Spanish Wine

Spanish Wines from Great Wines Direct

Wines produced in Spain have long been known around the world, although not all have enjoyed a good reputation in recent years. Spain has more than 1.17 million hectares of vineyards, and this has earned it the honour of being the nation with the most widely planted wine producing areas, however, in terms of production, it only ranks 3rd in the world, following France and Italy. The main reason for this is that the old vines are widely spaced and only produce low yields due to the infertile and dry soil that is found in so many of Spain's wine producing regions.

Spain has many native varieties of grape, and there are more than 400 different grape varieties planted across the country. Despite this, 80% of the wine produced here comes from just 20 different types of grape, including the well-known red Garnacha, Monastrell, and Tempranillo varieties, and the white Albarino, Palomino, Macabeo, and Airen varieties. There are also three types of grapes used to make cava: Parellada, Macabeo, and Xarel-lo.

The best known Spanish regions for wine production include Ribera del Duero and Rioja, both of which are famous for Tempranillo varieties. Rias Baixas, to the north-west of Galicia, is also known for producing fine white wine from the Albarino grape.

The most prevalent grape variety in Spain is the airen, which is known for its resistance to drop and its hardiness. The wines made using this grape are very high in alcohol and are also prone to oxidation. The next most frequently seen grape is the Tempranillo, which comes under a number of local names.

Today’s Spanish wine industry is becoming more modern, and this has led to more international varieties of grape being introduced to blends, including the ever-popular Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay grapes.

Read our blog - Why Spanish Wines are Among the Best in the World!

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Red 14

Quinta de Quercus, Ucles 2020 75cl £19.12

A concentrated yet vibrant wine with berried fruits complemented by subtle spice, silky with a beautifully velvety texture

Red 13.5

Dominio de Fontana, Ucles, Tempranillo Syrah Roble 2022 75cl £13.19

A smooth, juicy and full flavoured red with expressive notes of ripe blood orange complemented by notes of pepper, cocoa and a subtle hint of vanilla

White 12.5

Dominio de Fontana, Sauvignon Blanc Verdejo 2023 75cl £12.67

Grassy and citrus notes from the Sauvignon Blanc combine with touches of green apple and stone fruits from the Verdejo with a refreshing herbal finish

White 12.5

Mesta, Ucles, Verdejo 2023 75cl £11.27

A crisp, aromatic wine, showing lovely herbal aromas with fresh notes of pineapple, lime and white pepper, dry and zesty

White 11.5

Encantador, Chardonnay Airen 2022 75cl £9.00

Intense aromas of starfruit and pear combine with subtle lemon overtones, juicy on the palate with a long, refreshing finish

Red 13.5

Franck Massard El Mago Organic Garnacha 2023 75cl £13.33

This is dangerously easy to drink It smells and tastes like strawberries, with the merest suggestion of spice, and it's extraordinarily soft-textured, with such gentle tannins that they almost go unnoticed However, thanks to the high-altitude vineyards, there is nice, crisp acidity that keeps everything fresh On the finish, the strawberry fruit gives way to an intriguing hint of blood oranges and blanched almonds

Red 14.5

J Chivite Family Estates Coleccion 125 Vino de Guarda Tinto 2019 75cl £38.32

COLOUR: Pure, ruby red colour NOSE: Very intense and complex, black fruit, blackberry, cassis, chocolate, cedar, juniper PALATE: Dense and fleshy attack, great evolution of powerful and round tannins Very long aromatic persistence

Red 13

Heredad Rioja Temp 23 Felix Solis Avantis 75cl £9.19

White 12

Bodegas Gallegas Green Fish Verdejo 2023 75cl £9.49

"An amalgam of well defined aromas of stone fruits, almonds and citrus peel Superb structure and freshness "

Red 14.5

Vinedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Reserva Unica 2020 75cl £30.41

This is an outstanding Rioja Reserva, from vines at least thirty years old, growing around the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra: 97% Tempranillo with a seasoning of Graciano More French than American oak is used for the ageing, and only 30% of the barrels are first-fill, meaning that the initial - and enduring - impression of the wine is of the wonderfully expressive, lifted, aromatic fruit The barrels simply serve to round out the texture and add complexity to the wine, their flavour never dominates

White 12

Bodegas Martin Codax Albarino Alba Martin 2023 75cl £13.42

Intense yet elegant aromas of white peach and blossom The vineyards' proximity to the sea gives the wine freshness and saltiness, and the granite soils enhance its natural minerality Rounded and full-bodied, with a light petillance that adds to its vivacious sense of freshness It has impressive persistence on the finish

Red 14.5

Bodega Maranones Pena Caballera 2020 75cl £39.52

It is the expression of the Garnacha from the point of view of the floral, the acidity, the length, the finesse, the delicacy, the elegance of the wine

White 13.5

Ossian Vides y Vinos Ossian Organic Verdejo 2021 75cl | Great Wines Direct

Ossian Vides y Vinos Ossian Organic Verdejo 2021 75cl £33.94

An extraordinary wine from a unique place on earth, Ossian is the fruit of vines almost 200 years old - survivors of the Phylloxera pandemic that scourged the world's vineyards in the late 19th Century It has a lovely rich, lush juicy-ripe pear fruitiness; strongly reminiscent of young white Burgundy This is followed by a green fennel herbal character that sets it apart as something distinct and utterly unique Also akin to Burgundy is the finely-applied veneer of top-quality oak, which enhances but does not obscure the wine's singular personality Underneath all this is a tight, grippy 'mineral' character, suggesting that, while enjoyable now, this should also develop beautifully over a few years The ancient vines have never been grafted, and have developed their own extensive root system deep into the sand and slate terroir that has protected them for centuries, and which contributes greatly to the notable balance and expressiveness in the wine

White 12

Pere Ventura Tresor Cuvee Gran Reserva 2019 75cl £16.57

A complex and structured sparkling wine with creamy texture and a lovely aromatic axis running from ripe peaches to toast and spices Cuvee is a very specific cava, made from Xarel·lo and Chardonnay grapes and aged for an extended period of 36 months minimum A significant proportion of the Chardonnay base wine is fermented in oak barrels to increase its complexity This is a gastronomic wine, designed to complement haute cuisine

Red 14

Bodega Cerron Matas Altas Monastrell 2022 75cl | Great Wines Direct

Bodega Cerron Matas Altas Monastrell 2022 75cl £20.76

Wow! This has super-expressive, vibrant aromas, with notes of rosewater, just-ground black pepper, subtle woodiness and abundant, juicy fruitiness Bright, sparky, frank and vibrant, it is both a refreshing drink and a medium-bodied, nuanced wine worth the honour of contemplation and appreciation 'Matas' is slang for 'bush' in the region - in other words, old vines, planted on their own rootstocks (not grafted) Altas reflects the high elevation of the Fuente-Alamo area, whose calcareous soils, warm days and cold nights bring about wines with full ripeness and concentration, and at the same time, freshness, agility and finesse

Red 15

Jimbro Brunal 2016 75cl £41.96 £45.00

In 2010 at their trial farm in the municipality of Fermoselle, JIMBRO started the endeavour to recover one acre of Brunal after obtaining certified material from the A.T.I. To preserve this variety, they grafted three thousand plants from a sixty-year-old vineyard. The outcome was outstanding: a grape of exceptional quality, characterised by a striking level of taste, richness and ripe, strong tannins. With a production of only 1,500 bottles, JIMBRO BRUNAL was established as a wine with remarkable personality.