Andalucía

The second largest of the 17 autonomous regions in the south of Spain (Spanish: Andalucía), comprising eight provinces. It is bordered to the east by the region of Murcia, and to the north by the regions of Extremadura and La Mancha. It is the oldest wine region in Spain, as the Phoenicians founded the port city of Gadir (today's Cádiz) as early as 1,100 BC and exported wine. Even during the 700-year rule of the Moors until the end of the 15th century, wine continued to be produced here on a limited scale, but mainly sultanas. The Moors transformed the area into a large garden and it was called "paradise on earth". Much earlier than the rest of Andalusia, Jerez was taken from the Moors as early as 1264 and high alcohol wines were produced in the manner of sherry. From the 16th century onwards, there was an economic decline in viticulture as well, and it was not until the advent of tourism in the early 1950s that there was a major upswing. Andalusia is the hottest part of Spain with a Mediterranean climate. The westerly winds from the Atlantic provide cooling and the often calcareous soil stores water even during dry periods. In the region, the areas of Condado de Huelva, Jerez, Malaga, Montilla-Moriles and Sierras de Málaga are classified as DO areas.