Thursday Virtual Happy Hour: Wines From Spain
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Along with France and Italy, Spain is one of Europe's big three wine producing nations with an ancient history of winemaking and a range of wines and styles providing global touchstones for producers around the world.
All seventeen of Spain's administrative regions produce wine to some extent, including the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. The greatest concentration of vineyards is in Castilla-La Mancha, but the finest and most famous wines come from Galicia (Rias Baixas), Catalonia (Cava and Priorat), Andalucia (Sherry), Castilla y Leon (Rueda, Toro and Ribera del Duero) and of course Rioja.
Spain's wine grape varieties are less numerous than their European counterparts. They also receive far less fanfare as the Spanish wine industry has only recently begun to show any interest in varietal-led winemaking and marketing. Several hundred varieties are used in Spanish vineyards to some extent, but the vast majority of Spanish wine is made from just a small number of these. The key red wine varieties, in order of acreage, are Tempranillo, Garnacha, Bobal, Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon. The leading white wine varieties are Airen, Viura/Macabeo and Palomino and Albariño.
Tempranillo, which has various regional synonyms (including Cencibel, Tinta del Pais, Tinto Fino and Ull de Llebre) appears in both quality and quantity. It accounts for just over 20 percent of all Spanish vines and features prominently in the country's most prestigious wines (most obviously Rioja, Toro and Ribera del Duero).
Bobal, though relatively unknown compared to Tempranillo, covers an impressive seven percent of the national vineyard area. It is planted mostly in eastern Spain around Valencia, Manchuela and particularly Utiel-Requena. Garnacha is valued here, as elsewhere, for its juicy, fruity character and high potential alcohol. It is put to good use in the deeply-colored rosés of Navarra, but is perhaps at its best when blended with the more-structured, darker-flavored Tempranillo.
Monastrell is thought to have been introduced to eastern Spain by the Phoenicians around 500 BC. Once the second most-planted red behind Garnacha, it is now regaining some lost ground. Key wine regions are Jumilla, Alicante and Yecla. The wines tend to be rich, dark and berry-laden.
We have a choice of videos to watch including:
- https://youtu.be/d-S6Mg5cAUg?si=ONCELvdbDKtPdH-q - 5 Spanish Red Wines You Must Try - Wine Folly (19:36)
- https://youtu.be/AKlXsZrrwFQ?si=w0W8amrinprTkuBX - SPANISH Wines and Regions Explained in 13 minutes for Beginners - Wine O'Clock Academy (12:46)
- https://youtu.be/dJS-sAOKuZA?si=dARe_QWbKaBzU99Y - Discover the Wines of Spain - Fill of Pinot (11:49)
So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!
Cheers!!