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 14.5

Vinedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Amancio 2020 75cl £77.02

The Eguren s most cherished Rioja vineyard is called La Veguilla, planted 1975 at San Vicente de la Sonsierra The vines here produce just two or three bunches of grapes each year, and the fruit quality is already outstanding However, to make Amancio, La Veguilla's most exquisite individual grapes are selected and de-stemmed by hand The wine therefore requires longer ageing in top-quality, new French oak Bordeaux barrels, which is why it is released the latest It also demands further ageing in the bottle to truly show its extraordinary nature, so be prepared to hold on to it for a few years With maturity, you can expect an impressive explosion of flavour complexity: black cherries, dark chocolate, figs, aniseed, dried herbs, woodsmoke, soy sauce, spices and beef stock Patience required, but absolutely worth the wait!

Red 13.5

Encantador, Tempranillo Syrah 2021 75cl £6.61

A juicy red wine oozing with aromas of red fruits, black plum and a spicy note of freshly ground pepper, juicy and inviting

White 13

Vina Mein O Gran Mein Castes Branca 2019 75cl £35.59

Vina Mein's top wine, 'O Gran Mein' expresses a spine-tingling tension between zesty, fresh joie de vivre and presence, purity, depth and longevity Herbal, spicy and floral in style, with Treixadura's hallmark stone fruit and citrus character forming the backdrop rather than taking centre stage This will shine for at least another 5-6 years

Red 14.5

Bodegas San Alejandro, 'Evodia', Aragon, Garnacha 2021 75cl £17.08

An elegant expression of Garnacha with effortless notes of raspberry, sweet and sour cherry laced with distinctive minerality and herbal tones Smooth and full of finesse

Red 13

Hugonell, Joven, Rioja 2022 75cl £11.78

Plum and juicy red cherry flavours combine with hints of vanilla and spice

White 13

Bodegas Vinatigo, Islas Canarias, Tenerife, Vijariego Blanco 2022 75cl £33.04

Textured and creamy with fragrant aromas of pear and tangy pineapple complemented by a striking acidity which is characteristic of this variety

Red 14.5

Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel, Pena Roble Reserva, Ribera del Duero 2018 75cl £31.44

An intense and complex wine with delicious flavours of ripe, dark fruits, liquorice, mineral and spice with roasted notes from the oak ageing and a touch of earthiness A smooth and elegant expression of Tempranillo

Red 15

Tandem, 'Macula', Navarra, Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2015 75cl £24.17

An intense and complex wine showing delightful roasted coffee, cranberry and chocolate flavours lifted by fresh mountain herbs

Red 14.5

Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial 2019 75cl £32.96

Produced from a selection of the best grapes from Abadia Retuerta's vineyards, this deep coloured, complex red combines the richness of Tempranillo, the elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon and the strength of Syrah The nose is fresh and vibrant, full of ripe black and red fruits combined with lingering notes of balsamic, liquorice and sweet oak wood The full bodied, creamy palate is structured by smooth tannins, juicy ripe fruits and a hint of cedar

Red 15

Teso la Monja Teso la Monja 2019 75cl £1,295.71

Top of the range Teso La Monja is crafted in miniscule quantities - only around 900 bottles are made each year It comes from a small, 18 hectare plot of vines, with more limestone in the soil than is typical for Toro It is famously fermented in a wooden egg, whose precious contents are then transferred to three new Bordeaux barrels Deep ruby in hue, it is aromatic and complex, combining ripe fruit with hints of toasted wood and laurel Full-bodied, and yet with a sense of weightlessness, it is effortlessly well-balanced, with good acidity and excellent persistence on the palate The flavours and texture are superbly well-integrated on the long, silky finish

Red 14.5

Cuentavinas Rioja Single Vineyard El Tiznado 2021 75cl £145.21

El Tiznado comes from a south-west facing vineyard planted in 1923 with closely-spaced Tempranillo vines showing great genetic diversity thanks to the 'massale' selection originally employed The shallow sandy soil originated from the weathering of calcareous sandstone, and there is notable presence of iron oxides Cuentavinas was founded by Eduardo Eguren and Carlota Gonzalez: fifth generation of the illustrious Eguren family, pre-eminent name in the wine world, which has accrued savoir-faire over the decades through such prestigious projects as Sierra Cantabria, Vinedos de Paganos and Teso la Monja Eduardo felt the need to remain near San Vicente de la Sonsierra, town of his fathers, so with the characteristic patience required for anything that needs to be developed slowly, he and Carlota went on innumerable sorties to scour the local districts at the foot of El Tolono (mountain) to seek something that would fill them with enthusiasm In the miniscule village of Pecina, they found the essence of what they were searching for Like a journey to a wonderful old tale, its few streets preserve the essence of the past, with restored wine presses and and few, but beautiful, ancient stone houses They also found the perfect link to the family's history, since Edu's maternal grandfather was nicknamed 'el pecinero' It is not clear if they chose the place, or the place chose them

White 12.5

Vintae Moraleda Chardonnay 2022 75cl £9.98

Clean and bright Straw yellow color A high intensity wine on the nose, exotic and pleasant White flowers, citrus notes and tropical fuits such as pleneapple and mango On the palate it is a tasty, freh and unctuous wine It is a wine with good acidity providing it freshness and a long aftertaste

Red 15

Abadia Retuerta PV Petit Verdot 2018 75cl £150.72

Made in miniscule quantities, this unique wine comes entirely from Petit Verdot, that most expressive of the Bordeaux varieties It is rarely seen, except as a small component of a blend, providing lift and zest The slow-ripening vine is especially suited to the scorching Castilian sun and sandy soil of this particular terroir These, and several months of oak ageing, bestow on the wine an exquisite full body and firm structure, with blueberry, liquorice, toffee, dark chocolate, blackcurrant and mocha character The finish is exceptionally long and silky

Red 14.5

Xose Lois Sebio, 'Superheroe', Ribeiro 2018 75cl £17.64

An intense and mouthfilling blend highlighting funky notes of violet, black fruits, figs and plums, combined with mineral overtones through to a long and robust finish

Red 14.6

Bodega Cerron Los Yesares Monastrell 2021 75cl £44.65

This has an awesome, complex aroma that blends fruity, leafy, spicy and savoury nuances - just wonderful In the mouth it's very pure and very fresh, with satisfying weight and breadth of texture, which don't sacrifice an ounce of the vibrancy which characterises Bodega Cerron wines It has astonishing force of personality and persistence on the palate of both flavour and texture, finishing with complex hints of gaminess, liquorice and dill seed SO exciting! Los Yesares are 4 different old, ungrafted vineyards in Las Pedreras-Reventones, a high-altitude location where the district's most historic vineyards were located Steep slopes, deep calcareous sands and gravels, diverse orientations and Mediterranean forest create a more tense Monastrell profile with red forest and hedgerow fruit character, and wines capable of ageing

White 12

Gramona Innoble Cuvee 318 Corpinnat 75cl NV £35.92

This is a delicious as well as fantastically intricate and complex sparkling wine, with nuances of pine forest and spice above fragrant homemade apple pie character Made from 100% Xarel·lo, the most highly-prized grape for sparkling Penedes wine, this is a departure from Gramona's usual vintage-specific theme, in that three successive harvests are matured in barrels before being combined and then lees-aged for 55 months to bring out its full potential complexity and texture Astonishing stuff!