Spain has been producing a multitude of quality wines for centuries in the fine air and sunshine of the Spanish countryside. The climate is superb for grape growing in most regions of Spain, and we offer a description of the wines from three regions of Spain.
Northern Spain
In the north, immigrants from the Bordeaux region populate the area of Rioja, and make some very fine wines indeed. Famous labels from Rioja include Faustino, Marqués de Cáceres, and La Rioja Alta.
Red, rose and white wines are produced in the north-central region of Navarra. Names from this area include Bodega de Sarría, Guelbenzu, Magaña, Ochoa, and Príncipe de Viana.
Further west the area of Galicia is noted for the full-bodied white wines they produce. A sure bet would be something from the region of Ribeiro in Galicia.
So, we suggest Rioja and Navarra for reds, and Galicia for whites.
Also in the north of Spain is the Basque country, where there is a small area known as Txacoli de Guetaria, which makes an unusual and spicily tart wine.
The major grape varieties grown in northern Spain are Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo. In Navarra they also grow Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and blend them with Tempranillo for an excellent vintage. Garnacha grapes are made into rosados (rosés). Galicia grows Albariño, Loureira and Treixadura grapes for their wines..
Central Spain
On the hot, dusty and harsh central plateau of Spain is the world’s largest single wine producing region. Here, most of Spain’s wine is produced in La Mancha – and in the smaller area of Valdepeñas, which produces wine of a superior quality.
The location of these vineyards is in an environment of great contrast between the night and day time temperatures, unlike milder coastal regions. These contrasts are what force the grapes to become more acidic, a good thing for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo grapes. This hot, dry area relies on extensive irrigation to survive, something which Spain is working on constantly to improve.
Vintages of note from central Spain include Marqués de Gastañaga, Castillo de Alhambra, Viña Pedrosa, Pesquera, Marqués de Riscal, Estola, and Valsotillo. They also grow some Verdejo, Viura and Sauvignon Blanc grapes for white wines.
Southern Spain
Andalucia in southern Spain is blessed with sherry and manzanilla, both usually consumed chilled with a range of tapas. Jerez, located in the southwest, has that chalky soil and temperate coastal climate prized by grape growers worldwide.
Sherry is made from two main types of grape, Palomino and Pedro Ximénez. The best dry sherry is produced from the Palomino grape. Pedro Ximénez makes sweeter sherries such as Oloroso.
Moscatel grapes were grown in Málaga, but since the entire area of Malaga has become urbanized they grow fewer grapes there.
The main production area in the south of Spain is centered around Jerez. There are numerous wineries in the area, and here is a town by town listing…
Condado de Huelva: Manuel Sauci Salas (Riodiel), A. Villarán (Pedro Ximénez Villarán).
Jerez: Barbadillo (Solear), Blázquez (Carta Blanca), Caballero (Puerto), Garvey (San Patricio), González Byass (Alfonso, Tío Pepe), Hidalgo (La Gitana, Napoleón), Lustau, Osborne (Quinta), Pedro Domecq (La Ina), Sandeman.
Montilla-Moriles: Alvear (C.B., Festival), Gracia Hermanos, Pérez Barquero, Tomás García.
Málaga: Scholtz Hermanos, Lopéz Hermanos.
So enjoy a wine tasting journey through Spain, wash down every meal with a different selection, and come back from your travels a healthier and wiser connoisseur of Spanish wines.
By Martin Trip, Editor of the Hip Guides.