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spanish wine essentials

84-year-old Garnacha Vines - Campo de Borja

A Journey Around Some Of Spain's Oldest Vines

Home to some of the world’s oldest productive vines – there are Albariño vines in DO Rías Baixas that have been producing grapes for over 200 years - Spain is also believed to be home to more hectares of old vines than any other country.
A View from the Vineyard, Jerez.

Adjusting aesthetic horizons from the champaigns of Jerez

This article has been published in partnership with World of Fine Wine and Wine Scholar Guild.  A shocking red wine from the Jerezano new wave. Andrew Jefford tastes 2020 Annius Atlántida Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz.

Beyond The Textbook: Galicia

Summary Welcome to this month's 'Beyond The Textbook' WSG Live! In this series we explore all the latest trends, developments and talking points in the major wine regions of France, Spain & Italy with unique insights from the best of the world's regional experts. This month we're delighted to be joined by leading Galician wine expert Noah Chichester to get us up to speed with all the latest goings-on across the region. Galicia has five unique DOs, each with

Cataluña: Exploring New Frontiers

Summary: Cataluña is one of Spain’s most historically-rich and progressive wine regions. But how well do you know the wines of Cataluña outside of Priorat or Cava? From the majestic Pyrenees mountains to the sun-drenched coastlines of the Mediterranean, the 12 Catalan wine regions serve to highlight the tremendous diversity of the region.   Join Rick Fisher and Ferran Centelles as they introduce Cataluña’s wine regions and highlight what makes these

Catalunya, Xarel·lo and Unmissable Wines: Q&A with Ferran Centelles

Ferran Adrià’s legendary restaurant El Bulli defined modernist cuisine. The restaurant had an undeniable influence on haute cuisine trends both in Spain and across the globe. For 13 years, its wine programme was led by sommelier Ferran Centelles. Ferran continues to work with Adrià at the elBullifoundation, a creativity centre of culinary and wine-focused scholarship that was created in 2011 after the restaurant’s closure.  

Fine Wine from Lesser Known Regions in Spain

Summary For decades, Spanish fine wine had been relegated to a handful of producers in Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Today, visionaries have sprung in regions that were hitherto thought of as mere bulk wine areas or just never capable of producing anything worth a detour. Join Álvaro in this webinar in which we will discover some of the most exciting regions in Spain, producing wines to fill any wine geek's
Ribera del Duero

From Obscurity to Opulence: Ribera del Duero’s Remarkable Rise in the Spanish Wine World

Over its 42-year existence as a Denominación de Origen (DO), Ribera del Duero has transformed from a relatively unknown region to one of Spain’s most prestigious wine-producing areas.

Godello in Valdeorras

Summary Often described as Galicia's 'second' great white grape, Godello is capable of crafting some extraordinarily complex, textural wines, with a great capacity for ageing. Currently this variety is enjoying a moment in the sun amidst a surge in popularity, particularly in its spiritual home of Valdeorras. But this hasn't always been the case - 50 years ago this variety was almost completely extinct. In this interview, Justin catches up with Galician expert Noah Chichester to

How legislation can help save old vine heritage: The case of Spain

Summary Spain has the largest area under vine of any country in the world, with around a third of vines planted prior to 1990, and centuries-old vines still producing fruit in many regions. But the last 30 years have seen many heritage vineyards grubbed up and replanted with higher yielding clones in areas that are easier to mechanize. This is added to the ongoing issue of rural depopulation, with elderly vine growers often retiring

Is Sherry at Risk?

Sherry producers like to say they deal with two types of terroir. “First,” says Fermin Hidalgo, owner of leading Sanlúcar de Barrameda-based Bodegas Hidalgo La Gitana, “the ‘classic’ terroir we all know: climate, soil, etc. The second terroir is the one related to the wineries… Biological ageing is part of our terroir.”

Modern Rioja: Evolution, Emerging Trends and the 2024 Vintage

Summary The best wine regions never stand still, and Rioja is such an interesting clash of old meets new. Join us for this fascinating webinar from one of the world’s leading experts in the region, to understand how it’s positioned itself at the forefront of change and get to grips with the evolving landscape of modern,

Priorat, The Wine of Life

Prioratans have a saying: Si ets calatà, de les pedres treuràs pa. Pero si ets a Priorati, treuràs vi. It means “The Catalan people make bread from stones, but the Prioratans make wine.” Their llicorella rock soils provide the kind of struggle that produces some of the most sought-after wines in the world. Enclosed within the Montsant Mountains, two hours from Barcelona, the Priorat is a tiny wine region whose fame is overshadowed only by the powerful beauty of its landscape.
Sherry

Rediscovering Sherry – A Look into the Past and Present

Many wine regions in Europe like to reference their long history, typically dating the arrival of the first vineyards back to the time of the Roman legions. Viticulture in Jerez may well have an even longer history than that; it’s entirely possible that the first vines in the region were planted by the Phoenicians around the time they established the nearby port city of Cadiz in 1,110BC.
Ribeira Sacra

Ribeira Sacra— A Historic Region with Modern Problems

Nearly 30 years after gaining Denominación de Origen status, Galicia's most “heroic” wine region is facing some familiar challenges.

Ribeira Sacra: Heroic Viticulture from the Slopes of Galicia

Summary: Steep slopes and vertigo-inducing vineyards make Ribeira Sacra one of Spain's most stunning wine regions. With terraced vineyards that rival the Mosel or Douro, the region is known for its floral, austere expressions of Mencía. We'll take a deep dive into Ribeira Sacra's history and culture, and learn about why this region is producing some of the most exciting wines in Spain today. Following the presentation, a question & answer session will take place,

Rioja Gold: The Past, Present, and Future of Aged Rioja Wines

Bordeaux. Burgundy. Barolo. Rioja. Just the mere mention of any one of these wine regions conjures images of the world’s best wines all sharing the ability to age for decades. The wines of Rioja have earned their place amongst this elite group; and whilst consumer tastes may swing like a clock’s pendulum, the practice of aging wines in Rioja helps define its successful past, present, and future.

Tasting Room: Albariño Past the Stereotypes

Watch Here You can watch this video in our community space here Summary In this tasting video, Justin explores the incredibly versatile world of Albariño. Quite probably Spain's greatest white grape, the way that Albariño described is often shoehorned into a narrow and limited style that really feels increasingly clichéd. Here

Tasting Room: Icons of Galicia

Watch Here You can watch this video in our community space here Summary Justin tastes one of the iconic producers in the Producer Guide, this time choosing Adega Algueira's Dolio 2019 from Ribeira Sacra. Learn why it's considered a modern classic, and the inspirational role Fernando González has played

The Fab 14: Grape Varieties of Rioja

Summary: Informed wine lovers know that Châteauneuf-du-Pape has 13 allowed grape varieties, but did you know that Rioja has 14? Most people have heard of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Viura. But how about Maturana Tinta, Tempranillo Blanco or Malvasia? Or what role does Sauvignon Blanc play in Rioja? Discover the 14 grape varieties of Rioja and their characteristics, both in the vineyard and in wine, and learn how some of these are Rioja’s secret

The Grands Crus of Spain: Grandes Pagos de España and the Importance of Terroir

Summary: Join the leading Spanish wine association of 35 wineries known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), for an exclusive webinar with the Spanish Wine Scholar Guild. GPE representatives Valentí Llagostera (Co-Owner & Co-Founder, Mas Doix) and Marta Santander (Director of Exports, Familia Martínez Bujanda) will discuss GPE’s mission to uphold the

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