Spanish wine

Spanish wine: a wine with history

Whatever the occasion, there’s a Spanish wine to complement it. And you’ll be in great company. Picasso described Spanish wine as his artistic muse and spent plenty of time in vineyards himself, sleeping under the stars. Spanish red wine was also one of the Romans’ favourite drinks. Pliny the Elder, the Roman historian, wrote extensively about his love for Spanish wine. Thankfully, you don’t need to speak Latin to appreciate and get hold of Spanish wine. It’s never been easier to buy wine from Spain, including some fantastic varieties of red wine. Whether you’ve already got a particular Spanish wine in mind or just want to see what takes your fancy, you’ll discover a wide selection at SpainFlavor.com. There’s a great range of Spanish wines here, including Rioja wines and red wines from the Ribera del Duero regions. These are the two main designations of origin for Spanish wines and they’re particularly known for their red wines. I’ll briefly cover the key points about red wines from these regions. I’ll start with Rioja wines and move on to red wines from the Ribera del Duero region later. I’ll also note a few other Spanish wines worth investigating.

Rioja wines

Located in northern Spain, the Rioja province has over sixteen-thousand vineyards. The Rioja region has produced red wine for nearly a thousand years. With all that history and generation upon generation of knowledge, you can be sure that you’re in expert hands whenever you buy wine that comes from the Rioja region. Rioja wines are made from a blend of grapes, with the Tempranillo predominant. It’s this that gives Rioja wines their distinctive character. Red wine drinkers love Rioja’s aroma of mellow spice and fruity finish.

Ribera del Duero wines

Like Rioja, the Ribera del Duero region is in the north of Spain. Also like the Rioja, Ribera del Duero red wines are based predominately on the Tempranillo grape. However, Ribera del Duero vineyards are at a higher altitude and subject to greater extremes of temperature. This yields a red wine that is more full-bodied and robust than a Rioja, but has similar notes of spice. Relative newcomers, Ribera del Duero red wines have quickly established themselves as Spanish wines of note. Ribera del Duero might be a new name to you, but you can find plenty to choose from at SpainFlavor.com, along with a wide range of Rioja wines.

Different types of Ribera del Duero and Rioja wines

Both Ribera del Duero and Rioja wines are aged in oak barrels and then in bottles. However, different varieties are aged for different amounts of time and so will vary in character and taste. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different types available. This is a good rule when you buy wine in general. In the case of Ribera del Duero and Rioja wines, it’s worth getting to grips with what the terms Crianza and Reserva mean.

Crianza wines

Crianza Ribera del Duero and Rioja wines are aged for a minimum of one year in oak and a year in the bottle. This is a shorter time than the Reserva varieties, which I’ll get to in a moment. Put simply, less time spent aging means that these particular red wines have a lighter, fruitier character. The easy drinking style of Crianza Ribera del Duero or Rioja wines makes them a perfect type of red wine to enjoy on their own or as a complement to food. As you’d probably expect from a Spanish wine, they’re particularly good with Spanish food, especially lamb or pork dishes. The lighter nature of Crianza Ribera del Duero and Rioja red wines also make them a great counterpoint to spicy food. They can even hold their own against a curry. If it’s a Crianza Ribera del Duero or Rioja wine you’re after, you’ll find plenty to choose from at SpainFlavor.com.

Reserva wines

Reserva wines are aged longer than Crianza wines. Like all Ribera del Duero and Rioja wines, they’re aged in oak barrels and in the bottle, but to be called a Reserva, a Ribera del Duero or Rioja wine must have aged for a minimum of three years, with at least one of those years in oak. A Reserva is made from only the very best grapes of the harvest. It’s also made only in years with a good growing season. This, combined with the longer aging time, particularly the longer time spent in the barrel, gives Reserva red wines a richer, fuller, more complex taste. As such, they’re red wines perhaps more suited to simpler food pairings. Try them with a fish stew or game. Reserva Rioja and Ribera del Duero red wines are also a reliable choice to accompany a cheeseboard.

Other Spanish wines

Often, we tend to stick with what we know, maybe because we don’t know what else is around. But that needn’t be the case when buying wine, particularly Spanish wine. I’ve talked about Rioja and Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine’s two powerhouses. But you’ve also got a host of other red wines to explore, like the Bobal, Garnacha, Monastrell and Mencia varieties. Even if you know Spanish wine, there are always new tastes to try.

All in all, it’s a great time to buy wine from Spain. Whatever Spanish wine you’re after, whether it’s a rich Rioja wine, a more powerful Ribera del Duero or something different, you’ll find something to suit you at SpainFlavor.com, a great place to check out and buy wine.