The Spanish Secret

One of the best bargains this summer for the quality conscious consumer come from the world of Spanish wine. They are affordable, diverse and great for food pairing. Their versatility makes them excellent choices for barbecues, late dinners or simply by themselves.

 Rioja is perhaps the most known of the red Spanish wines. Either partially or entirely made from the tempranillo grape- the rioja is a medium bodied, typically light when young yet it can be aged in oak for at least a year (crianza).  Further aging in oak lengthens the finish, adds nuances of vanilla, earth tones and mellows the fruit for better balance.

Priorat is a wine that is comprised of mostly garnacha which is a Spanish version of Grenache. Priorat wine is often blended with carignan making it fruit forward, yet complex with spice undertones making a great pairing for your summer barbecues.

Ruedas is a Spanish white wine from central Spain sourced from the verdejo grape. It is a medium bodied white, fruity with a lasting finish perfect for fish or chicken in a cream sauce. Albarino is another white that originates from northern Spain its sister wine is Alvarino which is from the neighboring country of Portugal. A citrusy, dry acidic wine whose better versions have a lasting finish. An excellent accompaniment for grilled fish, chicken or salad. 

Spanish sparkling wines (Cava) are fermented in the traditional champagne method but are aged for a much shorter period. They are an excellent alternative to champagne for brunch, and aperitif or cocktail. At a greatly reduced price in comparsion they are an excellent bargain.

By Ronald Mitchell