Wines for your Spanish holiday
With the winter period gradually being put behind us, attention no doubt shifts towards the summer and the big adventures we’ve planned for our holidays and excursions.
As we know, travelling goes hand-in-hand with experiencing great new wines, and The Wine Show is your one-stop shop for recommendations from all over the world.
If you’re planning a trip to Spain this summer, why not seek out some of the wines below? With a delightful mix of powerful reds, soft whites, and complex sherries, Spain is sure to provide you with a wine tasting experience you won’t soon forget.
Vina Almate, Alfredo Maestro, Ribera del Duero 2015
Alfredo Maestro Tejero’s vineyards are located within the Ribera del Duero. His wines are completely natural, with no sulphur added in the vineyard or the winery. All his vineyard treatments are natural, and many of them follow biodynamic practices.
The Alfredo Maestro Vina Almate is darkly coloured, opaque and mouth filling with lavender and toffee notes that stay from nose to finish. These notes quickly disappear to allow a sweet nose of roses, mineral and red berry fruits.
Pair with: Black pudding and chorizo; Rice with Morcilla; Red meat, pork and cheese
Itsasmendi
We are reliably informed, do NOT pour your Txakoli from a height to froth up the light fizz. It’s only for tourists. Pour normally, nicely chilled and enjoy the brightly, zesty citrus aromas and refreshing palate. Itsas (“sea”) and Mendi (“mountains”) tell you all about what this wine goes with (fish) and where it comes from (the hills).
Pair with: Pork; Rich fish (salmon, tuna etc); Spicy food; Sweet desserts; Vegetarian; Poultry
Bodegas Hidalgo Triana Pedro Ximenez
Let’s be honest here. This is the richest, stickiest, densest wine you’ll ever try. It’s essentially the sweetening wine for other sherries, but here you have it unadulterated. And I love it. Not a ‘wine’ so much as a pudding or a stylish alternative to Bailey’s. Some serve it over ice-cream but that seems wasteful. It does go with a rich cake. You really should try this once though just to taste the treacle, the figs, the prunes and baked raisins.
Pair with: Tiramisu; Dark chocolate brownies; Vanilla ice cream; Strawberries, banana, citrus; Blue cheese and paté
Williams & Humbert Palo Cortado
This sherry is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, enclosed in an enigma. Part tangy, fresh Fino, part rich and nutty Oloroso. 20 years of gradual ageing make this the most complex wine from Williams & Humbert. The perfect way into dinner with almonds, great tapas and intelligent conversation.
Pair with: Pheasant, quail, or partridge; Duck liver; Curries or spicy Asian food; Chocolate; Sweet sauce
Marques de Riscal Finca Torrea
There’s been quiet experimentation in Rioja, to look for a more modern style of wine for people who want more fruit and a tad more grip in their wines. This is Marques de Riscal’s answer. Less sweet oak, more bright fruit, a bit more bite. But still fresh. It takes brighter, more modern food too. A touch of spice, a bit of fruit, and maybe slightly richer meats like duck too.
Pair with: Grills or roasts; Mushroom casserole; Spicy sauces; Chicken; Stronger-flavoured fish dishes; Red tuna fish