THERE IS MORE TO SPAIN THAN RIOJA
Rioja is one of the most famous wine regions of the world and the leading light of Spanish wine.
IT IS characterised by a blend of
Garnacha and Tempranillo grapes and the oak aging in primarily American oak that gives a touch of vanilla and texture on the finish. Spain’s less well known regions
have developed substantially in recent years. The improvement can be traced back to Spain joining the European Union in 1986. The investment in facilities and the recognition by Spain that it needed to improve its quality was a real turning point. Now Spain has some of the most
exciting wines in the world. Ribera del Duero to the west of Rioja is famous for its full bodied reds made from Tempranillo. The terrain is demanding and the climate hot but the work is rewarded with some outstanding wines, although they never come cheap. Rueda is a region in the mid-
west of Spain producing some outstanding vibrant, crisp whites.
The soil here is littered with stones reflecting the sunlight to ripen the grapes. The indigenous varieties of Verdejo and Viura along with Sauvignon Blanc have combined to produce some very modern styles capable of surprising those not familiar with Spain. Even La Mancha a large region
south of Madrid, is producing fresh, clean wines where unexciting bulk wines were once the norm. They have turned around the region to produce affordable easy drinking wines which are proving popular and excellent value in a competitive world wine market. There are many other fabulous
wine regions in Spain, next time you visit a wine shop, look beyond Rioja for Spanish wine and explore what this vibrant, exciting wine- producing country has to offer.
COTSWOLD
By Simon Thomson, Managing Director
Talking Wines, Cirencester. Drink
Inspiring life in the Cotswolds
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