Three favorite Spanish wine regions
There are more… but here are three
Earlier I wrote about the pleasure of travelling through Spain and visiting wine regions, as well as the large variety of wines that Spain has to offer. Spain’s wine offering is rich and one of the reasons is that the country has various topographic features such as altitudes on mountains and plateaus as well as distinct climate zones. As my personal taste I look for in wine is a certain freshness and elegance, Galicia in the cooler North West of the peninsula for me is one of the top spots, though not the only one. Below I will highlight three regions where styles that I admire are being produced. Note that in this post I will just focus on the reds, but in all mentioned regions there is more! Even in the unlikely case that you read this post and you don’t fancy wine, these regions are highly worth a visit in any case!
Ribeira Sacra
This wine region is part of Galicia in the North West and is situated slightly inland. This part of the country is called Green Spain: it receives quite some rain and as a result we are in a very green landscape here (see cover photo). One of the characteristics of Ribera Sacra is that wine is made on steep slopes that border the rivers Sil / Mino. If you have ever been there, think of Mosel in Germany to get an idea. Winemaking here is called Heroic Viticulture and travelling around will make you understand that winemaking here is not at all easy. Mencía is the main grape and it gives very good results: bright, elegant reds with red fruit, moderate tannins and good acidity. Among others, bodega Dominio do Bibei and Guímaro offer quality examples.
Mallorca
Though the production of wine at this Balearic island in the Mediterranean is relatively small and not that much wine actually leaves the island, it is definitely worth looking out for it. Wines from Mallorca can offer a different tasting experience certainly if you try the ones made from unique grapes such as Callet, Manto Negro and Fogoneu. The reds are often blends and though alcohol levels vary, the wines have a lighter style and are moderately pigmented with fresh red fruit. I find this very interesting as we are in a Mediterranean zone where one would perhaps expect fuller bodied, dark colored reds. Try a wine from bodegas 4Kilos or Ánima Negra.
Bierzo
Bierzo continues to make name with top quality red wines based on the Mencía grape, driven by innovative winemakers such as Raúl Pérez and the Palacios family. The Bierzo is located in the North West of Spain in Castilla & Leon and has a continental climate, but it also has maritime influences as it is close to Galicia so also close to the Atlantic. The combination of warm days combined with these cooling effects from the ocean gives wines with ripe red fruit, but also good acidity leading to pleasantly fresh wines that are medium in color and tannins as well as some herbs. Due to its location in the North West, Bierzo wines can keep the mentioned freshness despite being situated at lower altitudes than the rest of Castilla & Leon. For some good examples, try wines from Raúl Pérez or Descendientes de J. Palacios.
About Ivan Wines
Spain is home to many beautiful, but lesser-known quality wines. With Ivan Wines, I focus on discovering and promoting these wines, the makers and the regions. As a Dutch Registered Vinologist, I organise tastings and wine tours from Valencia. To subscribe to my newsletter, click the button on this page.
