Spain is a winemaking nation of several grapes and many thousands of vineyard hectares. And yet, it’s certainly true that Spain doesn’t get the due it rightly deserves for a steeped history and a treasure trove of the world’s most exciting wines. The immensity of Spain’s wine industry aside, the country has, in the modern age, carved out a unique niche in the wine world as a producer of sublime wines that balance power and elegance.
Spain has a rich tradition of wine making dating back to 3000 BC and the modern avatar of Spanish wine is one that is rooted in rigorous, traditional craft with a keen eye on modern trends. Wine is produced in practically every part of Spain and regions of most note include the widely planted Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Ribera Del Duero and the country’s most eminent region, Rioja. The last two decades have also seen Spain assert an image of not just a maker of powerful red wines but also, sprightly white wines and has promoted its local sparkling wine, Cava to resounding success, ths world over.
key regions
key regions
Rioja – Rioja is the world’s touchstone for all things Spanish wine. Located in Northern Spain and tracing the Ebro river, Rioja is unmistakably red wine country producing top notch Tempranillo and Garnacha wines thanks to the Cantabrian mountains that shield it from unpredictable oceanic weather. Vast vineyards sit under the sun to yield perfectly grapes that the regions deft winemakers ferment into the quintessential Rioja style.
Penedes – Penedes is the heart of Spain’s sparkling wine industry, producing Cava, a bubbly that is fast becoming one of the world’s most preferred. Penedès’ wineries make lively sparkling wine from a blend of three local grapes using the Methode Traditionelle process just like in Champagne.
Toro – Toro is an underrated region with the proven potential of making intense reds in Spain’s north. Locals have rechristened Tempranillo as Tina da Toro since the grape has brought them fortune and international repute. The region borders Portugal and is a veritable goldmine of great value, full bodied red wines.
Ribera del Duero – Ribera del Duero is referred to as Rioja’s elder brother which is high praise given Rioja’s huge international popularity. Located just north of Madrid, Ribera del Duero sits on the banks of the Duero river. This is prime red wine country and is home to Spanish winemaking royalty of the likes of Vega Sicilia, Bodega Alejandro Fernandez and Dominio de Pingus. Tempranillo is unsurprisingly king and is lovingly called Tinto Fino.
Key Varietals
Key VarietalsTempranillo: Spain’s premier grape that captures the country’s culture, character and style, expressing generous fruit, full body and earthy personality.
Garnacha is what they call it in Spain where the red grape is originally from. Yes, the French imported the Spanish grape and planted it in the Rhone with great results but Garnacha still makes powerful and impressive reds in Rioja as well as the Priorat which has earned repute for making full bodied spicy styles.
Albarino – Spain isn’t best known for its white wines but Albarino is a wily stand out, pressing its case with refreshing tropical fruit and citrus and gushing acidity. It’s a classic summery wine that rates as Spain’s best white.
Key Styles
Reserva, Gran Reserva- The classic Tempranillo style is medium to full bodied with intense colour and balance of red fruit and spicy palate with firm tannins. It’s all about the age, especially Rioja which bottles the best. Young Tempranillo tend to be fruit forward with stronger tannins and are called Crianza that stipulates two years of maturity while older Tempranillo which has spent considerable time in barrel evolves a deeper palate with tones of figs and vanilla that denotes oak ageing. Reserva denotes three years of ageing while Gran Reserva is a title reserved for the best batch that has been aged for at least five years.
Cava – Cava, a sparkling wine indigenous to Spain has been lighting up the world with a trove of exuberant flavours. Produced from vinifying three local grapes and then using the same method as Champagne makers (Methode Traditionelle), Cava producers have been basking in recent success. Penedes’ Mediterranean climes reward winemakers with plentiful and reliably ripe grapes that translates into a consistently and popular Cava style the world loves. Cava Brut is the widest available style and a great introduction to the Spanish bubbly.
Our Handpicked Wineries
Our Handpicked Wineries
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