has an interesting old town, and the surrounding area produces wines which are becoming ever more recognized at a national and international level.

* La Mancha wine route - in Central Spain, Castile-La Mancha is the most extensive wine-growing region in the world.

* La Rioja Alavesa wine route - in Northern Spain, the region called Rioja Alavesa. This unique geographical location, between the Ebro River and the Cantabria Mountains, give this region an unusual microclimate for wine production.

* Las Rías Baixas wine route -in northern Spain, head for the Rías Baixas region, This route is an invitation to discover everything that surrounds Albariño wine.

* Montilla-Moriles wine route - in region of Andalusia. Montilla-Moriles wines are part of a long wine-producing tradition and produced with a very slow aging process. The Montilla-Moriles Wine Route gives you the chance to get to know the secrets of this painstaking process, which is part of the very identity of this beautiful region in the Cordoba province.

* Navarre wine route - Visit the North central area of Navarre and discover its famous wine route. Besides sampling some exquisite wines, you will also discover a land of rich historical significence, which lies on the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

* Penedès wine and cava (sparkling wine) routes - Catalonia, North East Spain, located between the plains of the Mediterranean coast and the nearby Pyrenees mountains. This is also where another universally renowned wine is produced, Cava (sparkling wine).

* Somontano wine route - the Somontano region, in northern Spain. This part of Huesca located at the very foot of the Pyrenees, and the Sierra y los Cañones de Guara Nature Reserve, have been making exquisite wines for hundreds of years.

Whether you choose to take an organized tour such as a VIP luxury wine tour, or a Day Excursion to Spanish wine country from any of the major cities, a luxury wine tasting weekend, or a fully fledged wine tour lasting 2-3 weeks - Spain has much to offer.