Its time to tell you once again on the wines of my dear Spain, As said, this goes back from my beginnings ,and I still go for them everywhere, Therefore, will try the monumental task of telling you about my favorites anecdotes and news of Spanish wines and hope to continue this series as my others with your blessing and likes. Here it is ,again coming back at you my wines news of Spain XVI. Of course post No 16 or the non Romans, Hope you enjoy the post as I.
What is a cheap wine? How much money am I willing to invest in one? The wine bug only bites once. And when it does, there’s no going back. Between 5 and 10 euros we can already find quality references , The Bodegas Barbadillo presents Alba Balbaína, made with the free must of the palomino fino grape and aged on its lees, The Castelo de Medina has some of the best Verdejos from Rueda to its credit. Among the whites with the best value for money, this Verdejo-Sauvignon blanc, awarded in different competitions, stands out. Fresh, but at the same time intense and long, with a very well integrated acidity that is far from the usual “verdejeo”. Under the Pequeñas Producciones brand, Bodegas Marco Real produces two monovarietals (Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc) from vineyards located in the small town of Torres del Río, in the unknown Sonsierra of Navarre. Valdecuevas Rosé stands out for the balance between the freshness of its youth and the elegant structure that aging gives it. The short period in the barrel and the combination of Tempranillo and Verdejo grapes give it exceptional complexity and a unique character. Viñas del Vero Pinot Noir Rosé suggestive, delicate and groundbreaking, this rosé from the D.O. Somontano is not just a pretty bottle A fine and seductive nose, a friendly texture and a simple and harmonious mid palate. Enjoy it !!
The town of Colmenar de Oreja,(see post) southeast of Madrid, you will see Jesús Peral walks among barrels at no more than 15 degrees. That’s what the cave has, says the winemaker in charge of Bodegas Peral with a smile, one of those who draw the wine tourism map of this town also known for its porticoed square and the Ulpiano museum. Bodegas De Alberto, member of the Rueda Wine Route and winner of the Best Wine Tourism Corner of the year award. The immersion in this family winery brings one surprise after another. The first is an underground gallery 1.5 km long where about 4 million liters of D.O. from Rueda, kingdom of Verdejo, here it is also time to talk about golden wine, a generous, oloroso and amontillado wine, similar to those of Jerez that is aged in demijohns exposed to the sun for a minimum of 12 months and then aged in soleras. In fact, the highlight of the visit comes when you find yourself among a beach of 7,000 glass demijohns. One of Rueda’s best sellers is the Castillo de la Mota. It is not enough to see it from the road. It is worth visiting the underground shooting galleries that made this 15C fortress one of the most advanced of its time. In my memorable Calatayud, an hour and a half away by car. This is Garnacha land. It is 75 percent of our vineyards, we are specialists in this grape in Bodegas San Alejandro, in Miedes de Aragón. The personality of these wines is understood when we look at the landscape. The vineyards are between 700 and 1,100 meters above sea level . One of the places in Spain where the harvest is later, even in Europe, the Monasterio de Piedra. With more than 800 years of history, this monastic enclosure embraced by dreamlike gardens that seem to have emerged from The Lord of the Rings continues to be one of the essential tourist destinations in Aragon. The Méntrida Wine Route pushes us to travel through the province of Toledo. The first stop takes us to Bodegas Alonso Cuesta, in the small town of La Torre de Esteban Hambrán, where aficionados can make a very interesting introduction to tasting with the different varieties that they harvest in their 35 hectares of vineyard. The cellar, an old palace, hides a cellar full of French and American oak barrels. If we continue to Méntrida, declared a Historic Site, we must not miss visiting the Cuevas del Castillejo, another of the main attractions of the route. Converted into a wine museum, these galleries dug directly into the ground perfectly illustrate how wines were preserved in the 16C.
The Somontano wine region, recognized for its protected designation of origin, has begun its harvest season with the manual harvesting of the first bunches of the white gewürztraminer grape. This activity has taken place in several plots of Salas Altas, considered the heart of this denomination of origin. The harvest in this area is a large-scale event that involves the 30 wineries established in the region, as well as more than 300 viticulturists who work with dedication to guarantee the quality of the production. Varieties that have a shorter maturation cycle, such as gewürztraminer, chardonnay or merlot, are the first to be harvested. On the other hand, those that require more time await the arrival of new precipitations that favor their process. Some of these varieties are cabernet sauvignon, red garnacha, parraleta or moristel.
The Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin stands out in the USA market. According to a recent study carried out by Entrii-Report, Rías Baixas wines command a significantly higher price compared to their counterparts, being 45% more expensive than US-produced white wines and 12.62% more than white wines. Spaniards in the same market. The investigation, carried out during the last ten months, shows an average price of $22.35 per liter for DO Rías Baixas wines. In contrast, Spanish white wines have an average price of $19.53 per liter, while local white wines from the United States show an average price of $12.16 per liter. The meticulous report analyzed 34 brands from the Rías Baixas, 374 Spanish brands and more than 100 from the local US market. In addition, 492 references of wines available on the US market were examined, 3,000 Spanish references and 165 from Rías Baixas. A relevant piece of information from the study is the significant presence of DO Rías Baixas wines in various states of USA, such as Washington, Texas, Oregon, New York, Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, District of Columbia, Arizona, and California.
The Rioja wine sales accumulate a loss in the first half of 3.3%. The year-on-year rate (from July 2022 to June this year) fell by 5.68% “with barely 247 million liters of wine sold,” says the newspaper La Rioja. The only exceptions to this trend are found in white wine ( with an accumulated rate in the first semester of over 12%) and in the group of non-crianza wines that rose by 2.8% helped by the push of the whites. In the first semester the sales of Ribera del Duero, with data of back labels and not from customs as in Rioja, decreased by 8.25% in relation to the same period of 2022. Rueda, also with data obtained from the back labels delivered up to the month of July, maintains an accumulated growth of 3.48% although according to La Rioja ,it has not done well in the last two months compared to last year’s data either
It is the great catwalk of wine; the place where, upon invitation, some of the best wineries on the planet will shine. An annual appointment that allows you to taste the best rated wines, the extraordinary vintages and the most coveted bottles for three days. It is The New York Wine Experience, a succession of acts led by the stars of the wine and entertainment industry. And also, by prominent chefs and influential critics. It will be held from October 19 to 21 2023 in the city of skyscrapers and the price of tickets varies, depending on the activities chosen (dinners, receptions, seminars, tastings and tastings), between 360 and more than 2,500 euros. The other way to attend is to be part of the team of one of the eighteen Spanish wineries that occupy a position among the best. Beronia, Numanthia Winery, Alión Winery and Vineyards, Alto Moncayo Winery, Avancia Winery, El Nido Winery, Emilio Moro Winery, Muga Winery, Vega Sicilia Winery, CVNE, Pingus Domain, Torres Family, La Rioja Alta, S.A., Marqués de Cáceres , Marqués de Murrieta , Marqués de Riscal, Merum Priorati and Scala Dei,
The medieval town of Olite, with its impressive castle, is one of Navarra’s tourist hits, and the charms of the town are combined with the activities offered by Bodegas Marco Real. From wine and oil tastings, to the tour of its Room of Aromas, which contains up to 46 different aromas to develop this interesting phase of wine tasting, through guided tours or afternoon in the Wine Bar are some of them. Marco Real is the most visited winery in Olite, partly because of the uniqueness of its vineyard, located around the winery, which allows amateur visitors to get a clear idea of the production cycle. From the winery you can also see the castle, one of the most luxurious medieval castles on the European continent. Standing since the 13C when it was built on a fortress that rested on Roman remains, it combines French architecture and Mudejar decoration, making it an interesting mosaic of cultures full of towers, galleries or ornately decorated gardens. Marco Real is the perfect icing on the cake for getting closer to Olite wine, with wines that also have a French influence in their varieties such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, but that claim their roots in their Garnacha or Graciano reds, which can be tasted in the cellar.
Historical land of wines with the Mediterranean as the main element of influence, Alicante accumulates more than three thousand years of vines and history. But this territory, to this day, continues to write that history because for a few years it has been working to be reborn. Existing documents say that it was Fernando el Católico who, at the beginning of the 16th century, prohibited the distribution in Alicante of wines from other lands, turning the municipalities of Orihuela, Jijona, Monforte and Novelda into areas of great production with the arrival of the phylloxera to France in the 19C. Because it is then that it signs a preferential treaty to export wine to France, reaching 90,000 cultivated hectares and producing 1,200,000 hectoliters. The problem is that this contractual relationship ended in 1892, and with it the success of Alicante wines, which resulted in overproduction and a surplus that they could not sell. With more than 10,000 hectares of registered vineyards, the Denomination of Origin encompasses 50 municipalities in Alicante, officially divided into two sub-zones: the Marina Alta region (at the point of Cabo de la Nao) and Alicante, made up of the Alicantí region. , Alcoiá, Comtat, Vinalopó Alto and Vinalopó Bajo. The emblematic Enrique Mendoza ,Bodegas Gutiérrez de la Vega , located in the Marina Alta region and headed by the renowned and acclaimed Felipe Gutiérrez, who some time ago delegated the responsibility for winemaking to his daughter Violeta Also, Mara Bañó, from Alicante by birth and in charge of one of the youngest projects in the area, Celler Les Freses, in Denia. Located in what was once a strawberry farm, on abandoned fields next to the Montgó Natural Park and a short distance from the sea, is also the new winery owned by Pepe Mendoza and Rafael Cañizares, La Mancha winemaker and owner in Alicante of Bodegas Volver, another of the firms with a high production of wines and bottles, where the foreign ones have a lot of weight, excellent wines especially those of Rafael Cañizares!! tested and bought in France!!!
Some constructive advise from yours truly and many others, 5 keys to become the best sommelier at home, As you know, wine is a pleasure and to enjoy it to the fullest we must create a suitable space for it. If you are lucky enough to have an outdoor space, be it a garden or a small balcony, drinking a glass of wine watching the sunset or next to a fire is a sublime relaxing experience. The temperature: it is key to be proactive and prepare the bottles in advance. They should be stored in a horizontal position in a space with optimal conditions and constant temperature. In the case of white and rosé wines, it is recommended to keep them between 8 and 10 degrees celsius; for young reds, about 12 or 15 C and for aged reds, between 16 and 18 C. In the case of red wines, the bottle must also be uncorked half an hour before it is going to be served to favor its tasting with all its olfactory and taste properties. The perfect glass: it must be wider in body and narrow in the mouth, so that the aromas of the wine can be better appreciated. It is better that they are made of fine crystal, instead of glass, since it allows better oxygenation. No more than a third of the glass should be filled and you must hold it with your fingers by the stem, without touching the chalice, so that you do not heat the wine with your hands or leave footprints. The decanter: allows the aeration of closed wines, or very tannic and powerful ones, so that they open up aromatically or are softened so that they better show their full potential. Decanting the wine also serves to remove sediment that accumulates in the bottle over time, especially in aged wines. The order of service: in the event that different wines are to be uncorked at home, a correct order must be followed. White wines should be served before reds and young reds before old vintages. Lighter wines before those with more body and dry ones before sweet ones. By following these simple steps it is possible to enjoy the pleasure of the wine ritual at home and become the best host in front of family and friends. En Vino Veritas !!
Puerta Santa, from Adegas Morgadío, has been the winner of the XXXV Rías Baixas Albariño Tasting Contest, in which the best Rías Baixas Albariños of the 2022 vintage are chosen, the regulatory council of that denomination of origin has confirmed in a statement, 2nd place, Pazo de Rubianes, and 3rd place Bouza do Rei.
The commitment to Galician culture is printed on every bottle of Martín Códax, since this troubadour’s cantigas are the oldest surviving in Galician-Portuguese with his original music. A beautiful way that the founders of the winery had to entrust the development of a territory with a wine heritage of great value to the historical and cultural roots, while looking to the future through research and knowledge, 1986, was the first vintage of this well-known Albariño , and my first ever Spanish white wine then !! . Although Martín Códax was not really a man of wine, but of music, a real Galician troubadour from the Middle Ages. That is why the score of one of his cantigas appears on the cork and the lyrics of it appear on the label. In 1985, the Bodega Martín Códax (bodega/winery) was born in the heart of the Salnés Valley region with the idea of combining the work of a group of winegrowers who today number 270, Webpage : https://www.martincodax.com/es/
Some magnificent Rosés, that I can recommend are :, Chivite Las Fincas 2020, Barrel Fermented Rosé 2020, Garnacha, IGP 3 Riberas , J. Chivite Family Estates Very limited production, born from the collaboration between Julián Chivite and the Arzak family. Made with the best Garnacha vineyards of the Finca Legardeta. Complex, intense, hydrocarbons, minerality, dried fruit and dry flower… Excellent on the palate, broad, balanced, fresh and long. Expressive and complex. Marqués de Murrieta Primer Rosé 2022, Rosé Mazuelo, DO Ca Rioja , Marqués de Murrieta Born in 2015, it is the only rosé made in Spain with the Mazuelo variety. It comes from the Lucas estate, of five hectares, planted in 1985 on Finca Ygay. It remains for five months with its fine lees. Elegant on the nose, subtle, red fruit, caramel, vanilla. Tasty, broad, enveloping, with an aromatic and fluid mid palate and an elegant and long finish. Flor de Muga 2022, Rosé 2022 Garnacha • DO Ca Rioja, Bodegas Muga , Made with grapes aged between 70 and 90 years from vineyards grown in goblet. The wine is preserved with the fine lees for a minimum of four months. Intense on the nose, mineral note, red berries, violet caramel, licorice. Well constituted, tasty, balanced, good acidity and a good intensity finish. All excellent !
And try to be there November 22-24 2023 at la Rioja for the 7th UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism. Webpage: https://www.unwto.org/7-UNWTO-Global-Conference-Wine-Tourism
There you go folks, another wonderful post on my dear Spanish wines, Hoping for a long lasting memories of my dear Spain and its wine news, An area already shining for several years, and getting better me think, Again,hope you enjoy the new series of wines news of Spain XVI as I
And remember, happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 