Cantabria is a small region on the northern coast of Spain, trapped between the Cantabrian Mountains and the Bay of Biscay. Along with its neighbors Asturias (to the west) and the Basque Country (to the east), this lush and mountainous area is known fondly as Espana Verde, ('Green Spain'). Besides its rich green landscape, Cantabria is well known for its cultural heritage, particularly cave paintings; the region has the highest concentration of Paleolithic era paintings in the world, which are collectively listed as a World Heritage site.
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The Cantabrian landscape is diverse, ranging from pristine white beaches to lush, green hills and imposing snow-capped mountains. There are two key mountain ranges here: the mighty Cordillera Cantábrica in the south (which forms a natural barrier between Cantabria and Castilla y Leon) and the jagged Picos de Europa in the west (beyond which lies Asturias). Not surprisingly then, the name Cantabria is thought to mean 'people of the rocks', derived from the Celtic words cant ('stone') and abr ('region').
Cantabria's economy, thanks to its fertile lands, has long been built upon agriculture, particularly cattle, corn, olives and potatoes. Viticulture has not traditionally been important here, as the local soils are too fertile and the climate too wet and windy for quality viniculture. The few wines that are produced here tend to be low-alcohol, high-acid, zingy white wines similar to the txakoli of the Basque Country. The region's most respected beverages are its tangy Sidra (cider), and orujo, a brandy-like spirit distilled from grape marc.
There are now two Vino de la Tierra (VT) titles in Cantabria: Liebana VT and Costa de Cantabria VT. Liebana is nestled in the region's south-western corner in a special mesoclimate created by four valleys. The climate here is drier and much more Mediterranean than in other parts of the region, making it suitable for viticulture. Costa de Cantabria, as it name suggests, runs along the coast.
A wide range of local and international varieties are cultivated in Cantabria, including Hondarrabi Zuri and its dark-skinned variant Hondarrabi Belza. Other varieties of note include Picapoll, Albarin Tinto (Alfrocheiro Preto), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
