Spain
Spain has been making wine for thousands of years but not until more recent times have the wines been exported. The Phylloxera blight that devastated the French vineyards and in particular those of Bordeaux sent the merchants scurrying across the border to Rioja in search of something to satisfy the needs of their clients. Rioja to this day remains the most popular fo Sanish wines in export markets.
Rioja is home to the Tempranillo grape where it grows to perfection. In the northern regions of the area - the Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa - it produces some majestic wines that are now world class thanks to the development of winemaking techniques. Further south in the Rioja Baja which is hotter and with sandier soils, it is often necessary to blend in other international grape varieties such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon to give the wines more complexity.
Navarra is producing some interesting offerings but a little jewel to watch out for in the north east is Somontano (Spain's Piemonte) where as well as Tempranillo, some aromatic grape varieties are faring well such as Gewürztraminer.
In Catalunya, the Penedes region is making some incredible wines. This is the home of Cava, Spain's version of Champagne, but now some wonderful still wines are on offer which can offer exceptional value and make a change from drinking Chardonnay and Cabernet sauvignon. Priorat and Monsant also offer some incredible red wines but prices tend to be higher here.
Ribera del Duero which can have some really harsh winters is another great exponent of Tempranillo (the local name been Tinto Fino) The limestone soils suit it perfectly and the long, slow ripening periods give wines of great freshness. For white wines, Rueda is one of the most successful regions and Verdejo is the key to its success. It gives wines that are quite aromatic with floral and grassy notes not unlike Sauvignon Blanc.
Another great white grape variety that is very much invoke at present is Albarino and look no further than Rias Baixss if you're searching for something good. The Atlantic coastline gently cools the vineyards and the fresh and vibrant wines can have notes of apples and pears in both aroma and on the palate.
The largest region in terms of production is without doubt La Mancha where Don Quixote went tilting at windmills. A region that was once noted for producing huge amounts of undistinguished wine is now crafting some decent offerings at remarkably good prices. The watchword remains buyer beware so do try them before splashing out.
No article on Spanish wine would be complete without mentioning Sherry. Now back in fashion in a small way in the UK, Sherry can make a wonderful aperitif but in our opinion, do go for the dry, Fino style unless you're looking for a desert wine when the full-on and brooding Pedro Ximenez comes into its own.
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£9.60
Vega Badenes Tempranillo/Merlot/Syrah
Vega BadenesThis unique blend from Vega Badenes works extremely well and here they have produced a light red, full of red berry character that is an admirable ...
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£12.70
Bodegas Señorío De Arana Viña Del Oja Rioja Crianza
Bodegas Señorío De AranaBodegas Senorio De Arana Vina Del Oja Rioja Crianza has a bright, ruby colour with a nose of ripe red fruits and hints of oak, touches of vanilla a...
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£14.93
Bodegas Señorío De Arana Viña Del Oja Rioja Reserva
Bodegas Señorío De AranaBodegas Senorio De Arana Vina Del Oja Rioja Reserva is a wine of bright cherry hue with complex aromas of berry fruit and vanilla oak. It is mouth-...
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£21.34
Bodegas Señorío De Arana Viña Del Oja Rioja Gran Reserva
Bodegas Señorío De AranaBodegas Senorio De Arana Vina Del Oja Rioja Gran Reserva has a developed nose of dried red berries, a touch of vanilla, some gamey notes and a hint...
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£13.84
Sierra Cantabria Rioja Rosado
Sierra CantabriaSierra Cantabria Rioja Rosado is light salmon pink with aromas of red berries, delicate and exotic aniseed notes and nuances of fresh fruit such as...
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£42.34
Señorío De San Vicente Rioja San Vicente 2018
Señorío De San VicenteSenorio De San Vicente Rioja San Vicente 2018 has a promising nose of wood smoke, spices, lavender and blackberry fruit. Dense, rich and concentrat...
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£28.69
Sierra Cantabria Rioja Gran Reserva
Sierra Cantabria"Aromas of sandalwood, Asian spices, incense, violets, mineral, and assorted black fruits lead to a masculine, burly wine with outstanding volume, ...
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£38.72
Teso La Monja Victorino 2010
Teso La MonjaTeso La Monja Victorino 2010 is a black cherry red with a purple rim. An aromatic and intense nose, with myriad notes of wild black fruits (blueber...
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£10.44
Dominio De Eguren Protocolo Tinto
Sierra CantabriaDominio De Eguren Protocolo Tinto is a wine of great focus and depth yet with great charm and finesse. Plenty of spicy red berries on the nose, ver...
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£24.38
Sierra Cantabria Rioja Reserva
Sierra CantabriaSierra Cantabria Rioja Reserva is bright purple with oak-spiced aromas of dark berries and cherry on the nose. Fleshy, sweet and broad, offering lu...
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£19.08
Dominio Romano Camino Romano Ribera Del Duero
Dominio RomanoDominio Romano Camino Romano Ribera Del Duero is purple-red in colour and presents intense fruity aromas of red and black fruit confiture. On the p...
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£24.33
Teso La Monja Almiréz 2019
Teso La MonjaThe 2019 Almirez was produced with grapes from their 41.7 hectares of vines that are 15 to 65 years old. The destemmed grapes were foot trodden and...
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£110.17
Viñedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Finca El Bosque 2018
Viñedos Sierra CantabriaVinedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Finca El Bosque 2018 is a bruised blue/black colour, inky dark. Fine and complex on the nose, displaying floral note...
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£41.48
Viñedos De Páganos Rioja El Puntido 2015
Viñedos De PáganosVinedos De Paganos Rioja El Puntido 2015 has intense aromas of black fruits with pencil shavings and toast, lead into a full and generous palate wi...
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£23.49
Calados del Puntido - Vinedos de Paganos 2014
Sierra CantabriaThis stunning wine from the companiy's own 45 year old vineyards in Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa, is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes that have been h...
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