With the increasing world-wide popularity of Spanish wines it is growing rapidly apparent that the newest darlings of importers are the wines of Rioja, Penedes and other wine-growing regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Learning the language of Spanish wines is not difficult. The red wines of Rioja are based on various combinations of four varietals of grapes, Tempranillo, Grenache, Graciano, and Mazuelo grapes, and the whites largely on Viura, all of which are indigenous to Spain.

Wines labeled Sin Crianza are unaged and those called Crianza have spent at least six months in small oak barrels. Both of these should be of light to medium body and on the fruity side. Wines entitled to the title Reserva must have been in oak for at least one year, and those called Gran Reserva, which are released only in the very best vintage years, must have aged for at least two years in oak. The wines in both of these categories should be full bodied, tannic and capable of further bottle aging. The laws of Penedes are less restrictive and this allows the best wineries in this Catalonian region to produce interesting wines based largely on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other grapes not necessarily native to Spain.

To See Rogov's Reviews of Selected Spanish Wines, Click Here

Note: Please use your BACK key to return to my pages after viewing my tasting notes

© Daniel Rogov