Spain is a dominant force in the global wine market. It is one of, if not the biggest wine producer in the world with 1.17 million hectares of land devoted solely to the cultivation of grapevines. It is also home to over 600 Vitis vinifera species with 20 making up the core used for wine production. Grapevine cultivation and wine making have been a large of Spanish culture with evidence of viticultural practices dating back to 4000-3000BCE long before the wine-trading culture of the Phoenicians arrived on Spanish shores.
Undoubtly, Rioja is the most famous of Spain wines. And while there are absolutely fantastic Riojas on the market, for example Bodegas Luis Canas Rioja Reserva 2004 Reserva de la Familia, I feel people are missing out on some of the more obscure varietals. Supermarkets are partly to blame. Flogging Rioja at bargain basement prices with awful one-liners. Take Tesco's line "Rioja wines - Spanish for great taste"...Oh dear! There seems little effort to move beyond this narrow view of Spanish wines - there is much more to be had from the wines of Spain.
So I felt the need to host a little wine tasting showcasing something other than Rioja - delicious summer whites (Verdejo/Viura), juicy reds (Mencia), and the neglected Spanish treasure of Sherry - all to be paired with tapas - Burgos, Manchego, figs, artichokes, Chorizo, Spanish tortillas and salted almonds.
Let's raise a glass to the diversity of Spanish wine!
