Its time again to tell you on the wines of my dear Spain, As said, this goes back from my beginnings ,and I still go for them everywhere, I coming back at you with my wines news of Spain XXIII . Of course post No 23 for the non Romans, Hope you enjoy the post as I.
Sumilleres, buyers, Masters of Wine and journalists form the jury that annually chooses the fifty most admired wine brands in the world. These awards, organized by Drinks International magazine, have placed a Spanish firm, Familia Torres family for the seventh time. Europe has been the most recognized continent with 34 awards and France again the most represented country with a quarter of the brands. Spain has achieved ten positions , The list is. 1) Familia Torres, 6) Vega Sicilia, 9) CVNE, 11) La Rioja Alta, S.A,. 19) Faustino ,33) Marqués de Riscal ,34) Ramón Bilbao, 40) Campo Viejo, 43) Pereada and 50) Protos The Familia Torres family has been named the most admired wine brand in the world by professionals in the sector, according to the ranking that Drinks International has just published. The Torres Family Winery of the Penedès heads again the annual The World’s Most Admired Wine Family Torres, which has also been awarded as the most admired wine brand in Europe, is the cellar that has most times the first position of the global ranking. Of the 14 editions of the list, it has been number 1 on seven occasions and number 2 in another five, while in the remaining two it has occupied the 3rd and 4th position. The British magazine elaborates this ranking every year from a survey conducted to a hundred professionals from the wine sector around the world, who change to guarantee a fair representation of the sector globally. The survey participants are asked to name the five brands that most admire, considering criteria such as the quality and consistency of wine, the value for money and the solidity of the brand. Official Drinks International: https://drinksint.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/11123/Familia_Torres_named_The_World_92s_Most_Admired_Wine_Brand_2024.html
The official Familia Torres : https://www.torres.es/en
Rioja reds based on Tempranillo and Garnacha, mostly with affordable prices in the US market, are the protagonists of a report published by Wine Spectator. The magazine travels the last centuries in the history of that area that would eventually become a name of qualified origin, Wine Spectator, possibly the most demanding publication to grant high scores, places five of them with ninety or more points. These were : Bodegas Tobía, Seleccion de Autor 2019, Score: 92, Torre de Oña , Finca Martelo Reserva 2019, Score: 91 , Bodegas Palacios Remondo, Finca La Montesa Viñedo Essential Breeding 2020, Score: 90, Bodegas Ramírez, Ramírez de la Piscina 2018 Reserva, score: 90, Bodega Sierra Cantabria Crianza 2020, Score: 90, Bodegas Lan, Crianza 2021, Score: 89, Bodegas de la Marquesa, Valserrano Crianza 2019, Score: 89, Bodegas Olarra, Cerro Añon Crianza 2021, Score: 89, and Bodegas Carlos Serres, Crianza 2021,score: 88, Official Wine Spectator: https://www.winespectator.com/articles/tasting-highlights-explore-spain-with-9-amazing-rioja-wines-up-to-92-points
A Ribera del Duero triumphs in the Rosé session of the Concurs Mondial de Bruxelles , it was the Ribera del Duero Salgüero Rosado 2019, of Bodega Pradorey, There were 1,205 pink wines around the world competed in Dalmacia (Croatia) for the coveted CMB medals. In the first session of the CMB of the year dedicated entirely to pink wines, the 55 international tasters granted silver, gold and great gold medals to wines from 32 countries. The Salgüero de Pradorey Rosado 2019 took the revelation trophy for Spain Spain has confirmed its position as producer of large pink wines, with 57 awarded wines, Official Concours Mondial de Bruxelles : https://results.concoursmondial.com/es/resultados/2024
The official Bodega Pradorey on Salgüero Rosado : https://pradorey.es/en/the-wines/pack-salgueros/
The Verema Valencia 2024 experience took place on Monday 26 and Tuesday, February 27, 2024, the Las Arenas de Valencia Hotel. Tasting: The best of the guide. The Amontillado Olvidado of Bodega Sánchez Romate, a wine full of complexity and history that surprised the attendees. Ambar with gold flashes. Nose of great intensity and complexity with bombs, nuts, fruity fruits and minerality. In the mouth it is creamy, with great acidity, dry, saline and of great complexity and persistence., Also, the Castillo de Monjardín Chardonnay Gran Reserva Superior 2013, from the winery of the same name, captivated with its elegance and complexity. A great expression of the Chardonnay variety in the area that also showed its great potential for guardianship. Gold yellow came. Good intensity nose with memories of fresh quince, butter and good toasted. In the mouth it is broad, creamy, with good acidity that spurss a powerful, very long step. The wines of the Fernández Rivera Family: Dehesa de la Granja 2020, Cherry cherry and high layer came. Medium intensity nose, red fruit on marked spices and fine parenting. In the mouth it is dry, Live Tanino, good acidity, structured, elegant and of good persistence. Those of Condado de HazaReserva 2019, Color Cherry Pillory and upper layer. The nose shows ripe fruits, liquor sensations, sweet spices and good parenting. In the mouth it is dry, with great structure, well -integrated present, elegant, broad and good persistence.
Let’s assume it, in Spain it becomes better wine, Article condense and translated from the Guia Peñin of Spain, As a starting point to understand the good quality of our wines today we will say that all the new existing technology has helped the most industrial producers to bottling wines without defects. Although yes, as correct as many of them as impersonal. Therefore, once the technological reality has been mentioned, we will give way to the reasons of greater weight in that qualitative improvement of Spanish wine. A batch of young wine professionals, traveled based on harvests in different parts of the planet, did drink these wines from outside, and did it with criteria, trying to settle knowledge. These sensory lessons allowed them to see where Spanish wine was located with respect to the world of great elaborators. And it was with this vision that returned to their places of origin with the intention of building wine and area with everything learned outside and with the aim of applying it and interpreting it in a local and personalist key. The idealization of certain regions of the world of wine made reasoining in the style of these new wines. Indeed, Burgundy havoc, as parkerization in the world of global wine did before, but with a positive nuance more and more are those who dedicate important economic resources to study their vineyards. The local landscape, traditions and village culture is defended. Today it is common for many winemakes to look for new ways of expression through elaboration. This has allowed the proliferation of new wines, prepared by techniques that did not develop in Spain before. The orange wines boom, ancestral wines, mud recovery or the inclusion of new materials such as ceramics to elaborate are clear examples. Fresh and easy to drink. We begin to see with relief as Burgundy is giving way to a air conditioning now seeks to adapt to the climate message, with the peculiarities of the soil, variety and biodiversity of each. We begin to see how the Mediterranean gains strength, and how continental producers do not refuse their climatic identity but rather proud of it. It is convenient to be cautious due to the impact of climate change throughout this scheme, but if time allows this positive scenario at the qualitative level, it will allow us to climb new positions in the world wine ranking. At the moment our wines are gaining recognition and is increasingly paid for them in foreign markets. Official Guia Peñin : https://guiapenin.wine/magazine-sobre-vinos-espana-cada-vez-hacen-mejores-vinos
The Bodega Palacio Quemado of Alange, Extremadura is the result of the union in this project of the Alvear families (owner of Bodegas Alvear in Montilla-Moriles) and Losada Serra launches the red wine La Raya, in 2022 tribute to the land bordering between Spain and Portugal and what is commonly known with this name. A red whose main variety is the Trincadeira Preta, of Portuguese origin and one of the castes that the winery has opted to introduce as authorized into the denomination of origin that covers its wines, Ribera del Guadiana. In addition, coupage is completed by contributions from Alicante Bouschet and Syrah. The wine is fermented in concrete and raised deposits in French oak fudres of 500 and 5000 liters for 18 months, The winery has opted to eliminate the use of herbicides and only work with sulfur and copper and infusions of plants such as sage, or cinnamon, Official Bodegas Alvear on Palacio Quemado: https://www.alvear.es/en/palacio-quemado-en/
Official DO Ribera del Guadiana on wineries: https://riberadelguadiana.eu/bodegas/
The tour takes place in the province of Cuenca, a territory where the vineyards of the seven villages that make up the DO Ribera del Júcar are protected. 17C documents where the monks of the Society of Jesus are discussed for the livelihood, they are closely linked to bulk and cooperatives, which for decades have developed, above all, red wine with Tempranillo, there known as Cencibel, and Bobal, varieties that continue to be majority. In the project Los Bobalistas of Bodegas Illana have set out to be one of the architects of that change of course, on the other hand, more Mediterranean than Atlantic, Bobal variety on the Ribera del Júcar. In its Buenavista farm, a property that is in the family since the 17C, the altitude of 700 meters, the freshness that goes from a Blanc de Noirs to the so called the Bobalistas Cuvée 2022 and from the vineyard closest to the Pinares area of the farm, which has a total of 475 hectares where there are also other crops. With a pssing in wood that is around ten months, it is a distinguished and round redness with the fruit in the foreground, with a fresh acidity that makes it very appealing. The winery elaborates a version without wood called Clàsico with a profile that combines fruit and violet notes, another interesting look also interesting that Bobal grape that seems to be comfortable in this new direction. To the Júcar River that, as we know it today, is born in Cuenca and flows into the vicinity of Cullera, in the Mediterranean Sea. That course, linked to Mare Nostrum and has served as a stage to Blasco Ibáñez as the scene of some of his works, it would not have been such if the river had not given to change direction … One hundred million years ago. The Júcar has not always run in search of the Mediterranean and there was a time when the fate of its waters was the Atlantic, where they came after leading to the Guadiana. To have followed this path that seemed marked, perhaps it would not have been the silent protagonist, For a few minutes, of the scene in which Raimunda (Penelope Cruz) gets rid of the body of her abuser and drunk husband to protect her daughter (author of the crime) in the return of Pedro Almodóvar; (I have the movie!)!! Official Bodega Illana: https://www.bodegasillana.com/en/
Official DO Ribera del Jùcar: https://www.vinosriberadeljucar.com/
Madrid wine tourism and the Ruta de Vinos de Madrid start the new season of the Madrid Wine Route in Per se Bistró, a gastronomic space led by Andrés Madrigal recently awarded with a star for the prestigious Repsol guide. The towns of Madrid are small, the family wineries and the surface of vineyard increasingly motivated by the lack of generational relief and depopulation of the rural environment, something common to many production areas in Spain. Thanks to the visits to the wineries is how these towns are known, hence the importance of these for the development and future of the different production areas of the Community of Madrid, something that Madrid wine tourism is responsible for spread to make the set a complete and rewarding experience for the visitor. Madrid wine tourism can boast of offering the possibility of starting its wine route from Madrid itself. Thanks to the different establishments that belong to it distributed throughout the city, one can reach a winery in just 20 minutes traveling by subway, or half an hour of car, knowing their surroundings, its gastronomy, and then, either burn on the outskirts return back to the center to sleep. Of the 70,000 ha. census at the beginning of the 20C, today this figure has been reduced to 150 ha. motivated mainly by that lack of generational relief. They are mostly from centenary strains located just 25 km from Madrid, something that facilitates its visit, the great diversity offered by its 4 subzones such as Arganda, Navalcarnero, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and the Molar, and contributing to sustainability with proximity products that those who visit the Community of Madrid or the city can consume. A start to this new wine tourism season along the Wine Route of Madrid from the same heart of the city, something that the route can boast itself. Offical Madrid Enoturismo: https://madridenoturismo.org/
Bastion of the Castilian garnacha, experienced wine growers and university of successful winemakers. This is the territory of the D.O.P. Méntrida In the heart of Castile, between undulating valleys for which the Alberche River meets its beloved Tagus and rich lands in history, the denomination of Méntrida Protected Origin is drawn. This wine region, located in the province of Toledo, The Garnacha grape, is its great lady , as the main bastion, because it represents more than 75% of the vineyard of this territory the D.O.P. Méntrida varieties inclus also ,such as Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Gris and Garnacha peluda (hairy), as well as the Moravia Agria. The Cooperativa de Camarena, with its 750 hectares of vineyards, or the 70 members that make up the Cooperativa Condes de Fuensalidaand to the denomination itself to incorporate into its regulations the category of town wine and plot wine. In this way, entrenched wineries of the area, such as Bodega Alonso Cuesta, are adding to this way of understanding that the viticultural identity of a town or a plot are drawing the personality of the region from the most qualitative aspect. In this line they propose the Garnacha of Bodega Lola Cuqueña, from a plot in the town of Méntrida whose strains are over 75 years old. “Toledo is a complete history of Spain. Everything that has been of chivalrous here in customs, of noble and exemplary in life, bolds in companies, original and spicy in literature and delicate in the arts, has had this city for theater. ” This beautiful description of Toledo coined by Benito Pérez Galdós could be used to summarize the future of the D.O.P. Méntrida and its protagonists. Among all unveiled news of the D.O.P. Méntrida should not stop naming one that is essential for the development of the viticultural and cultural sector of the region: the Ruta del Vinos de Méntrida wine route. A project that has been developed in recent years and that today has about 40 members between towns, wineries, accommodations and restoration , The Méntrida wine route offers travelers a unique experience that combines the exquisiteness of local wines with the natural beauty and the historical heritage of the region in terms of the 14 towns that are part of this route,See the Torre de Esteban Hambrán stands out for its famous Catafalco, which is exhibited every November. This Baroque monument is a masterpiece of Spanish funeral architecture. Built in 1753, the Catafalco de la Torre de Esteban Hambrán impresses by its imposing presence and its elaborate ornamentation, becoming one of the main cultural attractions of the region. The castle of Escalona, which was Roman and then Muslim fortress to later be taken by Alfonso VI of Castile, dominates the horizon with its imposing presence and offers spectacular panoramic views of the town and its surroundings. On the other hand, the Plaza Mayor of Escalona is the heart of the town, where the social and cultural life is concentrated. Escalona also hooks for having an important literary tradition, mainly associated with the famous character of Lazarillo de Tormes. This masterpiece of Spanish literature, written in the 16C, as we know tells the adventures and misadventures of a young man who serves as a guide to different masters, including the blind of Escalona. In short, the Méntrida wine route offers a magnificent opportunity to the visitor to experience the pleasure of taste wines of a perfectly defined uniqueness with the exploration of impressive natural landscapes and the fascinating history and culture of the municipalities that make it up.Official Ruta del Vino de Méntrida: https://www.rutadelvinomentridatoledo.es/
The Official DOP Méntrida on its wineries: https://www.domentrida.es/bodegas-y-cooperativas/
Bodegas Muga, a name that resonates strongly in the Spanish wine circles, has made a decision that marks a before and after in its trajectory. The firm, rooted in the heart of La Rioja Alta, has decided to extend its roots to the Ribera del Duero, a wine region that has gained considerable prestige in recent decades. The Muga acquire thirty hectares in Moradillo de Roa, south of the province of Burgos , Other great Bodegas de Rioja, such as Ontañón, Marqués de Cáceres, La Rioja Alta SA, and many more, have diversified their production by elaborating part of it in the Ribera del Duero,, What distinguishes Bodegas Muga in this new effort is its methodology: while working on the project to build their own winery, they consider the possibility of renting an installation to vinify their first vintage. This plan, however, has an alternative: if they do not find the right space, they will consider selling their grapes to other bodegas, The story of Bodegas Muga, founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga and his wife Aurora Caño, is that of a tireless dedication to the art of winemaking. Despite the challenges imposed by the Spanish Civil War and the consequences of World War II, the Muga family exceeded adversities, not only survive but to prosper. The acquisition in 1967 of an 1862 house in the Haro station neighborhood marked the beginning of a new era for the winery, which today extends over 25,000 m^2 and is one of the most emblematic of La Rioja Alta. Official Bodegas Muga: https://www.bodegasmuga.com/en/
As soon as we open an Albariño from the warehouse, we know that we are going to enjoy the wines from this D.O. They always offer more than each bottle costs, and mostly continues to prevail the family concept. The Bodega Santiago Ruiz is a winery located in O Rosal, the southernmost area of the different subzones that make up the DO Rías Baixas, the winery owes its name to its founder. Get the Santiago Ruíz 2022 Albariño each fermentation variety is done separate, It is not 100% because it carries an amount of Godello, Treixadura and Caiño Blanco grapes that together form 26 % of its coupage. This wine is exemplary in its acidity with a mouth high and a long aftertaste. Official Bodega Santiago Ruiz: https://bodegasantiagoruiz.com/english/nuestros-vinos/
The unique Bodegas Martin Codax with identity, defined by its place of origin, if they are and so it is how their wines are concentrate all its essence , in a bottle it requires the work and affection of many families that have something in common: love for land and its origin. See the Martín Codax Aurosa 2021 Albariño , This exceptional white is born from a careful selection of plots located in the San Tomé area. Vineyards looking at the mouth of the Umia river, cultivated by viticultors with a long marine and fishing tradition. The influence of the Arousa estuary on its granitic soils, provides a marked saline, iodine and Atlantic character. A persistent, deep wine, with aromas that remind us of the plants of the coast of Galicia. Also, the Organistrum 2021; a pioneer wine with the fermentation barrels of French oak, in which it remains six months and that indisputable detail of attaching to the bottle’s neck, by a twine, a piece of barrel. It is a wine and guard wine. Official Bodegas Martin Codax: https://www.martincodax.com/blog/en/bodega/
About 90 % of the traditional wine regions located in coastal and low areas of Spain, Italy, Greece and southern California could disappear at the end of the century due to excessive drought and the most frequent heat waves. That is one of the conclusions of a study on climate change published by the scientific journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. The main effects of the increase in temperatures and drought include a modification of the aromatic profile with the appearance of aromas to more mature and cooked fruits that replace the aromas of fresh fruits, also, excessive levels of alcohol and increase in the pH. All this results in wines with less perception of freshness and greater risk of microbiological deterioration. The Atlantic sectors of the Iberian Peninsula and France as well as the Western Black Sea regions will face lower risks than the Mediterranean. On the contrary, Galicia, northern Balkans and, in general, the areas north of 46 ° N parallel are expected to benefit from global warming, at least for limited temperature increase levels. Official Nature magazine: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43017-024-00521-5
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. Again, hope you enjoy the series of wines news of Spain as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 