Asturias is a region of northern Spain. Part of España Verde ('Green Spain'), the region edges the Bay of Biscay to the north, Cantabria to the east, Castilla y Leon to the south and Galicia to the west. This lush part of Spain is intensely cultivated and densely populated, with residents concentrated around the capital, Oviedo, and the port city of Gijon.
The region offers breathtaking scenery, fertile lands, enviable seafood and other gastronomic delights such as fabada asturiana (bean stew). The impressive Cordillera Cantabrica mountain chain forms a natural separation from Castilla y Leon, and the Picos de Europa ('Peaks of Europe', when translated literally) rise in the east. The rugged coastline boasts plentiful caves and beaches, popular with hikers and holiday-makers alike. The region is also dotted with World Heritage-listed architecture such as the 9th-century Santa Maria del Naranco church.
Although Asturias has never focused particularly on wine production, in 2009 the region was granted its first wine appellation, Cangas, hinting at new-found winemaking interest here. So far the wines made locally are both red and white, and made from Albillo, Gewurztraminer and Godello (Verdelho), Carrasquin, Syrah and Mencia.
Although not yet known for its wines, Asturias has long been recognised for its distinctive still (non-sparkling) ciders, and for its craft beers. Artisan cheeses are also a feature of the region's cuisine, earning it the pseudonym el país de los quesos ('the country of cheeses'). The most celebrated of these is Cabrales, a semi-hard cheese made from cows' milk.
