Best Spanish Wines | Top Wines from Spain In this section we will talk about the great wines from Spain. We will cover everything from the most expensive and popular wines, to the mid-priced wines, which are what have put Spain on the front stage, to the value wines, which offer amazing quality and taste for pennies to the dollar. There are thousands of wines being produced today in Spain, and most are being exported all over the world. Spain has a bottle for every wine drinker, whether you are looking for a special wine to celebrate a special occasion or for an every day, easy drinker at a reasonable price, and when it comes to prices, Spain is the overall best value you can find at the highest quality available in today's wine market. All the wines we will be talking about are widely available to purchase, whether you shop online or visit your local wine store. Please browse through our sections below to learn about the best wines in the country and begin your journey into the wines from Spain.

With all the 2011 Spanish wines coming into the market right now, you should be preparing yourself for some of the worlds best values to show up. Most wines have already received great scores from Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, and International Wine Cellar. One of the biggest problems with Spanish wine is that they sell out quickly, and most people by them by the case. buy mini wineThere are many great wine shops to buy these wines, but they usually sell out... food and wine best dessert Region of the Monthwine and food chicago Do wine critic scores influence the wines you buy?best wine chartCheck out all of our products >best wine for cake

Map of Spain Wine Regions Somehow, Spain seems to fly under the radar compared to its next door neighbor, France. Spain is actually the third largest wine producer in the world and has the most land dedicated to vineyards–over a million acres. Spanish wines range from great values to highly prestigious wines, such as Alvaro Palacios’ L’Ermita and Vega Silicia’s Unico.the best red wine from spain Why Love Spanish Wine? First, its an incredible value. Second, it pairs really well with Mexican food. Spain is a very diverse country so it helps to get a lay of the land. This map of the wine regions of Spain helps to put into context the various kinds of wines that grow throughout the country. Spain Regional Wine Map Available ➜ There are over 60 different regional DOs producing everything from light and zesty Albariño to inky black Monastrell. The best way to start understanding the area is to break it into 7 distinct climates.

Galicia, very unlike the rest of Spain, is where lush green valleys are plentiful and the common cuisine includes lots of fresh fish. Albariño is the champion grape of the sub-region called Rias Baixas (RYE-us BYE-shus), which skirts the coast. The area specializes in zesty white wines and a few aromatic red wines made with Mencía (MEN-thi-yah). The coast is a very diverse macro-region that contains the sub-regions of Valencia, Catalonia and Murcia. Catalonia is known for Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and a highly acclaimed red wine sub-zone, Priorat. Valencia and Murcia are warmer growing regions that produce a bulk of value wines from deep red Monastrell to aromatic white Malvasia and the widely planted Airén. The sub regions of La Rioja and Navarra are found in the Ebro River Valley. Here, Tempranillo is king and long-standing bodegas such as Lopez de Heredia and Marques de Murrieta make age-worthy wines. Navarra is known mostly for rosado (rosé) wine made with the grape Garnacha (aka Grenache).

The region also produces oak-aged white wines of Viura (Macabeo). In Basque country, zesty white wines called Txakoli (“CHALK-olli” ) are common. The Duero River is the same river as the Douro in Portugal. This region is notable for the minerally white wine, Verdejo, of Rueda and the bold red wines of Toro, Ribera del Duero and Leon. The wine grape of this region is Tempranillo and in Toro it’s called Tinta de Toro, where it is considered to be a slight mutation of the Tempranillo grape. Ribera del Duero is home to one of the most famous wineries in Spain: Vega Sicilia. The central plateau or Meseta Central is the inner plateau of Spain which is home to the capital city, Madrid. The area has an average elevation of 2,300-2,600 feet and is dry and sunny. Because of its climate characteristics, vines are spaced very far apart and close to the ground. Some of the best value red wines of Spain can be found here made of Garnacha, Tempranillo and even the rare, Petit Verdot.

Andalucía is a very hot and dry region famous for Sherry. Stark white albariza soil makes Palomino Vineyards in Cádiz look like a moonscape. The even hotter, Montilla-Moriles produces fortified dessert wines that are called “PX“. An aged PX, such as Bodegas Toro Abala, have similar nutty-date flavors like Tawny Port. The Islands (includes The Canary Islands) The Islands of Spain offer a wide range of wines from Listan Negro-based reds to dessert wines made with Moscatel. The volcanic soils of the Canary Islands add a gritty taste of rustic minerality. Currently, there are very few exporters of the limited wines of the Islands of Spain. Perhaps you might as well just make a point to visit. Map Design (2013 edition) List of all Denominaciones de Origen (DO) on wikipedia The 5 Best Red Wines for Sangria (Image credit: Jayme Henderson) So, you’ve taken notes from Emma on how to make the perfect red wine sangria, and you’re ready to make your first pitcher.

But which red wine should you use? Most recipes simply call for the broad category of "dry red wine." Let’s take away the guesswork and narrow down some specific styles of wine that deliciously complement the fresh, fruity essence of summer sangria. A traditional Spanish libation, sangria is a wine-based "punch" that includes seasonal fruit, a sweetener, brandy, and sometimes a splash of soda water. Wine takes the center stage in this cocktail, so choose a wine that is fruity but dry, has good acidity, and is lower in tannins. Feel free to try other fruit-driven wines, like Merlot or Malbec. Just select a style that is not too tannic or heavily oaken. The 5 Best Wines for Summer Sangria Here are five specific wines that fit those guidelines. 1. Garnacha - Garnacha (grenache grown in Spain) generally has lower tannins, showcases rich red fruits, and has great acidity. These characteristics make garnacha my personal go-to for making stellar red sangria. Good pick: Bodegas Borsao from Tres Picos - Grape: Garnacha.

2. Tempranillo - Tempranillo, another Spanish varietal, provides a deep hue; and notes of black cherries, blackberries, and cola. Choose tempranillos labeled as “Crianza” or “Joven” to avoid a heavily oaked flavor. Good pick: Palacios Remondo from La Vendimia - Grape: Tempranillo-Garnacha blend. 3. Primitivo or Zinfandel - Iterations of the same grape, primitivo (from Italy) and zinfandel (grown mostly in California) are excellent for sangria. The wines usually exhibit rich, jammy fruits, accented with spice and floral notes. Good pick: Rancho Zabaco from Dancing Bull - Grape: Zinfandel. Already have a great bottle of red wine on hand? Follow this simple recipe, and you'll be sipping on sangria tomorrow. (Image credit: Leela Cyd) 4. Bonarda - Argentina’s lesser-known gem-of-a-wine, bonarda, is usually lower in price, offering a great value for its lush, fruity style. Bonarda is often blended with other varietals, but on its own, it delivers rich raspberry- and plum-driven, ripe juice.