Spanish Wine

[dazed57]

I'm only just learning about wine. I've always enjoyed it but now I'm starting to recognise a good quality bottle.

I'm going to Spain in two weeks. Any wine experts out there who can tell me what quality tipple I should be looking out for?

[Figi]

Look out for local wines. Avoid anything that just says "vino de mesa" on the label - just means bog standard cheapo blended stuff. And as it's all so cheap (by UK standards) it's worth getting something better.

[Buenchico]

The labels on Spanish wines aren't always as good an indication of the quality as you'd like them to be but look for 'Crianza', 'Reserva' and 'Gran Reserva'.

One of the best wine regions in Spain is 'Rioja' (which gives its name to some superb reds) but the same grape is grown outside of the region and produces some excellent wines which can't be labelled as 'Rioja'; simply look for the name of the grape: Tempranillo.

Spain doesn't produce many good white wines. Look for the grape 'Verdejo' if you're trying to find one of the better ones.

Also, see here:
http://www.thewinedoctor.com/regionalguides/sp ain.shtml

Chris

[ruthiebabie]

Wines produced by the Torres family are often in Spanish restaurants. The Sangre de Torro is a standard red and the Vina Sol their standard white.

[hippyhoppy]

Avoid the carton of 'Don Simon' left in your welcome pack at all costs...

[philgreen309]

I agree about Rioja if you like reds. The names mentioned in the above answer, crianza, riserva and gran riserva are all in relation to how long the wine has been aged in oak barrells before bottling and the longer it is the more flavour the wine takes from the oak.

If you're looking for a white wine albarino wines can be excellent. They usually have a delicate hint of tropical fruit such as pineapple that isn't overpowering