Spanish wines, the most traditional in the world

Spanish wines date back three thousand years to 1100 BC. The Phoenicians planted the first vineyards in the Jerez area of Andalusia. Today, Spain has been capitalizing on its extensive winemaking tradition, as well as its exceptional vineyards. And the excellent Spanish wines have come to America.

Characteristics of Spanish wines

What distinguishes Spanish wines from others are the amount of varieties of local grapes from many places in Spain. There are numerous mountains that range up to 11,420 feet. Spain is the second most mountainous region in Europe.

Continuous sunshine throughout all Spain raises the sugar levels in the wine grapes, which gives to the finished wines high levels of alcohol.

Spain has a large number of native grape varieties, with more than 600 types grown throughout all Spain.

As more wine consumers get to know Spanish wines and viticulture advances even more, scientific research, production and research of grapes especially for winemaking, then, the Spanish wines will get the recognition they deserve.

Americans, who have definitely shown their appreciation for wines with fruity flavors, typified by California zinfandel, they’d love what Spanish wines can offer.

But Spanish wines are dyed with tannins and sophistication, giving them a classic characteristic that many people in America (and around the world) will be ready to explore and taste.

It is debatable how many native strains there are in Spain. Tempranilla is considered a staple strain that can produce the fragrant and deeply tinged dinner wines, as well as the more common red wines for a daily consumer.

The Tempranilla quality is capable of having the aroma of espresso, smoke, chocolates, harvested sugar or tar.

Spanish wines and where we can find them

True Spanish wines can be found everywhere and they offer an impressive selection. Despite having this high quality, Spanish wines have a lower cost compared to Italian and French wines, as they are less known. In the U.S. there is the “finding.wine” wine store, where you can find more than 500 variants from Spaniard wines, there are for all tastes.

Because a large number of Spanish varieties deviate from what is expected, for that reason you can find a few high-quality varieties at a price below $ 25. This has forced Spain to alter its wines in order to compete with others for any modern palate. Now prized by both; the Spanish middle class and foreign trade, the wines are getting better and better with a focus on fresh, fruity, less aged variations.

Although Spain has been famous in the past for its reasonably priced, ready-to-drink red wines, it is really developing and improving its wines to suit global choices.

Styles of Spanish wines

Spain concentrates on many different attributes and styles. Toro, in northwestern Spain, is rapidly emerging as arguably one of the most important red wine regions in Spain.

Toro's climate and land are perfect for creating robust tannic red wines, mainly from the Tempranillo grape variety. 

The popular sparkling wine from Spain is known as Cava, which is produced similarly to Champagne, but primarily from the regional grape varieties Xarel-Lo, Macabeo and Paralleda.

The best Cavas reveal the yeast characteristics of Champagne, but tend to be fruitier and strong. Spanish wine has awakened from a long lethargy and poor performance. Now several other wine regions in Spain are producing significantly excellent wines.

Top 5 Spanish wines we recommend

1. PAZO DE SEÑORÁNS VINTAGE SELECTION 2010: This is one of the most prestigious and awarded white wines in Spain. International Wine Challenge recognized it as the Best White Wine in Spain. It’s made exclusively from the best Albariño grapes from its own vineyard (Los Bancales). An essential wine for any lover of Galician whites anywhere around the globe.

2. Marques de Riscal - 2015 - Baron de Chirel Reserva: Marqués de Riscal's most exceptional wine is only made in the best vintages. When it began to be marketed it constituted a revolution in the field of the most traditional Riojan wineries, because of its fruity and concentrated character. It comes from a selection of the oldest vines that Riscal has in Rioja Alavesa, between 80 and 110 years old, with a very low yield. Is a mature red with great aromatic intensity, with smooth and polished tannins. Complex and elegant, with a long and balanced touch.

3. Marques de Murrieta - 2014: a display of elegance, balance and regularity that characterize the “Marqués de Murrieta” winery and its surrounding vineyards located in “La Finca Ygay”. “Marqués de Murrieta” is a reserve red wine with a balanced aging of 1 year and a half in new and semi-new American oak barrels; as well as two years in a bottle. The result is an elegant wine that combines complexity and finesse, it also combines the best attributes of the Spanish identity with contemporary accents.

4. Fince Allende - 2010: A reference wine in modern La Rioja, made by the winemaker Miguel Ángel de Gregorio on his family property from the grapes produced by a 22-hectare vineyard in Briones. Finca Allende is known for having given birth to such unique wines, such as Calvario or Aurus; This red belongs to the basic range of the winery, but maintains the singular profile of great elegance and complexity that characterizes its older brothers.

5. Bodegas R Lopez de Heredia - 2006 - Vina Tondonia Reserva: The great classic Rioja wine, with all the usual nuances, color and flavors. Aging in barrels for 6 years. Clarified with fresh egg whites. Bright ruby color. Fine, fresh, toasted touch with light vanilla aromas. Very dry. 

Conclusions

We hope we have enough information for you to be documented about the excellent and traditional Spanish wines, classified as one winemaking region in the world.

There is a high quantity of Spanish wines with quality and flavor out of this world, however we just selected only five of those, just to show a small sample of the best wines produced in this region, hoping it can satisfy your expectations and taste, either you’re a serious wine aficionado or a quick consumer.