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THE FINEST OF AND NORTHWEST : A REGIONAL GUIDE TO THE BEST PRODUCERS AND THEIR WINES PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Jesus Barquin,Luis V. Gutierrez,Victor De La Serna | 320 pages | 20 Sep 2011 | University of California Press | 9780520269217 | English | Berkerley, United States Guide to the regions of Spain, part 1

The majority of the book is dedicated to wine producer profiles. Many of the covered in the book are well known to the wine lover, being big, famous and internationally distributed wine producers. But there are also numerous smaller and not so well-known producers covered in the book. I do not have enough knowledge of the wine producers of the Rioja to be able to comment on the selection of the producers, but most of the wineries that I am familiar with and that I consider to be very good are in the book although not quite all of them. One interesting part of the book is also the story of how Rioja came to be where it is today: it shot to international fame a few decades ago and then suddenly almost disappeared. Only recently has Rioja started to emerge again as a quality wine region on the international wine market. The authors explain how and why this has happened. Today Rioja is a very, very interesting wine region with many top-quality producers making modern wines that can compete with many of the best in the world. It is time that all wine lovers rediscover Rioja and this book is an excellent guide in that quest. In a new edition of the book I hope to see even more wine producer recommendations, a broadened selection. There must be coming many more younger producer on the scene now. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. We will take you to meet the winemakers and explore the wine regions like no other wine tours. It used to be known mainly for fortified wines, but now it is most famous for its light, dry wines made from . You will often see a little blended in as well. Made predominantly from Godello, the wines are fresh, light, clean, crisp, and very refreshing. The influence from the Atlantic Ocean can almost lend a saline-like quality to the wines. is one of the oldest in . It is always made by the or Method, which stipulates that the second fermentation creation the carbonation , always takes place in the bottle. Cava is not actually one region but a patchwork of regions with defined borders throughout the country that are approved to make it. The allowable white grapes are mainly Xarel-lo, aka Viura , and Parraleda, though and may also be used. This DO sit right on the border to along the Atlantic coast. Its wines are lively, spicy, and highly acidic with tropical fruit flavors. Madrid is not very well-known as a wine-producing region. Despite this, excellent wines are produced locally. Old small wineries have found in old vines new inspiration, and new modern producers have brought innovation to this city. In Madrid itself, a large number of tapas bars and restaurants offer wine from all over Spain and some of the best wine lists in the country are to be found here. We recommend when you plan your short-break that you consider joining one of our tours to wineries in Madrid. We find a very interesting 1-day activity to combine a visit to one of these Unesco heritage sites with a wine tour. We offer a Toledo Tour with a strong local gastronomic flavor. Our Segovia tour has been designed following a similar logic. You can also find more information about Segovia on its official tourism site. The best way to enjoy the wine country in is to enjoy one of the tours that operate daily from Barcelona City Center. Some of these tours offer the possibility to combine a visit to the Monastery of Montserrat, but most Barcelona wine tours mainly focus on wine and cava, with normally 2 or 3 wineries being visited. There are two different ways of making wine in . The Denomination of origin Malaga specializes in sweet wines from the Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel grape varieties. It covers an area close to the sea. Jerez de la Frontera and Marco de Jerez has a collection of wineries that are true monuments to wine. Jerez makes wines that are unique to the world: vino fino, amontillado, oloroso. You will not find other wines that have been elaborated by the same art or taste the same as . One of the best ways to learn about these wonderful wines is to join a guided Sherry wine tour. These are the primary regions in which many popular varieties are grown and cultivated. Spain has over 60 different regions in which wine grapes are grown and fermented in order to create the delicious tasting products that we all know and consume. Regardless of what region your desired wine is grown in, they all have one thing in common, it takes time to create wine. The next section is going to give you some detailed information about how the aging process involved with various types of wine products so that you can make the right decision. Certain terms on labels of Spanish wine carry legal definitions as to how old they are before being released and how they were aged. They can be clues to the quality of the wine in the bottle as well. Here are some of the more common ones you will encounter. This is great information to know for those who are serious wine enthusiasts and want a deeper look into exactly how long it takes to create the perfect bottle of wine that they enjoy. Another very critical element that plays a huge role in how well any Spanish wine will come out is the type of grapes used during the fermentation process. There are several types of grapes used in the creation of Spanish wine varieties and the following section is going to list them in detail. Most people around the world would not necessarily recognize these names but they are the main force of traditional Spanish wine. Grape names are not much used in Spain. In most restaurants or wine shops, wines are classified according to their origin. Spanish wine regulations limit regions, which means that in order to understand how a wine will be you should know something about that particular region! More and more producers do however include the name of the grape in their labels. We will list here the most important and common Spanish grape . A grape of Spanish origin despite most people associate it with the Rhone valley in . This grape can be found in nearly all wine countries around the world. In Rioja, it is normally blended with . This grape can produce fruity wines, with raspberry aromas. It is a thin-skinned grape that is often blended with other varietals. In Spain, it comprises the majority of the best wines of Priorat and is also used as a blending grape in Rioja and in Cava sparkling wines. Finos-olorosos — corresponds to the amontillado style of sherry. Smooth, but with less body, and dark yellow or dark golden colour. All of the are within the Basin, and lie between and m, and protected from the wetter Atlantic conditions by the Cantabrian Mountains to the north, and from the Mediterranean climate by the range of mountains bordering to the east and south. The resultant climate is a Continental climate of extremes — hot summers with an average temperature of 35 C and cold winters with an average of 5 C, with little rain mm per year. Together, these provide aptly suitable conditions for grape maturation, producing robust, high alcohol, and high quality wines. The origins of wine cultivation are traced back to Roman times if not earlier. With a fall off in production during the centuries of Moorish rule in the region, the Christian reconquest of the lands saw an increase in vine cultivation. In the medieval period, the monasteries were important centres of wine production. The above maps demonstrate the dominance Garnacha in the Aragonese wines. The soils in general have a high lime content and low nutrients, and are formed by scree coming from the nearby mountain ranges and accompanied, in many cases, by reddish clays. A period of frost between five and seven months has an important impact on the production. Rainfall ranges from mm annually. The DO was formed in While its hectarage is not particularly high, its relatively high yield entails that Campo de Borja is in the top twenty Spanish DOPs for wine production by volume , hl. The soils range from limestone soils in the lower valley, to stoney clays in the middle and upper altitudes. The continental climate is quite extreme, with cold winters and hot, dry summers, with average rainfall between to mm. The DO was first formed in The vineyards are found between and m. The region has a Continental type climate, with cold winters, hot summers and low rainfall rates. The majority of the wines produced are reds, made with Moristel and Tempranillo. The whites traditionally use Macabeo, and Chardonnay is becoming more popular. The soils are mainly brown-limestone, with low fertility and good drainage. The climate is characterised by cold winters and hot summers, with an average annual rainfall of mm with rainfall decreasing from the north to the south and from the west to the east of the DOP. The Balearics wine region is the second smallest of the 12 Spanish regions at just over 1, ha of vineyards growing on the four islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. Only the largest island of Mallorca has DO vineyards. The climate is a Mediterranean climate with dry and hot summers and short winters. The average annual rainfall is around mm. The soils are formed by sands, limestones and clays on subsoils of clays and marls. The climate is a Mediterranean climate, with dry and hot summers and slightly cold winters. The sea breeze during the summer has an important influence on the vineyards near the coast. The average annual rainfall is between and mm. The soil is formed by limestone bedrock that form limestone-clay soils. The Canarian wine region is the third smallest of the 12 Spanish regions at just under 6, ha of vineyards growing on five islands of the Canaries. The distinctively black volcanic soils are sometimes sheltered with small walls to retain moisture, forming very distinct vineyards. The vineyards are located at altitudes ranging from to 1, m with dates varying from the beginning of August to October. The soils on the lower sections are sandy and calcareous soils and the highlands are clay and well-drained soils, due to their volcanic influence. The climate is a Mediterranean climate on the coast, and cooler moving inland due to the influence of the trade winds. The annual rainfall ranges between mm on the coast and mm inland. Cooperativa Cumbres de Abona. It was formed as a DO in Traditionally the vineyards were in the upper reaches of the mountain, but they have expanded to the lower altitudes. The climate is mild with little rainfall, and with increasing humidity with height in the mountain. The soils are volcanic with good water retention and storage. The DOP covers the entire island, with vineyards found from close to sea level to up to 1, m in the mountain on the volcanic soils. The climate is influenced by trade winds, especially at higher elevations. The differences in altitude give rise to diverse microclimates that create specific characteristics for the cultivation of the vine. La Palma DOP covers the entire Canarian island with vineyards from sea level to 2, m, and the mountainous island has many micro-topographies and microclimates. Lanzarote has a dry sub-tropical climate with just mm rainfall annually. The island is relatively flat — max. The soils are the volcanic soils that excel at water retention. It was the first DO of the , formed in The climate is Atlantic, with the topography creating many microclimates. Spanish wine books

He writes on food and wine for elmundovino. Books Journals. A must for Spanish wine buyers and fans. The one or two-page profiles are informative and nicely illustrated with excellent rich color portrait photographs of the owner or winemaker by Jon Wyand, a professional photographer who has specialized in wine for more than 30 years. The portrait photographs are what set this book apart, giving the reader a personal feel for the people behind the region and the wines, urging the reader to find out more. Lebrija VC produces fortified wines, red wines, and a minor amount of white wines. The sherry is typically very pale, light, and dry. This practice continues to a certain extent today, along with other methods. The climate in the northern part consists of a short hot summer, with average rainfall of mm. Inland from Jerez, and just south of Cordoba the vineyards of Montilla — Moriles cover a small area, owned by just a few dozen wineries. The vineyards are found in the lowlands, with the higher quality vines grown on the arid limestone hills in the upper region. There, the better soils are similar to the chalky soils of nearby jerez, while the lowlands comprise sandy soils. The climate is semi-continental Mediterranean, with short winters and long, hot, dry summers. The region is most famous for its sweet, white dessert wines. The traditional method of wine making begins with the first fermentation in small clay jars, and once finished, they begin a second fermentation like the of Jerez. The wines are graded similarly to sherries:. Finos-olorosos — corresponds to the amontillado style of sherry. Smooth, but with less body, and dark yellow or dark golden colour. All of the vineyards are within the Ebro Basin, and lie between and m, and protected from the wetter Atlantic conditions by the Cantabrian Mountains to the north, and from the Mediterranean climate by the range of mountains bordering Catalonia to the east and south. The resultant climate is a Continental climate of extremes — hot summers with an average temperature of 35 C and cold winters with an average of 5 C, with little rain mm per year. Together, these provide aptly suitable conditions for grape maturation, producing robust, high alcohol, and high quality wines. The origins of wine cultivation are traced back to Roman times if not earlier. With a fall off in production during the centuries of Moorish rule in the region, the Christian reconquest of the lands saw an increase in vine cultivation. In the medieval period, the monasteries were important centres of wine production. The above maps demonstrate the dominance Garnacha in the Aragonese wines. The soils in general have a high lime content and low nutrients, and are formed by scree coming from the nearby mountain ranges and accompanied, in many cases, by reddish clays. A period of frost between five and seven months has an important impact on the production. Rainfall ranges from mm annually. The DO was formed in While its hectarage is not particularly high, its relatively high yield entails that Campo de Borja is in the top twenty Spanish DOPs for wine production by volume , hl. The soils range from limestone soils in the lower valley, to stoney clays in the middle and upper altitudes. The continental climate is quite extreme, with cold winters and hot, dry summers, with average rainfall between to mm. The DO was first formed in The vineyards are found between and m. The region has a Continental type climate, with cold winters, hot summers and low rainfall rates. The majority of the wines produced are reds, made with Moristel and Tempranillo. The whites traditionally use Macabeo, and Chardonnay is becoming more popular. The soils are mainly brown-limestone, with low fertility and good drainage. The climate is characterised by cold winters and hot summers, with an average annual rainfall of mm with rainfall decreasing from the north to the south and from the west to the east of the DOP. The Balearics wine region is the second smallest of the 12 Spanish regions at just over 1, ha of vineyards growing on the four islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. Only the largest island of Mallorca has DO vineyards. The climate is a Mediterranean climate with dry and hot summers and short winters. The average annual rainfall is around mm. The soils are formed by sands, limestones and clays on subsoils of clays and marls. The climate is a Mediterranean climate, with dry and hot summers and slightly cold winters. The sea breeze during the summer has an important influence on the vineyards near the coast. The average annual rainfall is between and mm. The soil is formed by limestone bedrock that form limestone-clay soils. The Canarian wine region is the third smallest of the 12 Spanish regions at just under 6, ha of vineyards growing on five islands of the Canaries. The distinctively black volcanic soils are sometimes sheltered with small walls to retain moisture, forming very distinct vineyards. The vineyards are located at altitudes ranging from to 1, m with harvest dates varying from the beginning of August to October. The soils on the lower sections are sandy and calcareous soils and the highlands are clay and well-drained soils, due to their volcanic influence. The climate is a Mediterranean climate on the coast, and cooler moving inland due to the influence of the trade winds. The annual rainfall ranges between mm on the coast and mm inland. Cooperativa Cumbres de Abona. It was formed as a DO in Traditionally the vineyards were in the upper reaches of the mountain, but they have expanded to the lower altitudes. The climate is mild with little rainfall, and with increasing humidity with height in the mountain. The soils are volcanic with good water retention and storage. The DOP covers the entire island, with vineyards found from close to sea level to up to 1, m in the mountain on the volcanic soils. The climate is influenced by trade winds, especially at higher elevations. The differences in altitude give rise to diverse microclimates that create specific characteristics for the cultivation of the vine. La Palma DOP covers the entire Canarian island with vineyards from sea level to 2, m, and the mountainous island has many micro-topographies and microclimates. Lanzarote has a dry sub-tropical climate with just mm rainfall annually. The island is relatively flat — max. The soils are the volcanic soils that excel at water retention. It was the first DO of the Canary Islands, formed in The climate is Atlantic, with the topography creating many microclimates. Rainfall is scarce, but the trade winds provide relatively high humidity. The vineyards grow on the slopes from close to sea level to the heights of 1, m giving many microclimates. The vines grow in traditional rows along borders of vegetable plots and also in canopied trellises. The soil is the typical volcanic soil of the island. The climate is Atlantic, with the humidity helping to compensate for scarce rainfall. The vineyards are found between and m in elevation and the soils are volcanic. The vineyards range from 50 to 1, m in altitude, resulting in a myriad of micro-topographies and microclimates. In general it has a Mediterranean climate with around mm rainfall annually. The soils are clayey at lower elevations and ashes and volcanic rocks at higher elevations. It is the smallest wine region in Spain with less than 1, hectares. The wine region lies between the Cantabrian mountain range and the Cantabrian Sea, the coastal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Similar to DOP , the climate is determined by the Cantabrian maritime influence, but somewhat less humid and drier and cooler than Bizkaiko Txakolina. The wines are primarily whites, with some sparkling wines. The climate is quite humid and temperate due to the influence of the Cantabrian Sea. Precipitation is abundant with 1, mm annual rainfall. The Best Spanish Wines: Full Guide by Variety and Region | Vino Del Vida

Rights: Incl. here dates to Roman and medieval times, and today modern wineries designed by Gehry, Calatrava, and other celebrity architects flourish alongside traditional villages. Lavishly illustrated with photographs of the people and landscape and with detailed maps, this guide ranges over a diverse area from Rioja to Navarra, Bierzo, , and the Basque country as it explores winemaking from the ancient to the traditional and modern. It covers an area close to the sea. Jerez de la Frontera and Marco de Jerez has a collection of wineries that are true monuments to wine. Jerez makes wines that are unique to the world: vino fino, amontillado, oloroso. You will not find other wines that have been elaborated by the same art or taste the same as sherry. One of the best ways to learn about these wonderful wines is to join a guided Sherry wine tour. These are the primary regions in which many popular Spanish wine varieties are grown and cultivated. Spain has over 60 different regions in which wine grapes are grown and fermented in order to create the delicious tasting products that we all know and consume. Regardless of what region your desired wine is grown in, they all have one thing in common, it takes time to create wine. The next section is going to give you some detailed information about how the aging process involved with various types of wine products so that you can make the right decision. Certain terms on labels of Spanish wine carry legal definitions as to how old they are before being released and how they were aged. They can be clues to the quality of the wine in the bottle as well. Here are some of the more common ones you will encounter. This is great information to know for those who are serious wine enthusiasts and want a deeper look into exactly how long it takes to create the perfect bottle of wine that they enjoy. Another very critical element that plays a huge role in how well any Spanish wine will come out is the type of grapes used during the fermentation process. There are several types of grapes used in the creation of Spanish wine varieties and the following section is going to list them in detail. Most people around the world would not necessarily recognize these names but they are the main force of traditional Spanish wine. Grape names are not much used in Spain. In most restaurants or wine shops, wines are classified according to their origin. Spanish wine regulations limit regions, which means that in order to understand how a wine will be you should know something about that particular region! More and more producers do however include the name of the grape in their labels. We will list here the most important and common Spanish grape varietals. A grape of Spanish origin despite most people associate it with the Rhone valley in France. This grape can be found in nearly all wine countries around the world. In Rioja, it is normally blended with Tempranillo. This grape can produce fruity wines, with raspberry aromas. It is a thin- skinned grape that is often blended with other varietals. In Spain, it comprises the majority of the best wines of Priorat and is also used as a blending grape in Rioja and in Cava sparkling wines. It produces dried red fruit flavors with herbal and spicy notes. Tempranillo is the best-known quality Grape in Spain. Its home is, however, . Tempranillo produces fresh and fruity young red wines but it shows its best when -aged. This is the most ubiquitous grape in Spain. It makes wines of structure and age-worthiness that have aromas of dried red currant, and red cherry with notes of smoke, cedar, and leather. Found mainly in Valencia, wines are full-bodied and colorful. Their quality has witnessed a very important increase in the last years. You are right, this is not a Spanish grape ! The increasing demand for varietal wines in importing countries has made many Spanish plant cabernet. As Cabernet grows well nearly everywhere, the results have been very good in Spain. As Cabernet is fairly tannic it is often blended with other grapes to produce more complex wines. It is the typical grape of Murcia and the south of Valencia. It produces powerful wines with great structure and strength somewhat higher than normal. A few years ago, these wines were very successful in Anglo-Saxon countries. Yet again another French grape variety in Spain. has also been quite successful though to a lesser extent than Cabernet in Spain and can be found in many different regions. has become relatively popular in Spain, mainly in La Mancha and in the Mediterranean areas. Spanish Syrah wines are normally full bodied, high in alcohol. Tinta de Toro is of the Tempranillo grape family and is most typically grown in Zamora. Also, in Galicia, Alicante, and Albacete, we can find the interesting grape variety called Garnacha Tintorera, the only variety of red grape whose pulp is also purple. It produces acid wines, but also with high glycerine that gives them a silky texture. It grows mostly in northwestern Spain in the Autonomias of Galicia. Part 1 covers:. The region, the Central wine region, the De Levante wine region, the Del Duero wine region, the Extremaduran wine region, and the region are covered in Part 2 of the wine regions of Spain. The map below shows the locations of the 12 wine regions. These wine regions are also divided into wine appellations called DOPs in Spain. In the Part 2 , the map shows how the 12 wine regions are divided into the 88 DOPs. The tables below give an overview of the wine trade of Spain. Table 1 shows that the total hectarage of vineyards is over , ha. In another article, we cover the wine production for all of the Spanish appellations. Table 1 shows that the hectarage of the wine regions is very different from the volume of wine produced, due to extreme differences in yield. At one extreme the vineyards of in the south of Spain only produce 2 hectolitres per hectare, and at the other extreme the vineyards of the Alto Ebro that includes La Rioja that produce 48 hectolitres per hectare. With such a high yield it is no surprise that the Alto Ebro region produces by far the greatest volume of wine at over 3. Just to the north of the Alto Ebro region, the Cantabrian wine region produces the lowest volume of wine of the mainland regions at under 40, hectolitres. The Cantabrian region has the lowest hectarage of the mainland wine regions at under 1, hectares, while the Central wine region has the largest hectarage at over a quarter of a million hectares. Table 2 shows the breakdown of wine types per wine region, showing how the the Andalusian wine region is dominated by liquors — their world famous sherries. The colder, damper northern regions of Galicia and the Cantabrian wine region are dominated by white wines, while the Catalan wine region is the home of Cava, the Spanish Champagne. The wine regions of Spain grow a bewildering array of both native and foreign grape varieties, and the various DOPs have their own particular varieties that they are authorised to use. The first time a grape variety is mentioned here, there is a link to our Guide to the wine grape varieties in Spain. This region contains the world renowned Rioja, one of two wine regions in Spain, alongside Priorat, with the highest quality mark of DOCa. This region is the start of the Great Ebro Depression, as the Ebro leaves the mountainous lands to the west. To the north the region is framed by the hills of the pre-, and to the south by the Sierra de la Demanda. The rolling hills of the Alto Ebro are between and m to ft. Even though it is only km 60 miles from the Atlantic, the climate is continental, protected on the north by the Pyrenees, the west by the Mountains of Urbasa and , the south by the Sierra de la Demanda, and open on the southeast by the Ebro Depression. Rioja was formed as a DO in , when the Spanish was first formed. Importantly, La Rioja and France were well connected, especially from the medieval period, with the French pilgrims making their way along the Camino de Compostela to Galicia via the Ebro and La Rioja. The French method of long ageing wine in oak barrels was thus introduced to the region in the 18th century, while in the nineteenth century they began a new method — more economical — of importing oak from North America, and coopering it themselves into small barrels, thus beginning their own tradition that lasts to this day. Around the time of the adoption of their new method of using American oak, exploded in Rioja and elsewhere in Spain due to the collapse of the French vineyards in the mid-nineteenth century due to , and an earlier parasitic fungus. French vintners sought out sources of grapes south of the border, encouraging the planting of thousands of acres of new vineyards, or actually moved themselves, and set up wineries. Thus began the boom in Rioja wine, and Spanish wine in general. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, the bubble burst, with phylloxera crossing the Pyrenees, and destroying the majority of the vineyards. It would not be until the s that Rioja came out of the doldrums, and the wine trade took off once again, and Rioja came to be the centrepiece of Spanish wine. The traditional nineteenth century method of using small American oak barrels coopered in Spain continues to this day. And in many ways it typifies Rioja wine, especially with using old barrels to impart a softer flavour, and ageing them in the barrels for a very long time. The maps above demonstrate the central place that the grape variety Tempranillo plays in La Rioja. While Rioja is undoubtedly a red wine region, known especially for the red grape variety Tempranillo , it does produce white wines, especially using Viura Macabeo grape. Tempranillo, Garnacha , , Mazuela , Maturana tinta. Crianza — red wines in their third year, and having spent a minimum of one year in oak barrels. For white wines, the minimum barrel ageing period is 6 months. Reserva — red wines with a minimum ageing between oak barrels and the bottle of three years, of which at least one has to be in barrels, with an additional minimum 6 months of ageing in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum ageing is 2 years, with at least 6 months in barrels. Gran Reserva — These are wines of great with a minimum of five years of ageing, with at least two years in oak barrels and two years in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum ageing period is 4 years, with at least 6 months in barrels. In addition to the ageing requirements the Rioja DOCa brought in new categories in that cover the idea of . But Navarra produces some remarkable wines in its own right, and is in the top ten Spanish appellations. Compared to Rioja, Navarra holds much less hectarage and produces less, but Navarra is in the top ten Spanish DOs for wine production by hectolitre. The Navarra DOP does not cover a particularly large area, but has a wide diversity of climates and soils. The south is drier than the north, and the soils are predominantly a range of limestones and alluviums. This region includes the famous sherry region, and produces wines quite different from the rest of Spain. Probably the first Spanish wine to reach global fame, sherry is a from the coastal region of Jerez. The DOP is located to the northwest of the Jerez region, and historically was an important producer of the Andalusian sherries. Since , however, it has been designated as a separate DOP, and produces sherry-style wines along with unfortified dry . The climate is Mediterranean with Atlantic influences. Winters and Springs are mild, with long, hot summers.

Rioja Wine Region, Spain | Winetourism

The first time a grape variety is mentioned here, there is a link to our Guide to the wine grape varieties in Spain. This region contains the world renowned Rioja, one of two wine regions in Spain, alongside Priorat, with the highest quality mark of DOCa. This region is the start of the Great Ebro Depression, as the Ebro leaves the mountainous lands to the west. To the north the region is framed by the hills of the pre-Pyrenees, and to the south by the Sierra de la Demanda. The rolling hills of the Alto Ebro are between and m to ft. Even though it is only km 60 miles from the Atlantic, the climate is continental, protected on the north by the Pyrenees, the west by the Mountains of Urbasa and Cantabria, the south by the Sierra de la Demanda, and open on the southeast by the Ebro Depression. Rioja was formed as a DO in , when the Spanish appellation was first formed. Importantly, La Rioja and France were well connected, especially from the medieval period, with the French pilgrims making their way along the Camino de Compostela to Galicia via the Ebro and La Rioja. The French method of long ageing wine in oak barrels was thus introduced to the region in the 18th century, while in the nineteenth century they began a new method — more economical — of importing oak from North America, and coopering it themselves into small barrels, thus beginning their own tradition that lasts to this day. Around the time of the adoption of their new method of using American oak, viticulture exploded in Rioja and elsewhere in Spain due to the collapse of the French vineyards in the mid-nineteenth century due to phylloxera, and an earlier parasitic fungus. French vintners sought out sources of grapes south of the border, encouraging the planting of thousands of acres of new vineyards, or actually moved themselves, and set up wineries. Thus began the boom in Rioja wine, and Spanish wine in general. By the end of the nineteenth century, however, the bubble burst, with phylloxera crossing the Pyrenees, and destroying the majority of the vineyards. It would not be until the s that Rioja came out of the doldrums, and the wine trade took off once again, and Rioja came to be the centrepiece of Spanish wine. The traditional nineteenth century method of using small American oak barrels coopered in Spain continues to this day. And in many ways it typifies Rioja wine, especially with using old barrels to impart a softer flavour, and ageing them in the barrels for a very long time. The maps above demonstrate the central place that the grape variety Tempranillo plays in La Rioja. While Rioja is undoubtedly a red wine region, known especially for the red grape variety Tempranillo , it does produce white wines, especially using Viura Macabeo grape. Tempranillo, Garnacha , Graciano , Mazuela , Maturana tinta. Crianza — red wines in their third year, and having spent a minimum of one year in oak barrels. For white wines, the minimum barrel ageing period is 6 months. Reserva — red wines with a minimum ageing between oak barrels and the bottle of three years, of which at least one has to be in barrels, with an additional minimum 6 months of ageing in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum ageing is 2 years, with at least 6 months in barrels. Gran Reserva — These are wines of great vintages with a minimum of five years of ageing, with at least two years in oak barrels and two years in the bottle. For white wines, the minimum ageing period is 4 years, with at least 6 months in barrels. In addition to the ageing requirements the Rioja DOCa brought in new categories in that cover the idea of terroir. But Navarra produces some remarkable wines in its own right, and is in the top ten Spanish appellations. Compared to Rioja, Navarra holds much less hectarage and produces less, but Navarra is in the top ten Spanish DOs for wine production by hectolitre. The Navarra DOP does not cover a particularly large area, but has a wide diversity of climates and soils. The south is drier than the north, and the soils are predominantly a range of limestones and alluviums. This region includes the famous sherry region, and produces wines quite different from the rest of Spain. Probably the first Spanish wine to reach global fame, sherry is a fortified wine from the coastal region of Jerez. The Condado de Huelva DOP is located to the northwest of the Jerez region, and historically was an important producer of the Andalusian sherries. Since , however, it has been designated as a separate DOP, and produces sherry-style wines along with unfortified dry white wine. The climate is Mediterranean with Atlantic influences. Winters and Springs are mild, with long, hot summers. The terrain is generally flat to slightly rolling, with neutral loamy soils and aluvium towards the Guadalquivir River. From it held the VC appellation, and in became a DO. The DOP is small, at just ha, and it mainly produces red wines. The average altitude of the vineyards of is about 1, m, with soils that are slates and clays. The climate has both Mediterranean and continental influences. The rolling hills are formed of a variety of soils, but the most common, and prized, is the chalky white soil called albariza that absorbs and holds the winter rains, allowing a supply of water during the dry summer months. Barros is another soil richer in clay and humus but of lesser quality for vines, and arenas is a sandy soil. The Atlantic climate is a strong influence on the wine growing in the region, with relatively wet and mild in the winter and spring, and hot in the summer, but the heat is mitigated in the later summer during harvest time by the Atlantic winds. As a fortified wine, sherry begins its life as a white wine, and then is fortified with grape spirit. Lebrija VC produces fortified wines, red wines, and a minor amount of white wines. The sherry is typically very pale, light, and dry. This practice continues to a certain extent today, along with other methods. The climate in the northern part consists of a short hot summer, with average rainfall of mm. Inland from Jerez, and just south of Cordoba the vineyards of Montilla — Moriles cover a small area, owned by just a few dozen wineries. The vineyards are found in the lowlands, with the higher quality vines grown on the arid limestone hills in the upper region. There, the better soils are similar to the chalky soils of nearby jerez, while the lowlands comprise sandy soils. This is a significant factor in the local climate, which is warmer and drier than that just to the north. The most notable of these, and perhaps the most unexpected, are sparkling wines — not something with which Rioja is often associated. However, certain parts of the region are officially authorized to produce Cava. A few dessert wines are also produced on a commercial scale from both red and white grape varieties. These hark back to traditional wines called supurados, dried in lofts over the winter. Usually, Rioja wines are a blend of various grape varieties. Since , there have been seven authorised local grape varieties. However, in Regulating Council of Rioja permitted more grape varieties to be planted and used in winemaking. All high-quality Rioja is matured in new oak barrels. American oak has been the preference historically, but many wineries now use a mix of American and French oak. American oak maturation is what gives more traditional Rioja red wines their distinctive notes of coconut, vanilla, and sweet spice. The amount of time that a Rioja wine spends in a barrel dictates which of the official Rioja ageing categories goes on the label: Joven, Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva. The Rioja Classification for wines guarantees the wines have aged for a significant amount of time in both barrel and bottle. Here is a simple guide on how to differentiate Rioja wines and what to expect. The name tells that these wines should be drunk young at its prime period, max 2 years. Crianza red is a more complex wine, which expresses more red fruit and spicy flavours. Red Reserva wines require a minimum of three years of ageing with a least one year in a barrel. White Reserva wines need a minimum of two years, including six months in oak. Reserva wines express the great balance between fruitiness, acidity and tannins. If you are looking for Rioja wine for a special occasion, this is what you have to choose. Gran Reserva wines require a minimum of two years in oak, and at least three years more in a bottle. White Gran Reserva wines need a minimum of four years altogether, of which at least six months must be in oak. If you are planning a trip to Rioja, our local partners would guarantee the best wine experience for you. Check the full list of Wineries in Rioja Wine Region, where you will be able to discover the most famous wines from Spain and a long history of winemaking. The family that kept winemaking traditions and culture for over hundred years are willing impart their knowledge and art of winemaking to every visitor to their historical . Bodegas Luis Alegre is located in Laguardia, which is one of the most exclusive parts of the Rioja wine region. Since the passionate winemakers family is trying to reach exceptional quality and produce wines with personality. With the respect of local traditions and innovations, the family is producing one of the highest quality of Rioja wines. Wine lovers can visit the Bodegas Alvia any time of the year. The winery offers a diversity of experiences. Starting from paired with local food and desserts and harvest experience, finishing with exciting escape room game. Logrono is a city rich in history and traditions which has been preserved since the Middle Ages. The Ebro River passes through the city with two bridges over the river that connect the city to and Alava. Around Logrono, there are various examples of St. The town has its roots in the monastic traditions of the area, this is apparent through the many beautiful historic buildings and houses. Calahorra is the main town in Lower Rioja and is situated on a promontory overlooking the plain of Cidacos. In the historic centre of Calahorra, there are many vestiges of the past such as the flamboyant Gothic style cathedral which dates from the 15th century. In the Muslim old town, there is a Roman arch and the church of San Andres which was built in the 16th century. Other sites worth visiting in the town are the Municipal Museum which houses around 11 archaeological pieces, and the Carmelite Convent where one can see a magnificent statue of Christ tied to the column by Gregorio Fernandez. Rioja is the smallest region in Spain, but the territory is home to a range of landscapes and locations typical of a continent. The Mediterranean essence appears in the vineyards, the alpine climate takes shape in the snow-capped mountains, and the rain-fed land creates incredible moonscapes. Despite all of this, it is the rivers of the region steal the show. Seven rivers originate in the region and criss cross, decorating the landscape. Every step opens onto a new world without ever leaving the region. Staying at a country guesthouse in a unique natural environment and enjoy a starry night while staying in the region. Sierra de la Demanda is a mountain sub-range situated in the Northern Iberian Peninsula. The highest peaks of the range are normally covered in snow between October and May; one can visit the Valdezcaray ski resort. The hiking trails follow the mountains through a nature reserve that encapsulates the highest peaks allowing visits to many historic and cultural highlights. There is a lot of wildlife to be seen in this area including wolves, deers, otters, royal eagles, falcons and a lot more. The beautiful horses found in the area are Spanish and Arab mix. Horseriding in Sierra de la Demanda gives pleasurable experience to visitors. Overnight accommodation is available in a variety of characteristic small country hotels along the riding trails. They are home to some of the oldest vines in Europe though. The black schist and quartz soil known locally as llicorella are resistant to the vine disease phylloxera, so these vines were spared when the pest ravaged the vineyards of Europe. Look for these wines to be among the best Grenache-based wines in the world with costs to match. This region has seen rapid growth as of late. After becoming a DO in , this region had four wineries established here. After leaks revealed that the famed estate of had been quietly purchasing land in Toro under an assumed name starting in , this region exploded in growth! Now there are around 40 wineries making wine here. The Tempranillo, Malvasia, and Garnacha grapes tend to be dominant in the region. It used to be known mainly for fortified wines, but now it is most famous for its light, dry wines made from Verdejo. You will often see a little Sauvignon Blanc blended in as well. Made predominantly from Godello, the wines are fresh, light, clean, crisp, and very refreshing. The influence from the Atlantic Ocean can almost lend a saline-like quality to the wines. Cava is one of the oldest sparkling wine appellations in Europe. It is always made by the Traditional Method or Champagne Method, which stipulates that the second fermentation creation the carbonation , always takes place in the bottle. Cava is not actually one region but a patchwork of regions with defined borders throughout the country that are approved to make it. The allowable white grapes are mainly Xarel-lo, Macabeo aka Viura , and Parraleda, though Chardonnay and Malvasia may also be used. This DO sit right on the border to Portugal along the Atlantic coast. Its wines are lively, spicy, and highly acidic with tropical fruit flavors. Madrid is not very well-known as a wine-producing region. Despite this, excellent wines are produced locally. Old small wineries have found in old Grenache vines new inspiration, and new modern producers have brought innovation to this city. In Madrid itself, a large number of tapas bars and restaurants offer wine from all over Spain and some of the best wine lists in the country are to be found here. We recommend when you plan your short-break that you consider joining one of our tours to wineries in Madrid. We find a very interesting 1-day activity to combine a visit to one of these Unesco heritage sites with a wine tour. We offer a Toledo Tour with a strong local gastronomic flavor. Our Segovia tour has been designed following a similar logic. You can also find more information about Segovia on its official tourism site. The best way to enjoy the wine country in Barcelona is to enjoy one of the tours that operate daily from Barcelona City Center. Some of these tours offer the possibility to combine a visit to the Monastery of Montserrat, but most Barcelona wine tours mainly focus on wine and cava, with normally 2 or 3 wineries being visited. There are two different ways of making wine in Malaga. The Denomination of origin Malaga specializes in sweet wines from the Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel grape varieties. It covers an area close to the sea. Jerez de la Frontera and Marco de Jerez has a collection of wineries that are true monuments to wine. Jerez makes wines that are unique to the world: vino fino, amontillado, oloroso. You will not find other wines that have been elaborated by the same art or taste the same as sherry. One of the best ways to learn about these wonderful wines is to join a guided Sherry wine tour. These are the primary regions in which many popular Spanish wine varieties are grown and cultivated. Spain has over 60 different regions in which wine grapes are grown and fermented in order to create the delicious tasting products that we all know and consume. Regardless of what region your desired wine is grown in, they all have one thing in common, it takes time to create wine. The next section is going to give you some detailed information about how the aging process involved with various types of wine products so that you can make the right decision. Certain terms on labels of Spanish wine carry legal definitions as to how old they are before being released and how they were aged. They can be clues to the quality of the wine in the bottle as well. Here are some of the more common ones you will encounter. This is great information to know for those who are serious wine enthusiasts and want a deeper look into exactly how long it takes to create the perfect bottle of wine that they enjoy. Another very critical element that plays a huge role in how well any Spanish wine will come out is the type of grapes used during the fermentation process. There are several types of grapes used in the creation of Spanish wine varieties and the following section is going to list them in detail. Most people around the world would not necessarily recognize these names but they are the main force of traditional Spanish wine. Grape names are not much used in Spain. In most restaurants or wine shops, wines are classified according to their origin. Spanish wine regulations limit regions, which means that in order to understand how a wine will be you should know something about that particular region!

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