
Spain has been producing, consuming and exporting wine for thousands of years. It has the most land devotes to grape growing, but is the fourth largest producer of wine in the world. This means that yield per hectare is low, and this translates to more flavourful wines.
The tour starts with Penedes close the second largest city, and the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona.
Penedes produces mainly dry table wines, and 99 per cent of all sparkling wines of the country. San Sadurni di Noya, a village some 35 km. from Barcelona is the main locale for sparkling wine production with Freixenet and Codorniu (the largest of all Spanish producers) being the main and largest of the industry.
The red wines are medium- to heavy weight, balanced and flavourful, ranging form mid-priced to very expensive.
Some fine, fragrant white and rose wines are also produced by reputable and old wineries.
Montsant and Priorat to the west of Penedes have become prominent in the last two decades for their dark, powerful, fruity, smooth, and balanced wines mainly derived using syrah, garnacha, monastrell (a.k.a mourvedre), merlot, cabernet sauvignon.
Continuing to the north we arrive in Calatayud a less known but excellent wine region for its red wines, as is the case with Navarra further north and close to the Pyrenees.
Navarra`s rose wines from garnacha deserve the attention of all who enjoy light red, fragrant wines in the summer.
West of Navarra is the world-famous region of Rioja. It produces outstanding red wines, superb long-lived whites, and fine roses. Rioja`s vine-cuttings wood fired owns yield outstanding roast leg of lamb, and in season, restaurants feature white succulent asparagus sautéed in butter and olive oil.
Further west we arrive in Ribera del Duero, well known it dry red wines derived mostly using tempranillo, one of Spain’s best, if not the best red wine grapes.
Ribera del Duero wines are long-lived and should be tried by all who look for succulent, `juicy red wines with their food.
Rueda, south and west of Ribera del Duero, is better known for its white wines made with verdejo grapes, but Toro further west, for its impossibly elegant and flavourful red wines derived from tempranillo, here called tinto del pais.
Spain excels in frd wines, but in Rias Baixas fragrant white wines reign supreme. They please all palates looking for low-alcohol, fragrant, balanced, succulent white wines.
Some 400 kms south of Rias Baixas, we arrive in Jerez de la Frontera, made famous by English wine merchants centuries ago under the name sherry.
This is a very versatile wine category, available from very dry to deliriously sweet and everything in between. It is fortifies to 19 – 21 per cent alcohol by volume and goes well with dried ham, seafood, potato, tuna salads, and all kinds of tapas.
Jumilla, now produces dark red, super fruity dry wines that can rival any from the New World countries at very attractive prices.
Here are a few wines you may want to try:
White wines:
Albarino, 2009, Leira, Rias Baixas
Verdejo, 2008, Via Vilano, Rueda
Crianza de Toro, Finca Sobreno
Cune Monopole, 2008, Cune, Rioja
Red wines:
Sabor Real, 2006, Toro
Vivir, 2007, Vinos de Fabula, Ribera del Duero
Vina Zaco Tempranillo, 2006, Bodegas Bilbainas, Rioja
Artazuri Garnacha, 2008, Vinedos Artazu, Navarra
Old Vines Garnacha de Fuego, 2008, Bodegas Ateca, Calatayud
Vino Tinto, 2006, Latria, Montsant
Monastrell, 2008, Julia e Hijos, Jumilla
Sangre de Toro, 2008, Torres, Penedes
Marques de Riscal Reserva, 2006, Rioja
Campo Viejo, Rioja
Marques de Caceres Crianza, 2008, Rioja
Fortified Wines:
Dry Sack, William and Humbert, Jerez de la Frontera
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Never miss a post! subscribe via RSS or subscribe via e-mail. Post writer – Hrayr Berberoglu – E-mail – Read his books? Professor B offers seminars to companies and interested parties on any category of wine, chocolates, chocolates and wine, olive oils, vinegars and dressings, at a reasonable cost. |






















Peter Sisseck in Ribera del Duero, Spain is a Dane who has created the very complimented wine Dominio de Pingus. He also have a second wine at a more affordable price Flor de Pingus.



