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 wine news of Spain XXXIV . Of course post No 34 for the non Romans, Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The venerable Marqués de Murrieta has been crowned the best winery in Europe and the third best in the world by Forbes magazine in 2025, an accolade that recognizes its century-long history, exceptional quality, and unique commitment to wine and the wine tourism experience. This year, Forbes magazine placed it third in its ranking of The World’s 50 Best Wineries 2025. This distinction is no coincidence, but rather the result of 173 years dedicated to quality, innovation, and a passion for wine, dating back to 1852, when Don Luciano Murrieta founded the winery and laid the foundation for Rioja’s fine wine. Trained in Bordeaux, Don Luciano applied Bordeaux techniques to create a wine that would stand the test of time and that has since set the standard for the entire region. Its 300-hectare Ygay estate, with its century-old vineyards, boasts not only a natural heritage but also a rich historical and cultural legacy. The iconic Castillo de Ygay, the founding headquarters and one of the oldest industrial buildings in Europe, was declared a museum in 2019, housing one of the most extensive collections of historic bottles and documents that tell the fascinating story of wine in Spain. Currently, under the management of the Cebrián-Sagarriga family since 1983, the winery combines advanced technology with traditional craftsmanship to continue producing wines that are true legends. Marqués de Murrieta is the most awarded European winery, particularly excelling in Parker scores: eight of its wines have achieved the maximum score of 100 points, an honor reserved for the world’s elite. Its Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva 2010 was also named the best wine in the world by Wine Spectator, a historic achievement for Spain. In 2023, the prestigious Great Wine Capitals network awarded the winery the Best Of distinction, recognizing it as the best winery in the world in terms of quality, prestige, and sustainability. Furthermore, Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga received the Cross of the Order of the Second of May, the highest business distinction awarded by the Community of Madrid, for his contribution to the international image of Spanish wine.
His tour program allows visitors to reach the Ygay estate by private plane or helicopter. From Madrid, a group of up to 10 people can land at Agoncillo Airport for a private transfer to the winery, or choose a helicopter from Bilbao to enjoy a unique view of the Rioja Alta vineyards. Visitors enjoy a private tour of the centuries-old vineyards and the modern facilities where iconic wines are produced. The visit includes exclusive access to the Ygay Castle Museum, which houses artifacts and documents that illuminate the origin and evolution of wine in Spain. The experience culminates in a culinary tasting in the 19th-century dining room of Ygay Castle. The official Marqués de Murrieta : https://marquesdemurrieta.com/en/
Three cavas from the Aragonese winery Bodegas Langa have been included among the 50 best sparkling wines in the world according to the international guide “50 Great Sparkling Wines of the World 2026.” The publication’s jury awarded 92 out of 100 points to three wines from the Reyes de Aragón range: Gran Reserva 2020, Reserva 2022, and El Casto Brut NV. The tasting was conducted blind, with a panel of experts who only knew the production method, the aging time on the lees, and the residual sugar level of each wine. Bodegas Langa is a family-run winery located in Calatayud (province of Zaragoza) with a long history in sparkling wine production. The Reyes de Aragón Gran Reserva 2020 cava is a sparkling wine made using the traditional method, with extended aging on the lees. Its structure and the fineness of its bubbles were praised by the jury. The Reserva 2022, on the other hand, offers a fresher and more versatile expression, suitable for both meals and celebrations. The Casto Brut NV is a non-vintage cava that seeks balance and integration of the bubbles, with a clean and direct profile. The official Bodegas Langa : https://www.bodegas-langa.com/en/the-winery-today/
The prestigious Valdemar Balcón de Pilatos 2022 has been selected as one of the 10 best wines in Spain and Portugal in the influential annual “Top 100 de Vinum” list, published by one of the most respected wine publications in Central Europe. This recognition adds to its recent First Prize in the “Red Wine – Young/Author/Generic” category at the “Best of Rioja 2025” competition, also organized by Vinum, where it obtained an extraordinary score of 95 points. El Balcón de Pilatos 2022 is a wine made with Maturana, a native Rioja variety that was on the verge of disappearing and which the Valdemar family decided to revive in 2001, rescuing just 35 century-old vines. This visionary undertaking culminated in the creation of a unique vineyard, planted on terraces at an altitude of 500 meters and with views of Oyón, Logroño, and the Sierra de Cantabria mountain range. The official Bodegas Valdemar : https://valdemarfamily.com/en/
Ramón Bilbao has been recognized with the People’s Choice Award as part of the Great Wine Capitals international network awards. This award, decided by a global public vote, recognizes the winery’s wine tourism experience as the most innovative internationally among the regional winners of the Best Of Wine Tourism awards held last November in Spain. The combination of art, technology, landscape, and oenological sensibility has been key to Ramón Bilbao winning the prize, solidifying the winery’s position as one of the most innovative wine tourism destinations in the Bilbao-Rioja region and now also globally. The official Bodegas Ramon Bilbao : https://bodegasramonbilbao.com/carta-vinos/
The harvest ended on October 28th for the Ribera del Duero DO (Designation of Origin) gave us a pleasant surprise in December. The 2025 vintage wines will be characterized by their balance, structure, and aging potential, as explained in a press release. Excellent quality and good health characterized a successful harvest, despite mildew and hail. Nearly 130 million kilos harvested made the 2025 crop the second largest of the last decade. The official Ribera del Duero DO on its wineries: https://riberadelduero.es/bodegas/resultados
Requena will be the Spanish City of Wine 2026. The Valencian city has been chosen by representatives of the Spanish Association of Wine Cities (ACEVIN). The Spanish City of Wine title was created by ACEVIN in 2023 as an initiative to expand the promotion and development of wine culture throughout Spain, complementing the other promotional and training activities that the Association has carried out since its creation three decades ago. The official ACEVIN on its wine cities : https://www.acevin.es/ciudades
China occupies an important place in the strategic plan of the Spanish wine sector. Spain is currently the fifth largest wine supplier to China, both in terms of value (€19 million) and volume (5.2 million liters exported). According to recent data published by OIVE (the Spanish Wine Interprofessional Organization), the average price of Spanish wine exported to China rose by 4.9% during the first half of the year, reaching €3.65 per liter. Throughout the year, OIVE has carried out other activities to promote awareness and consumption of Spanish wine in China. These include masterclasses for professionals and collaborations with events organized by ICEX (the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade), such as the “Spain Food Nation Summit” and the Open Day, also held in Shanghai. The official OIVE on Spanish wines in China: https://interprofesionaldelvino.es/el-vino-de-espana-se-acerca-a-la-gastronomia-china-con-la-presentacion-de-su-guia-de-maridaje-en-shanghai/
The official ICEX (graduated in Spanish wine knowledge from their courses!) : https://www.icex.es/es/sobre-nosotros/quienes-somos/que-es-icex
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 