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 XXXII . Of course post No 32 for the non Romans, Hope you enjoy the post as I.
José Peñín, the teetotaler who became Spain’s foremost wine expert, Indeed follow him since youthful days and never wrong, The journalist and popularizer, creator of the famous Peñín Guides and a leading figure in the sector nationally and internationally, has just published ‘Mis memorias del vino” or My Wine Memories, a story about the sector and its changes over the last 50 years. It was 1975 when José Peñín (Santa Coloma de la Vega, León, 1943) founded a wine-related business !. He was 32 years old,
A true and tested wonderful advice from the Guia Peñin ! Who hasn’t heard that red wine should be drunk at room temperature? Yes, but where? Certainly not the temperature of your living room in August, but not freshly flown from the North Pole either. The temperature of wine affects everything: how we perceive its aromas, flavors, acidity, tannins, and even its texture in the mouth. A wine that’s too cold is a muted wine; it doesn’t smell, taste, or excite; if it’s too warm, the alcohol surges and completely dominates, leaving a flat and perhaps overpowering sensation. Balance: finding the perfect balance for each type of wine to bring out its best. Many ways but my favorite tested over many years is a bucket of ice, water, and salt that will have it ready in 15 minutes. There are things that should never, ever be done. Under no circumstances. Freeze unattended. Chill yes, forget no. Pour ice cubes from the tap directly into the wine. Warm the wine first “to compensate.” Guidelines: Sparkling wines 5-7 C, Light whites and rosés 7-10 C, Full-bodied or aged whites 10-12 C, Young reds 14-18 C. Full-bodied reds 16-18 C. Hint 0 C is 32 F the formula : (0 °C × 9/5) + 32).
We continue with the Guia Peñin guide, my wine bible for many years in Spain. Taking you to one of my most memorable regions, plenty in my blog, Here is more, The La Mancha DO had a production of more than 105 million liters in 2024, which gives an idea of the number of bottles it produces each year. According to data from the DO itself, more than 60 million bottles were sold in 2024, of which 73% remained within Spain. Although La Mancha is vast and diverse, there is a very widespread style of wines aimed at this mass consumption of young wines at very competitive prices, which seek to attract a consumer who does not want complications, just wines with no other pretensions than an easy drink at a low price. La Mancha can offer this type of wine without breaking a sweat because a large part of its vineyards are suitable for machine processing, making the cost per liter much lower than other Spanish appellations of origin. Some of the recommended wines are Clavis Reserva 2018 was the highest-scoring wine in our tasting sessions. This wine comes from the Finca Antigua (my choice too) winery, located between the provinces of Cuenca and Toledo, and is run by the Martínez Bujanda winemaking family, present in Rioja (Finca Valpiedra and Viña Bujanda), Rueda (Finca Montepedroso), and also in Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla (Cosecheros y Criadores). This wine exemplifies the uniqueness that La Mancha is capable of with its vast spaces, many of which are capable of revealing something special if you escape the vast and monotonous plains. Five more wines have reached the Excellent wine category, achieving 90 points. Hidalgo Castilla Gran Reserva 2018 (Bodegas Verdúguez), Yuntero Selección Reserva 2016 (Bodegas Yuntero), Noc Noqueado Crianza 2022 (Bodegas Noc), Castillo de Aresan Terruño Crianza 2021 (Castillo de Aresan) and the Finca Antigua Moscatel Naturally Sweet 2023 white. Enjoy them !
The official Guia Peñin: https://guiapenin.wine/home
We go northwest with Santiago Ruiz ,with its unmistakable label, it continues to be a reminder of the recent past. And therefore, of the time that has passed, of the deep-rooted vines, and of the experience acquired in its production. Forty harvests are now being celebrated by a veteran vineyard and a vintage of a certain caliber. Search this white wine ! The official Santiago Ruiz : https://bodegasantiagoruiz.com/
From the acclaimed wine magazine Decanter (one of my former subscriptions) of my early days in wine knowledge come some wonderful Riojas, Of the many, my favorites: Muga, Flor de Muga Reserva Blanco, 2021 Contino, Don Vicente Mazuelo, 2021 Marques de Murrieta, Dalmau Reserva, 2021, Marques de Murrieta, Reserva, 2021 and Ramón Bilbao, Límite Sur Garnacha, 2021, The official Decanter magazine Rioja 2021 : https://www.decanter.com/premium/experts-choice-rioja-2021-555720/
XVI Premios Ecovino ,Take my all-time favorite winery; Marqués de Riscal Verdejo 2024 Marqués de Riscal DO Rueda white. And as they say in Rueda, drink Verdejo and you won’t get old! The official Premios Ecovino with list in pdf file : https://www.premiosecovino.com/
Ribera del Júcar, a charming wine region with just 9,000 hectares of vineyards, but with character in the countryside and a wealth of talent among its winegrowers and winemakers. In the south of the province of Cuenca, seven villages (Casas de Benítez, Casas de Fernando Alonso, Casas de Guijarro, Casas de Haro, El Picazo, Pozoamargo and Sisante) make up one of the smallest and most exclusive wine-growing areas in Spain, the D.O.P. Ribera del Júcar. This wine-growing region, where viticulture is intertwined with centuries of history, is marked by a characteristic natural environment and a winemaking activity focused on the Bobal grape. Within the Ribera del Júcar region, the native Bobal variety occupies a central place, reigning supreme in this part of the Peninsula, along with Bobal, Pardilla, and Moscatel de Grano Menudo. Traditionally associated with robust, intensely colored wines, Bobal finds a reinterpretation in this region that highlights its potential for fresh, fruity, and balanced wines. Historical documentation shows how vines were already an essential part of the local population’s livelihood in the 17-18C. This legacy was preserved and adapted to modern times with the creation of the D.O.P. Ribera del Júcar in 2003. Winery visits, vineyard tours and outdoor activities in this unique setting offer an enriching experience for wine and nature lovers. Sociedad Cooperativa Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno en Sisante was founded in 1954 by a group of farmers 600 hectares of their own vineyards, growing varieties such as Tempranillo, Bobal, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, and Merlot, in addition to the white varieties Airén and Macabeo. Their official Cooperativa Sisante: https://www.cooperativasisante.com/
The official DOP Ribera del Jùcar : https://vinosriberadeljucar.com/en/
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 