Bright, pure and rich: The 7 best Spanish white wines OUR expert’s verdict on moreish Spanish whites is viva España! GETTYSpain is one of the largest wine-producing countries in the world, but it’s predominantly a red wine country. While Spanish reds can be excellent and offer great value for money, don’t forget about the country’s whites, which have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years.The northwestern region of Rías Baixas is one of the key white areas, as it’s cooler, but there are also interesting whites coming from other red-dominated regions, too. Here is my selection of the best value-for-money whites. (01438 740222), 13% alcoholMade from the rare albillo mayor grape from 100-year-old vines, this is bright, pure and minerally with attractive citrus and pear fruit flavours. Lagar de Cervera Albariño 2014, Rías Baixas, Spain £14.95, tanners-wines.co.uk (01743 234500), 12.5% alcoholThis is a delicious albariño that’s lively and focused with zesty grapefruit and lemon flavours, a bit of pithiness and a keen citrussy finish.

Monte Blanco de Ramón Bilbao Verdejo 2014, Rueda, Spain £11, thedailydrinker.co.uk (01380 827291), 12.5% alcoholRueda is one of Spain’s leading white wine regions and as well as sauvignon blanc, the local verdejo grape does well here. This is rounded and flavoursome with notes of grapefruit, passion fruit and some stony, mineral notes. Most Wanted Albariño 2014, Rías Baixas, Spain £7.99, TheCo-operative, 12.5% alcoholHere’s a rich expression of the albariño grape, with a nutty almond and fennel edge to the ripe apple and pear fruit flavours. where to buy a wine coolerDespite the richness, though, it manages to be fresh and dry. best red wines dryWM Morrison Canto Real Verdejo 2014, Rueda, Spain£7.99, Morrisons, 12.5% alcoholVerdejo is the grape variety in Rueda, and this bottle is a rounded yet fresh white with an attractive grassy edge to the lush pear and citrus fruit. top selling wine brands in the usa

Torres Viña Esmerelda 2014, Spain £8.49, Waitrose, Majestic, Tesco, Booths, 11% alcoholThis well-known blend of muscat and gewürztraminer has been made by Torres since 1976. It’s grapey and fresh with lovely lychee flavours and a hint of sweetness. This is fruity, friendly and full of taste. Martín Códax As Caixas Godello 2014, Rías Baixas, Spain £9.99, Majestic, 13% alcoholGodello is a interesting grape variety grown in the northwest of Spain. best wine awards 2013This has pleasant focus and weight with bright citrus and pear fruitiness. best red wine under 2000There’s lots of flavour, but it’s not heavy.best wine school in londonSpaniards' tastes in wines have changed in recent years: they're drinking little, but often. As ever, price-quality ratio is the key to making the right choice, and while traditional regions like La Rioja continue to lead the way in sales, customers are now much more open to other options.

In the case of crianza reds (wines aged for at least two years, one of them in oak barrels), what we're looking for is honesty, clear fruity aromas, just enough of a wood scent and a full-flavored presence on the palate that is easy to appreciate. Spain has an unbeatable array of wines to offer consumers in this category, with a wide selection of grape varieties, among them Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Monastrell, Mencía and Prieto picudo, and the winemaking industry has undergone an extensive overhaul, leading to the production of excellent crianzas in just about every winemaking region and within all of Spain's Denominación de Origen (DO), many of them for €15 or under. The following list reflects the latest market trends and highlights wines with a fruity bouquet, mature tannins, and a smooth, well-rounded finish that fully expresses their terroir. There is a density to its aroma that conceals spicy nuances and a hint of oak; the bouquet reveals very ripe fruit with elegant and complex notes.

Sweetness and acidity balance each other out in the mouth..Blend: Tempranillo, garnacha and some mazuelo and graciano. Intense aroma of red and black berries, herbal tones, and hints of oak and spice. Powerful in the palate, smooth and with a hint of sweetness, refined and elegant. Winery: Descendientes de J. Palacios. Villafranca del Bierzo (León).Type: Crianza red, 14.5%. A deeply aromatic Mencía that makes no effort to hide its fruity nature, enhanced with flowery and herbal overtones. There is a slight presence of spice. Fresh and very fruity on the palate..IGP: Vino de la Tierra de Castilla.Blend: Tempranillo, syrah, merlot and some cabernet sauvignon. A well-achieved blend with a predominance of Tempranillo, offering an enticing bouquet characterized by a variety of wild fruit and a hint of flowers and spice. .Varietal: Monastrell and cabernet sauvignon. With the characteristic aroma of these grapes, this wine is infused with mature red and black berries and a peppering of mountain herbs, spices and roast coffee.

Full-bodied, lush, sensual and attractive, fruitiness is the key word here.Coruña del Conde (Burgos). This Tempranillo stands out for its clean aroma of fresh but ripe berries, boosted by hints of flowers, roast coffee and spices. Flavorful and elegant, it reaffirms its fruitiness with an extended aftertaste.Vilafranca del Penedès (Barcelona)..Type: Crianza red, 14.5%.Varietal: Cariñena (mazuela), garnacha and syrah. The aroma is intense, complex, lightly reminiscent of liquor, yet fresh and Mediterranean with an abundance of ripe forest fruit and an airy fragrance of brush, underwood and roasted coffee.Pesquera de Duero (Valladolid).Type: Crianza red, 14.5%.Varietal: Tinta de Toro (tempranillo). The aroma is concentrated, intense and complex, with a clean, ripe berry flavor framed by wood that contributes subtle hints of spice. Smooth and lush, with an impressively fresh finish.Quintanilla de Onésimo (Valladolid)..Varietals: Tinto fino and some cabernet sauvignon.