Spanish Wine
The red wines of Rioja, the sherries of Jerez and the crisp Cava of Catalonia
are the best known wines outside Spain, yet it is the lesser known reds of
Ribera del Duero that have made the greatest impact at international wine fairs.
Spanish Wine
Classifications
Spain was the first country to have laws defining
quality, yet its quality wine market is still very young.
Vino De Mesa
Equivalent of France’s Vin De Table - lowest level
DO
(Denominacion De Origen) - equivalent of France's Appellation Controllee -
regulating grape variety and region of origin.
DOC
(Denominacion de Origen Calificada) - this is the newest category. In 1991 Rioja
was the first region to be promoted to DOC.
The heartland of the great Spanish reds is
Rioja,
Ribero del Duero and Navarra, while the top whites come from Rueda and Penedes
in Catalonia which is home to the Cava industry (Spanish champagne).
What
to look for in Spanish wines
Look for
these quality designations on the Spanish wine label.
- Crianza:
Crianzas spend between 6-12 months in oak casks.
- Reserva:
Reservas are aged a minimum of 1 year in oak casks and 2 years in bottles or a
combination of both with a minimum of one year in casks.
- Gran
Reserva: These wines are only made in exceptional years, undergo
extensive ageing, with a minimum 2 years in oak and 3 in the bottle.
The periods of ageing vary according to the local regulatory body.
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