The Winery El Conquistador Don Rodrigo of Cantabrie

Discovering the wine region of Cantabrie

Cantabria is a small region on the northern coast of Spain, wedged between the Cantabrian Mountains and the Bay of Biscay. Together with its neighbours, Asturias (to the west) and the Basque Country (to the east), this lush, mountainous region is affectionately known as España Verde, ("Green Spain"). Viticulture has not traditionally been important here, as the local soils are too fertile and the Climate too wet and windy for quality viticulture. The few wines that are produced tend to be low-alcohol, high-acid, bright-tasting white wines, similar to the txakoli of the Basque Country.

The region's most respected drinks are its tangy Sidra (cider) and orujo. The latter is a brandy distilled from GrapeMarc. Nevertheless, there are now two Vino de la Tierra (VT) titles in Cantabria: Liebana VT and Costa de Cantabria VT. Liebana is nestled in the southwest corner of the region, in a particular mesoclimate created by four valleys.