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 XXIV . Of course post No 24 for the non Romans, Hope you enjoy the post as I.
With more than 4,000 wineries, Spain is the land of wines. Among them, some worldwide acquaintances have emerged, These are in Rioja fresh, aromatic and balanced, the wines of this denomination of qualified origin are internationally valued. La Rioja is the land of wines, both in its cities and Logroño, where you will enjoy its incredible cuisine, as in rural areas such as Briones, where you can learn about wine between vineyards or in the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, The Priorat this region has also obtained the designation of origin qualified by its wines of extreme quality. Dark, intense and high graduation wines that are born in volcanic lands with history, since here you can enjoy authentic Roman ruins, such as those of Tarragona, or attending wine parties, such as Falset’s. The Ribera del Duero (will be by here this summer!!) The Tempranillo is the best known wine of these lands, which is stored in underground wineries such as Aranda del Duero. In addition to trying its delicious wines, fruity, persistent and body, you can visit places trapped in time, such as Peñafiel Castle or the Valbuena del Duero monastery. The La Mancha with dry, pale and pleasant aromas, which come from the world’s largest vineyards, with more than 400,000 hectares. But here you can enjoy much more, cities full of culture, such as Toledo and Sigüenza, and natural areas such as the Daimiel National Park. In Spain, the following three categories are protected denominations of origin: denomination of qualified origin (DOCA), Denomination of Origin (DO), Quality Wine with Geographic Indication (VC), plus the category of Pago Wine (VP), a Exceptional figure, assigned to a single producer, with an annual extension and production. The mention of IGP in Spanish wines corresponds to that of land wines (VT). Webpage: https://enoturismospain.com/best-wineries-visit-spain
One site Apolo y Baco that I contributed on its beginnings and is in my blogroll of my blog is here with info on all regions and wineries of Spain: https://apoloybaco.com/vinos-2/
Madrid has hosted, for four days, the great Bacchus International Contest in which a panel of experts, formed by 103 international tasters, has chosen among 1984 references the best wines in the world. Bottles that receive the Gran Bacchus Gold Prize with which this contest recognizes those that, in a strict blind tasting, are evaluated above 93 points out of 100. Within this classification, a total of 72 wines have entered from different countries in the world, and 52 of them are Spanish. The bottles cited in this final phase and with the endorsement of the International Organization of the Vineyard and Wine (OIV) and the World Federation of large wine competitions. My favorites here are: Portia Selection Barricas. Tinto 10 months. DO. Ribera del Duero. Tinto Arroyo Roble (Oak ) 2022. D.O. Ribera del Duero. Viña Pomal 2017 red reserve. DO. Ca. Rioja. Faustino I Gran Reserva. Tinto Reserva 2015. D.O. Ca. Rioja. Webpage: http://www.concursobacchus.com/
Another important event and closer to me as did some work with the Grupo Gourmets in Miami Fl way back, The wines that have obtained 99 points, the maximum qualification granted by the Tasting Committee of the Gourmets 2024 Wines Guide, have received the 11th League Awards 99. The awards have been delivered in the Salón de Gourmets Hall. The Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Priorat are some of the most represented denominations of origin. Some of the best wines me think are: Clos Mogador 2021 (Clos Mogador) DOCa Priorat, La Faraona 2021 (Descendants of J. Palacios) DO Bierzo, Marqués de Riscal 150 Anniversary 2017 (Bodega Herederos del Marqués de Riscal) DOC Rioja, Mauro VS 2020 (Bodegas Mauro) VT de Castilla y León, Pago de los Capellanes Parcela El Picón 2019 (Pago de los Capellanes) DO Ribera del Duero, Pazo Señorans Selección de Añada 2013 (Pazo de Señorans) DO Rias Baixas Pingus 2021 (Dominio de Pingus) DO Ribera del Duero, Torre Muga 2020 (Bodega Mugas) DOC Rioja, Vega Sicily Unique 2014 (Bodegas Vega Sicilia) DO Ribera del Duero, and Vega Sicily Unique Special Reserve -CVC de las añadas 2010, 2011 and 2012- (Bodegas Vega Sicilia) DO Ribera del Duero, and the bodega/winery of the year felled to Bodegas Abadía Retuerta VP Abadía Retuerta, Webpage: https://www.gourmets.net/guia-vinos-gourmets
The Duero basin comprises an extension of 98,000 km2, of which 79,000 are located in Castilla y León. Its waters and tributaries on their way to the sea travel 897 km. Through the 9 provinces that compose it, hosting a total of 16 denominations of origin. The Duero was born in the province of Soria, in the Urbion Picos at 2,160 meters of altitude. After touring 897 kilometers for all the Spanish Castilian lands and neighboring Portugal, its course ends with its mouth to the Atlantic in the Portuguese town of Porto. During its tour, the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, on its 9 provinces; Soria, Burgos, León, Palencia, Ávila, Salamanca, Segovia, Valladolid and Zamora, are furrowed by their waters and tributaries in addition to the 16 denominations of origin that Castilla y León has; DO Arlanza, DO Arribes, DO Bierzo, DOP Cebreros, DO Cigales, DO Ribera del Duero, DO Rueda, DOP Sierra de Salamanca, DO León, DO Toro, DOP Valles de Benavente, DOP Valtiendas, DO Tierra de Zamora, Vino de Pago Abadía Retuerta, Vino de Pago Dehesa Peñalba y Vino de Pago Urueña The official DO Ribera del Duero :https://riberadelduero.es/ca/en/
The Ruta del Vino de la Comunidad de Madrid or the Wine Route of the Community of Madrid (aka Madrid Enoturismo), is today divided into four wine subzones; Namely, Navalcarnero, Arganda del Rey, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and El Molar. For a total of 12,000 hectaires , The Madrid, wine tourist version has many activities such as can be mounted on horseback, you can visit wineries, you can step on the grape, tasting under the stars in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, in the Cooperativa de Arganda they ride you in an old stroller to the vineyards, you can try singular, rare wines , but above all, with Madrid Enoturismo what is intended is to interact with the environment, In Colmenar el Viejo which has eight wineries (a wine and trade fair in May) and that until four or five years ago was eclipsed by Chinchón, which, is 5 km away, According to the figures that Acevin handles, visits to wineries and museums of wine routes in Spain has grown in our country 58% in the last year. Recall that in the community 12,000 hectares covers the cultivation of wine grapes, 8 900 with the DO (denomination of origin) wines of Madrid, 78% of the wine surface. The DO Vinos de Madrid was created in 1990 and is one of the 94 denominations of origin recognized in Spain. In total, 52 are the wineries that belongs to the DO, and invoice to the UE USA and China, The most widespread main variety in the designation of origin is the Garnacha Tinta or Aragonés. It represents around 75 % of the existing vineyard in the subzones of Navalcarnero, San Martín and El Molar. The variety of white grape par excellence in the subzones of Arganda and Navalcarnero is the Malvar, although it enjoys great predicament for its surprising acidity and gastronomic vocation the Albillo Real (Subzone of San Martín de Valdeiglesias),Webpage : https://madridenoturismo.org/zonas/
Something closer to my fav area is the wines from the Bodega Arrayán, ,the bottle is due to the bush whose flower illustrates the label and is a Rose that has just seen the light. Arrayán Selección Rosado 2023 is made with the grapes syrah, garnacha ,and merlot from the Finca La Verdosa , located in the province of Toledo, in the town of Santa Cruz del Retamar. After the harvest, each variety is subjected to bleeding separately and then fermently ferment in stainless steel deposits for twenty days. The result is a fresh and enveloping pink, with great acidity and in which the aromas of red fruits and white flowers stand out. Webpage : https://www.arrayan.es/en/wines/arrayan-rosado-n4/
White varieties have been present at the Riojan vineyard always, but it is now when they are occupying the place they deserve. There is no doubt, it is the moment of the whites of Rioja are wines created from traditional grapes such as Viura and Malvasía Riojana, which already existed in the region since time immemorial, mixed in the vineyard with the inks, and that currently coexist with more recent varieties such as the white garnacha, the white Tempranillo or the white maturana, and others admitted by the denomination, such as the Chardonnay or the Sauvignon Blanc. For historical wineries such as CVNE, Viña Tondonia, Remírez de Ganuza, Muga or Beronia, the Preparation of white wines in Rioja is nothing new, because they have led the segment of long rack in oak. The last report of the OEMV (Spanish Observatory of the Wine Market) ensures that recent market demand leans towards white wines and that the export of these already exceeds that of reds. A reality that is reflected in the growing success of Rioja’s white wines. Some good ones lately are:
Rioja Vega Garnacha Blanca and Tempranillo Blanco Rioja Vega intends to highlight the typicity of the Riojan white varieties. On the one hand, the Blanca garnacha that, despite being less known than its ink relative, surprises with its quality, acidity and freshness. And on the other the White Tempranillo, which acts as a support and gives prominence to the depth of floral and herbaceous nuances of the first. The result is a complex and at the same time subtle, unctuous and balanced wine, which reflects to know how to make this centennial winery: the essence of the native and minority. Webpage: https://www.riojavega.com/en/
Monte Real Tempranillo Blanco prepared from two single vineyards located in La Rioja Alta, the few bottles that Rioja wineries elaborate with this casual mutation of the ink early in 1988, invite us to let ourselves be carried away by the white current that bathes the region. A fresh and aromatic wine, very alive, but also spicy and silky for its parenting in barrel, with the necessary body to accompany all kinds of recipes at the table. A winter target to enjoy in spring. Webpage: https://en.bodegasriojanas.com/wines#/brand-monte_real/color-white
Flor de Primicia Chardonnay , This Laguardia Chardonnay does not leave anyone indifferent. First because of its vinification (it is a white fermented white), which extracts the maximum possible from this variety until it becomes a wine with a huge aromatic complexity, and then because of its upbringing on lías, which increases creaminess and volume of the volume of the He came, giving it greater structure and elegance. Acacia wood provides a floral touch in wine and exuberance plus. Winner of the Best White Award Fermented in Rioja Barrica Four occasions, Flor de Primicia has an enviable value for money and, in addition, it is vegan. Webpage: https://www.bodegascasaprimicia.com/en/shop/white-wines/flor-de-primicia-barrel-white/
Luis Cañas Viñas Viejas by Bodegas Luis Cañas is one of the most representative whites of the Rioja winery. Fresco, expressive, nervous and versatile, matured with its lines until reaching the right structure to win the game at the same Middle Ages years. A target that speaks of the Terroir of in Villabuena, Leza, and Navaridas, exploring its roots and putting voice to generations of artisans who keep alive the region taking care of the old strains that draw the landscape. Webpage: https://www.luiscanas.com/vino/luis-canas-vinas-viejas
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 