In almost every nook and cranny of Spain, the vine is under cultivation and wine is being produced with great results. More than any other country in Western Europe, Spain’s wine industry has modernized and improved dramatically over the past twenty years. This growth and improvement has been fueled by better vineyard practices (lower yields, more natural farming techniques, green harvesting, etc.) along with more state of the art and clean winemaking facilities. In a nutshell, native producers along with new producers from faraway places have invested in the potential of Spain’s wine industry, and the results have been nothing less than phenomenal.
Join us this Saturday as we take you an adventurous and delicious tasting of some of Spain’s native grape varieties from Godello to Tempranillo. Stop by, learn something new about the wide world of Spanish wines, and find a new favorite.
1. 2012 Benaza Godello (Monterrei, Spain)
If you don’t know Godello, don’t worry about it, but stop by and get to know it! The grape is grown in the northwestern part of Spain and Monterrei is the furthest inland DO of Galicia. That means warmer temperatures, but the region also enjoys rocky soils and cooling breezes, and this wine is ripe, spicy and absolutely delicious. With a ripe and sappy core of white peach, apple and tropical fruits, this brown spice, mineralic white is complex and layered and completely affordable!
2. 2011 Hermanos Pecina Rioja Joven (Rioja, Spain)
Hermanos Pecina is located in the heart of Rioja Alta, and viticulturist Pedro Pecina knows a little bit about farming vineyards here. For nearly 20 years, he managed the vineyards for famed producer La Rioja Alta. These days, he owns and farms about 50 hectares of vines planted mostly to tempranillo. The average vine age is 30 years old; all grapes are hand-harvested in 15 kilo baskets to ensure delicate treatment of the fruit. All fruit is sorted prior to maceration. These wines are beautiful examples of truly traditional Rioja.
3. 2011 Atteca Garnacha Old Vines (Calatayud, Spain)
Although the Gil family are originally from Jumilla in south-eastern Spain, they have expanded their holdings into a number of other growing zones throughout the country. Atteca is their project in the high altitude, wind-swept region of Calatayud in the northern part of Spain. This wine is all Garnacha from very old vines and the wine is aged in French oak. It is a big, voluptuous wine laced with dark cherry liqueur, raspberry, spice and mineral notes. A real crowd pleaser, this is a taste of the new, more modern style of wine being produced in Spain.