Wines of Spain. Marks of wine. The best wine of Spain

Sunny Spain is a country that attracts tourists from all corners of the world not only with its cultural and architectural sights. The wines of Spain are a kind of visiting card of the state, which attracts true gourmets of a noble drink and leaves a pleasant aftertaste.

A bit of history

They say that even the oldest person who drinks real Italian wine can live a very long time. Spaniards with special trepidation refer to this drink, honoring the oldest traditions of its preparation and modern production technologies that allow creating incredibly exquisite blends. Greeks and Phoenicians long before the beginning of our era traded their wine on the territory of the Iberian Peninsula.

Approximately from this time and began to form a culture of Spanish wine. This drink has become not just an integral element of any festive feast or solemn event - the wines of Spain have become an important component of the entire culture of the country. It is worth to pay tribute to the monastic orders, which made a significant contribution to the creation of the oldest traditions of Spanish distilleries and unique recipes, which are still carefully guarded by the state.

Geography of Spanish wine

For today only on one Iberian peninsula it is made more than 50 000 various grades of this noble drink. But there are also the Balearic and Canary Islands, on which the best plantations of vineyards are located. In general, on the territory of all countries there are about 60 wine-producing areas that produce the best wines of Spain.

All products of these regions are classified according to the variety of grapes, the plantation on which it grew, and the soil and climate of the region. For example, Ribera del Duero and Rioja wine (Spain) are recognized as one of the best varieties. Valencia was once the largest supplier of the best grapes to the territory of Eastern Europe and Switzerland. In addition, the true gourmets are widely known regions such as Utiel Rekvena, Aragon, La Mancha, Penedes and many others.

It is worth noting: unlike most wine-making countries, Spain is characterized by an uneven climate, mountainous terrain, and is also subject to the influence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. These factors have a direct effect on the maturation of grapes and its distinctive taste characteristics.

The main classifications of Spanish wines

The wines of Spain are classified according to several criteria. So, for example, depending on the aging period, noble drinks are divided into:

• Joven (Hoven) is the youngest wine, the crop of which was harvested this year.
• Crianza (Kriansa) - wine, which is aged in oak barrels for at least months. As a rule, this category includes drinks with a two-year exposure.
• Reserva (wine), wine aged in oak barrels, at least 12 months. Most often it is a noble drink, the general term of aging is three years.
• Gran Reserva is the oldest and noble wine, with a five-year shelf life, while it is stored for about two years in oak barrels.

In 1991, Spain received the highest category of wines - Denomination de Origen Calificada (DOC). To date, only the wine Rioja (Spain) is a kind of standard of all products of this country.

Wine Tour in Spain

Wine regions of the country deserve a separate guide. Fortunately, this idea has long occurred to local tour operators. To date, many companies offer to make an exciting trip to the best distilleries, in each of which tourists will be able to get acquainted with some traditions of cooking, as well as taste delicious varieties of this noble drink.

The wines of Spain are a unique combination of the oldest traditions and modern technologies that contribute to the creation of the best blends, famous for their exquisite taste on the territory not only of the country itself, but also far beyond its borders.

Rioja is one of the winemaking areas, in which the exclusive, by all measures, wine from a special grapes (tempranillo) is produced. It is here that produce the best red wines of Spain, as well as noble varieties of white and pink. Special attention should be paid to Cava champagne wines, for which a special technology for the production of a French sparkling drink is used.

Tasters of Spanish wines are sure to visit the lands of Castile and Leon, where an amazing drink Vega Sicilia, deservedly recognized by true connoisseurs as one of the best varieties of national winemaking, is born. The best white wines of Spain are produced in Catalonia and in the territory of Malaga.

Catalan winemaking

Andalusia and Catalonia are the oldest wine regions in Spain that produce the best sorts of a noble drink that are popular all over the world. Ancient Romans for the first time mastered the practice of making red wine, then the tradition was continued by the monks, who constantly improved the recipes and production technologies, thereby obtaining the best brands of wines famous far beyond solar Spain. It is in the Catalan distilleries that they produce widely known varieties, such as:

• DO Penedés (Penedes) - sparkling wines of Spain, which differ fresh fragrance with characteristic fruit notes. More recently, the production of fine red wine has been mastered, which is characterized by an incredibly velvety taste in pronounced woody hues.
• DOCa. Priorat (Priorat) is the brightest representative of the best wine brand. Many kilometers of vineyards are located in the province of Tarragona. These are characteristic red wines, which have a tart taste, exquisite aroma and the finest aftertaste, which is so appreciated by true gourmets and connoisseurs of a noble drink.
• DO Cava (Cava). San Sadurni d'Anoya (Barcelona) is the main place of production of the Catalan Cava, the recipe of which was developed in the family distillery Codorniu. Kawa deserves special attention. Sparkling wines of Spain have such exquisite taste and noble aroma due to special sorts of grapes: Pareyada, Chardonnay, Macabeo and Malvasia. It is worth noting that Kava is a traditional drink, which is served for a family dinner for Christmas.

Wines of Navarre

This is one of the most famous wineries in Spain, the popularity of which brought rose wines. In addition, local winemakers very often used international grape varieties to create exclusive blends, thus giving the refined drink even more versatility and originality. It is worth noting that today in the territory of Navarre pink wines are gradually being replaced - they are replaced by noble drinks of a rich ruby color.

DO Navarra (Navarra) deserves special attention. For the production of grape varieties Chardonnay, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. Special flavoring qualities of Navarre wines are given by climatic features and soil properties, on which vineyards grow. The most famous distillery in Navarra is Chivite. Some connoisseurs of Spanish wines are confident that it is here that they make the best dry wine.

Spain has unrivaled conditions for growing the best varieties of grapes, which is why there are so many wine regions on its territory, each of which has its own peculiarities and technological secrets of making a noble drink.

Wines of Castile

Castile and Leon represent a fairly unique winemaking region of Spain, which, in turn, is distinguished by the production of softer wines, in comparison with the Rioja. Wine-making in this area goes back to the distant past when the territory of the region was one of the few Christian citadels exempt from the ban on wine production. To date, this is the place where the best, according to international standards, red and white table wines are made, among which is, first of all, the following:

• DO Arribes (Arribes). Vineyards are well located on the territory of two provinces: Zamora and Salamanca. For the production of a noble drink, the grape variety of Malvasia is most often used, but for Spanish wine, the Tempranio is specially imported. DO Arribes does not yet enjoy worldwide recognition, but this brand will certainly be appreciated by true connoisseurs and gourmets of a noble drink.
• DO Bierzo (Bierzo). Vineyards are located on the north-west side of the province of Leon. A special climate - the maximum number of sunny days and the minimum temperature fluctuations - determined the ideal conditions for the growth of Mensia (a special grape variety from which the exquisite table wines of Bierzo, characterized by a characteristic sourness and a delightful structure) are made.
• DO Ribera del Duero - these vineyards are located in three provinces: Avila, Valladolid and Segovia. The best white wines of Spain are produced here. The visiting card of the region is a unique variety of Verdejo grapes, which local winemakers have been cultivating for several hundred years. It is this variety that gives noble drinks an exquisite taste that is characterized by characteristic herbaceous notes and rich aftertaste.

Wines of Andalusia

Andalusia is the birthplace of Spain's sweet wines. The history of winemaking in this region dates back to the first millennium BC. A typical arid climate is not conducive to the growth of vineyards, which are used to make dry wines, which is why local wine makers developed a special wine aging technology that allows producing flavored drinks harmoniously emphasizing the taste of the unique dishes of traditional cuisine in Spain.

Distinctive features of Andalusian wine are saturation and versatility. Tart taste is effectively complemented by a pleasant and rich aroma, which gradually flows into an amazing aftertaste, with velvety notes with characteristic fruit and wood flavors. Officially registered as few DO, the most famous among them is DO Jerez-Xérés-Sherry (Jerez-Sherry-Sherry).

A separate story of Spanish distillers - sherry

In order to feel the extraordinary taste of wine, you should definitely try the Spanish sherry, which is a dry white wine with a strength of up to 20%. It is kept in oak, filled not completely barrels under a film consisting of specific yeast cells. So, practically in every restaurant or cafe in Spain (in particular - Andalusia) visitors will be offered a glass or a bottle of this noble drink. By the way, it should be served chilled in a special glass, which looks like a bud of a tulip. There is one more feature of serving a kind of traditional Spanish drink - a glass with a capacity of up to 100 grams is not fully filled. This is necessary for the wine to "play" with its taste, aroma and rich aftertaste.

Culture of wine

Semi-sweet wines of Spain, varieties of red and white, as well as dry and table wines of grape wines are very popular not only on the territory of the country, but also far beyond its borders. Nevertheless, only in Spain to this drink are treated with special respect and respect, because it is not by chance that many travel companies, in addition to traditional tours, develop a sufficiently large number of "wine travel" programs for this country.

For example, numerous tourists from different parts of the globe are very pleased to attend the annual event, which takes place in the end of June in one of the largest wine regions - the wine battle in Rioja. This kind of carnival has its own unique features and features - throughout the city, in addition to targets and snipers, there is a huge number of people dressed in white clothes, and as weapons used different containers of red wine. In addition, in the same Rioja is the world's largest museum of wine - this institution belongs to the well-known distillery Dinastia Vivanco.

Numerous tourists and admirers of colorful Spanish wine with pleasure visit Castile and Leon, which, in turn, are famous for traditional distilleries that produce fine wines according to the oldest recipes and technologies.

Of course, all trips to Spain are accompanied by numerous tastings, during which every tourist can taste the best varieties of this noble drink, learn the history of Catalan and Andalusian distilleries, and also get acquainted with some secrets of growing the best varieties of grapes.

The culture of wine in Spain is felt everywhere. This drink is drunk not only at a festive table or on solemn occasions - it is consumed at dinner or during a siesta, wine is treated to expensive guests, and also complement the taste of traditional Spanish dishes. Certainly, in each glass of exquisite white or red wine you can see how the warm rays of the sun gently caress the golden vineyards, which later, thanks to the craftsmanship of local winemakers, turn into a refined and noble drink known far beyond Spain.

Combination of wines

As you know, not every wine comes to a certain dish. Moreover, an improperly chosen drink can significantly spoil the taste of the main course or snacks.

So, red wines are very good with meat. Veal, lamb, pork or beef, as well as spicy sauces and Spanish passion for spices - all this will harmoniously emphasize a glass of good red wine. In addition, this drink of a noble ruby color will effectively complement the traditional Spanish fish dishes.

White wine is more harmoniously combined with light snacks. Desserts, fruits, ice cream, light salads and seafood dishes - the gustatory qualities of these delights will certainly provide dry or semisweet white wine.