Wine Regions of Spain
Contributor: Tersina Shieh
Spain has been a winemaking country for centuries. Due to its warm and dry weather, most of the wines it produces tend to be rich. Rioja, located in the north of Madrid, is the most famous wine region in Spain. It is divided into three subregions from low to high altitude. The cooler climate in the high-altitude area helps produce wines in higher quality and with elegant bodies. Over 70% of the wines produced in Rioja are reds, followed by rosés and a small quantity of whites.
There are many different styles of Rioja. They are classified by their time spent in barrels and aging period. Joven (meaning young) may spend no or only a few months in barrels. Crianza must spend a minimum of 12 months in barrels and 12 months in bottle. Reserva a minimum 12 months in barrels and 24 months in bottle and Gran Reserva 24 months in oak and 36 months in bottle before being released.
Classic Rioja is aged in American oak to develop vanilla and coconut aromas. Due to the long aging period, the wines are mellow and round but lack vibrant fruit. Nonetheless, they are a good match with Chinese food. Nowadays a new wave of winemakers are making a different style of Rioja using French barrels that is more forward, with more primary fruit and more tannin. The wine is more powerful, more spicy and usually a shade darker.
So how do you know which style of Rioja a wine is? The back label will distinguish Joven, Crianza and Reserva but may or may not indicate French or American oak. One way to distinguish them is to look at the overall packaging. American oaked Rioja tends to have traditional labels and packaging such as gold netting, while the French oaked styles will usually have a more modern front label.
Great as Tempranillo and Rioja may be, one should not forget other Spanish varieties and regions. Grenache (Garnacha) and Carignan (Mazuela) are the silent partners of Rioja, giving the wine a fruitier profile, brighter color and higher acidity. Grenache and Carignan are also the stars in Southern Spain where it is too hot for Tempranillo. Priorat gives them their fullest expression as most grapes come from old vines.
I always think Spanish white wine is underrated. Albarino from Rias Baixas has pleasant, non-pungent aromas, good acidity and texture, and is versatile enough to pair well with many medium intensity dishes. Cava, a sparkling wine from Spain made in the traditional method, has distinctive earthy notes. Of course we should not forget Sherry. It has never been a big thing in Hong Kong but I particularly like the lighter Fino and Manzanilla styles, which are great aperitifs and refreshing after a whole day of wine tasting.
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A marketer turned winemaker, Tersina's mission is to promote a stronger wine culture in Hong Kong and China, explaining wine in a no-nonsense way.
This post was created by a Jubee contributor. Views represented are not affiliated with Jubee. Photo by Abrumado.