Old World Mastery
Spain
Rioja and Ribera, sherry, cava, and Atlantic Galicia.
20 lessons4,620 practice questions1 certification exam~8 hrs of reading
What you’ll master
Explain why Spain has the world's largest vineyard area yet ranks third in production volume, and use this fact to position Spanish wines on the floor
Explain how Rioja earned Spain's first DOCa designation and articulate the historical events, particularly Bordeaux's phylloxera crisis, that shaped the region's identity
Explain why Rioja's 2019 classification reform, creating Vinos de Zona, Vinos Municipales, and Viñedos Singulares, represents the most significant structural change to the DOCa in its modern history, and articulate both the case for and the resistance against it
Explain the geographic and climatic conditions of Ribera del Duero, including altitude, continental climate, and diurnal variation, and articulate why these conditions produce a wine of distinctly different character than any other Spanish red
The curriculum
20 lessons01
Spain: The Sleeping Giant Awakes, Geography, Grapes, and the DO System
23 min read302 practice questions
02
Rioja Overview: Spain's Most Famous Region and the Style Debate That Defines It
23 min read246 practice questions
03
Rioja's Revolution: Single-Vineyards, Village Wines, and the Producers Redefining Spain's Greatest Region
20 min read205 practice questions
04
Ribera del Duero: Spain's High-Altitude Powerhouse
24 min read250 practice questions
05
Priorat: Llicorella, Old Garnacha, and Spain's Second DOQ
21 min read212 practice questions
06
Rías Baixas and Albariño: Atlantic Spain's Great White Wine
19 min read224 practice questions
07
Galicia Beyond Rías Baixas: Ribeira Sacra, Godello, and Spain's Hidden White Wine Treasures
20 min read209 practice questions
08
Jerez and Sherry: The Most Complex Wine System in the World
27 min read237 practice questions
09
Sherry in Service: From En Rama to VORS, Making the World's Most Complex Wine Sellable
27 min read232 practice questions
10
Cava and Spanish Sparkling Wine: From Industrial Bubbles to World-Class Traditional Method
22 min read251 practice questions
11
Castilla y León, Rueda and Toro: Verdejo's Rise and Tinta de Toro's Power
19 min read217 practice questions
12
Bierzo and Castilla y León's Hidden Gems: Mencía, Cigales, and the Mountain DOs
19 min read167 practice questions
13
Catalonia: From Torres to Terra Alta, Spain's Most Innovative Wine Region
22 min read179 practice questions
14
Navarra, Aragón, and Spain's Garnacha Heartland
21 min read208 practice questions
15
Monastrell and Southeast Spain: Jumilla, Yecla, and Old Vine Power
22 min read193 practice questions
16
Canary Islands: Volcanic Wines, Ancient Vines, and Spain's Most Thrilling Discovery
23 min read264 practice questions
17
Spanish Dessert and Fortified Wines: Málaga, Montilla-Moriles, and the Pedro Ximénez Universe
21 min read213 practice questions
18
Spanish Grape Varieties: A Complete Guide to the Iberian Vine Library
27 min read302 practice questions
19
La Mancha and Central Spain: Volume, Value, and an Emerging Quality Story
20 min read194 practice questions
20
Spain in Service: The Complete Floor Master Class
35 min read315 practice questions
Spain Mastery Exam
LockedComplete all 20 lessons to unlock the exam and earn the Wine Saint Certified: Spain credential. A free account tracks your lessons and holds your certificate.