Spain
To classify the wines of Spain under a single style or character would be impossible. This is a country of exceptional diversity, with vines planted across a huge range of climates and geographies. Vineyards stretch from the lush and rainy coasts of Green Spain to the extreme and arid plains of the Meseta, from the valleys carved by the Ebro River to the volcanic Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa.
The sheer number of grape varieties also widens the spectrum of Spanish wines. More than 200 grape varieties are grown here, from international favorites to the country’s many local specialties, like Tempranillo, Mencía, Albariño, and Verdejo. While local winemakers carry on the traditions passed down through Spain’s winemaking history, they also look to push their industry forward, experimenting with styles and increasingly focusing on organic viticulture.
As the third-largest country in Europe, Spain’s geography and climate are exceptionally diverse, comprising many distinctive regions making equally distinctive wines. It dominates the Iberian peninsula in southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, north Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains. One of the country’s most distinguishing geographical features, is the Meseta, a wide plateau that covers much of central Spain.
Cellar Jan Vidal Cava NV $14 - The Penedés Valley in Catalonia lies just east of Barcelona and is one of my favorite regions not only for Cava but the dynamic still wines being produced today. This is a classic blend of Xarel-lo, Parellada and Macabeo aged 18 months producing a wine that's fresh and crisp on the palate, this cava is pale straw yellow in color with fine, persistent bubbles. Notes of quince, yellow apple, lime and almond.
Next we'll head south to Les Alcusses Valley located in Valencia. Pago Casa Gran is a small winery located about 500 ft in the valley growing Malvasia, Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell practicing organic viticulture. The Casa Benasal Tinto 2023 $15 is a blend of Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell.
A short drive south we arrive in Alicante we'll find Kiki & Juan in Requena. The Kiki & Juan Tinto 2023 $16 is a blend of Bobal, Tempranillo and Macabeo.
The next region, Rioja, needs no introduction, with more than 600 wineries, 14,800 winegrowers, and centuries of history. Rioja is Spain’s leading wine region. Not only was it the first Spanish region to be awarded Denominación de Origen (DO) status in 1925, but it was also the first to be elevated to the prestigious Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) status, in 1991.
Luberri Rioja 2023 "Orlegi" $17 100% Tempranillo.
The Luzador Tinto "Los Andreses" 2022 $18 is a blend of 75% Garnacha and 25% Tempranillo from Navarra. Navarra is just east of Rioja and was once a part of France and mostly planted to Garnacha. The vineyards of Navarra DO are located in the southern part of the region, between Pamplona and the plains.
Bonus WinesLadeiras do Xil 2022 Branco $25 comes from Valdedoras over in Galicia. Ladeiras do Xil is named for the hillsides along the Sil River (literally “slopes of the Sil”), which, along with the Miño River, is the lifeblood of the Ourense province, including the Valdeorras and Ribeira Sacra wine regions. This wine is made from 20 to 80 year old Godello vines.
Álvaro Palacios Priorat Les Camins del Priorat 2022 $26 - Back over to the east coast we'll visit Priorat. Alvaro Palacios put Priorat on the map with his bottling of L'Ermita in 1993 which goes for around $1,400 these days. Priorat's unique soil, Llicorella, is a brown slate that glimmers in the sun, The region produces powerful wines made from Carineña, Garnacha and Syrah.
Bonus Bonus
Bodegas Señorio Pecina Rioja Reserva 2016 $33. Elaborated from the finest grapes from their vineyards in San Vicente de la sonsierra, calcareous clay soil, the grapes are destemmed and crushed and fermented naturally with wild yeast in stainless steel tanks. It spends 3 years in used American oak and at least 18 months in bottle before release.
Friday Flight 4 - 8pm every Friday. $12 for a flight of 5 with an additional 3 wines for purchase.