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Article #239: Guide to Spanish Wine

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Spain has long been recognized for its to produce a better table wine.
fortified wines, particularly sherry, or Catalona's premiere wine region of
Jerez as it's known locally, but in Penedes, located less than an hour south
recent years both production and quality of Barcelona, produces a range of still
of its table wines has improved wines ranging from delicate whites to
remarkably. heavy reds, as well as the flagship Cava.
The third largest producer of wine in the Some of the more remote, or smaller
world after France and Italy, Spain is regions include Priorat, Rias Baixas, and
now making inroads on to the Ribera-del-Duero.
international market for table wine due The wine region of Somontano is located
to improved marketing and better quality on a high plateau in the ski region of
production of its reds and whites. Huesca, at the foot of the Pyrenees
However, it's the fortified wine sherry Mountains. The name Somontano literally
which is produced in the region around means Under the Mountain
Jerez de la Frontera, which has been the But it is the region of Toro, a
country's main export for hundreds of relatively little known area located in
years, with most of the sales being to Zamora province, that has Spanish wine
the United Kingdom. writers excited. Many believe this is
Wine-making in Spain dates back to the Spain's most promising wine region.
Roman Empire and was also influenced by Spanish wines fall into two main
an early Greek settlement. categories:
There are four red grape varieties with DOCa Denominacin de Origen Calificada is
the most famous and noble being the the highest quality category for Spanish
Tempranillo, followed by Garnacha (also wine and the wines must be bottled in the
called Grenache), Graciano and Mazuelo.. region. Only Rioja and recently also the
Crianza wines have been aged for two Priorat wine region received DOCa status.
years, Reservas for three years and Gran DO Denominacin de Origen , the second
Reservas (also known as Reservas category is much like the French AOC that
Especial) are aged for at least five includes the most renowned classical
years. Spanish wines. The wines have to meet the
The harvest is influenced by the warm, specifications of the Consejo Regulador
hot, dry climate, which means the yield (Supervision of the individual wine
for Spanish grapes is usually quite low. regions), who then determines whether a
Harvest takes place from August-October. wine-maker is entitled to use the DO
There are many wine regions in Spain with label for his wine.
the first being Rioja, which extends for Table wines are classified as VdlT Vino
about 120km along both sides of the Ebro de la Tierra, which are wines from areas
River and is bounded by mountains on with no DO status as yet, but with an
either side. identifiable regional character, VC Vino
Navarra has transformed itself from Comarcal, is the label given to areas
producing generally oxidized roses to that do not have great claims on quality,
full-bodied reds in a very short time. while VdM Vino de Mesa is wine produced
Garnacha, once the workhorse rose grape from grapes from unclassified areas or
has been replaced by the Tempranilo grape blended from different classified areas.






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