Jerez named as Spain’s number one wine tourism destination

The latest report from La Asociación Española de Ciudades del Vino (ACEVIN) has revealed that Marco de Jerez is the Spanish wine destination that received the highest number of visitors last year.

Overall, wine tourism in Spain experienced something of a post-Covid-19 pandemic boost in 2022, with the figure for the number of tourists travelling around the ‘wine routes’ of Spain reaching 2,487,255, 51.59% higher than that of 2021 (1,640,800), though the 2022 result was still only 80% of the last pre-pandemic figure.

Last year’s tourist visits to wineries and wine museums are believed to have generated €75,481,646 for the economy, 39% above the 2021 level, but still 12% short of the 2019 level.

The bulk of these tourists, around 80%, are domestic travellers, though overall proportion of international visitors has increased year-on-year, from 15.14% to 20.4%.

The five wine routes that received the highest number of visitors were as follows (in descending order):

• Marco de Jerez: 333,781
• Rioja Alta: 313,974
• Ribera del Duero: 281,918
• Penedès: 262,693
• Rioja Alavesa: 234,101

Marco de Jerez also topped the rankings when it came to the number of visitors going to wineries:

• Marco de Jerez: 299,823
• Rioja Alta: 282,954
• Penedès: 274,445
• Rioja Alavesa: 221,487
• Ribera del Duero: 208,016

Given Andalusia’s warm weather, interesting history, and landscapes, combined with fortified Spanish wines becoming fashionable, it makes sense that Sherry country would appeal.

As far as the routes which attracted the highest percentage of international visitors, they tended to be popular holiday destinations in their own right:

• Gran Canaria: 66.5%
• Alicante: 41.5%
• Penedès: 38.5%

The most popular time to visit was October, when many producers are finishing their harvests, followed by August, when the beaches of the country’s Mediterranean coast are lined with sizzling overseas visitors.