Wines
The history of wine making dates back twenty-five centuries, from the wines made by the Greeks and Romans to those produced today. The province has 5,000 hectares of vineyards, distributed in five regions Axarquia, "los Montes" (the Mountains), "la Serranía de Ronda" (Ronda Mountain Range), the West Coast and Antequera and two specific appellations of origin: the Malaga Appellation of Origin and the Sierras de Malaga Appellation of Origin. The opening of the Wine Museum of Malaga is also worth mentioning. This museum boasts an interesting collection of labels, bottles and interactive panels and it also offers wine tasting courses.
Sweet wines, made from the Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez grape varieties, are aged between 6 months and 5 years or more for the ones that are aged the longest. The history of the Malaga wine dates back to the Roman period and traces have been found in towns in Malaga, such as Cartama. The Regulatory Board for the "Malaga" and "Sierras de Malaga" Appellations of Origin is the body in charge of quality control and promotion of Malaga wines.
The names traditionally used and known for the "Malaga" Appellation of Origin wines are:
- Lágrima Wine: It is a wine made exclusively with grape juice from grapes that were not mechanically pressed. These high quality wines can be aged for more than 2 years and are called Lacrimae Christi.
- Pajarete Wine: It is a sweet natural wine or liqueur wine, with a sugar content between 45 g/L and 140 g/L produced without grape syrup, amber or dark amber in colour and aged.
- Pedro Ximén, Pedro Jiménez o Pedro Ximénez Wine: Wines made with this grape variety.
- Moscatel Wine: Wines made with this grape variety.
- Dorado or Golden Wine: Wines made without grape syrup and aged. It is a natural, sweet liqueur wine or a naturally sweet wine.
- Rojo dorado (Golden Red) or Rot Gold Wine: Wines made by adding up to 5% of grape syrup by Vol. and aged. It is a liqueur wine.
- Oscuro (Dark) or Brown Wine: Wines made by adding between 5% and 10% of grape syrup by Vol. and aged. It is a liqueur wine.
- Color (Colour) Wine: Wines made by adding between 10% and 15% of grape syrup by Vol. and aged. It is a liqueur wine.
- Negro (Black) or Dunkel Wine: Wines made by adding more than 15% of grape syrup by Vol. and aged. It is a liqueur wine.
- Dulce Crema (Sweet Cream) or Cream Wine: It is a natural sweet wine, aged and amber to dark amber in colour. It contains between 100 g/L and 140g/L of sugar.
- Dry Pale or Pale Dry Wine: Wine made with no grape syrup added and with a sugar content up to 45 g/L. It is a liqueur wine.
- Pale Cream Wine: Wine made with no grape syrup added and with a sugar content over 45 g/L. It is a natural sweet liqueur wine or naturally sweet wine.
- Sweet Wine: Wine with a sugar content over 140 g/L with an amber to black colour. It is a liqueur wine or an aged, natural sweet wine.
