TalkTV: Award-Winning Wines From Spain

When we hear the words Spanish wine, what do we immediately think of? Rioja? Certainly. Cava? Probably. Anything else? Today is all about discovering some grapes and regions that wine buffs love but that don’t get enough recognition in our normal, wine-drinking consumer world. Below, I’ve picked three wines that recently made the top 100 list at the prestigious Wines of Spain Awards, judged by a top team of wine pros. CLick the button below to see the full list.

Godello

Godello is a Spanish white wine grape that has been finding favour over recent years as a great alternative to Sauvignon, Soave, Gavi and the usual suspects. It’s most popular in Galicia where Albariño is king, but can be found in other Spanish regions as well as across the world where it is also known as Gouveio (Portugal) and Agudelo (France). It’s a grape whose style will change based on terroir and winemaking techniques but very generally, is often zesty, refreshing, saline and textured with notes of grapefruit and lime and a hint of smokiness. 

Try: Godello Pepa Porter, Adegas Terrae 2021

Hailing from the lesser known, dry and granite-rich D.O. Monterrei, which is located in the southeast corner of the province of Ourense in Galicia, this wine made the top 100 list and is cracking value. Think savoury stone fruit and a slick of salty licorice and lime. Delicious. 

Find it for £12-13 from Vinissimus & VinoDirect.com 

Garnacha Blanca (White Grenache)

White Garnacha, aka Grenache, to give it its more usual French name, is a grape that has been on the rise in Spain recently and does fantastically well. This is probably due to the popularity of red Grenache (Grenache Noir), even though it’s technically a different grape that behaves very differently. We are seeing a revival of Garnacha Blanca in the regions of Priorat,  Aragón and Montsant but it is also increasingly common in Rioja blends as well as in top end, single-varietal wines. It’s storming it in Navarra too at the moment, with acreage growing from 2.5 to 123H in fifteen years. It is no longer a minor grape variety so if you like rich and weighty white wines, seek out a Garnacha Blanca. Try this grape with rich and creamy poultry or rice dishes. 

Try: Perelada Només Garnatxa Blanca 2021 (Best White Over £10)

Hailing from the region of ​​Empordà in Spain, this is 100% white Grenache and a great example of it at that. Think weighty, fleshy and creamy white wine with notes of melon, vanilla, baked apple and white chocolate. Great with food like hard cheese, nuts and poultry. 

Find it from £10.50- at Vinissimus & AMPS Wine Merchants

Ribera del Duero

Not a grape but a wine region, Ribera del Duero D.O. is located about 200 miles southwest of Rioja in the greater region of Castilla y León on the banks of the Duero River. It is famous for making powerful red wines predominantly with the Tempranillo grape, like Rioja but while the wines tend to use the same blends as their more famous neighbour, the style is more concentrated, pure fruited, complex and powerful thanks to harsher, hotter conditions and slightly different soils. They are beefy wines that do well with hard cow cheese and meaty dishes. 

Try: Laderas del Norte, Arzuaga, Ribera del Duero 2020

The powerful, organic red is concentrated but silky in texture with wild strawberry and spice notes, licorice and chocolatey notes. Needs some time open and it will age beautifully. Find an older vintage if you can.

Find the 2017 vintage at Harvey Nichols & Wadebridge Wines for £20- £21.50

Find out what else we’ve been tasting with Mike Graham on talkTV here. 

Thursday Club with talk RADIO: Top wines from Co-op

This week on the Thursday club, it’s the last in our supermarket series and this time, it’s the turn of the Co-op! I’ve chosen an impressive little white that you may not have heard of before, a simple and delicious pink Rioja and I also spotted a real bargain red that tastes a lot more expensive than it is…

Co-op Irresistible Marsanne 2019

Made by one of the star winemakers of the Languedoc; Jean-Claude Mas from Les Domaines Paul Mas, this is a well-made, perky white that is simply a great expression of the Marsanne grape. Marsanne is normally associated with Rhone Valley and often blended with Roussanne as it can often be a bit much on its own, but this one is really attractive. Think of ripe peach, pear and subtle, tropical fruit flavours with a lovely, creamy texture and good weight. It’s a bit different. If you like Viognier, you will like this. 

Find it for £8 here

Cune Rosado 2020

Cune is a name to know in Rioja for its fruit-forward, modern styles of wine that are easy to love. Despite its youth, the 2020 pink is drinking perfectly now, with a pretty scent of ripe cherry and delicious strawberry notes on the palate. It’s elegant, juicy and so easy to drink. Amazing value too, knocking many Provencal rosés off the shelf. 

Find it for £8.50 here

Co-op Tinto, Vina Gala NV

This was the surprise of the tasting to me. A non-vintage wine that clearly has some age on it - it must be a small parcel they have picked up. Made with 100% Tempranillo (the same grape that makes Rioja), this is super savoury with notes of grilled meat, leather and a flash of stewed strawberry and woody spice. Perhaps not one for everyone, but with a bit of air and either a slab of meat or some cheese, this properly belies it’s ridiculously low price. 

Find it at Co-op for £5.85 soon to be online

Best Wines for a Beef Sunday Roast

Fluffy Yorkies, crispy spuds, slivers of tender beef… who doesn’t love a Sunday roast? And it tastes even better when you’re washing it down with a cracking wine. Read on for some top grape varieties guaranteed to match the meaty gorgeousness of a beef Sunday roast, whether or not you choose to smother yours in gravy…

Cabernet Sauvignon

Are you a Sunday roast purist? Then you can’t go wrong with Cabernet Sauvignon – perhaps the most classic match there is. It really makes the beef shine; the wine’s tannins and structure hold up brilliantly against the meat’s robust texture and help bring out its flavour. Styles of Cabernet vary quite a bit depending on where they’re from, so shop (and sip) around to find one you like. Those from Bordeaux are typically lighter than those form the sunny ‘New World’ and are often blended with Merlot, so expect a balance of lovely black and red fruit. California, meanwhile, is known for bold and powerful, age-worthy fruity numbers and if you want something in the middle, look to South Africa, Chile or Southern France.

Affordable: Apothic Cabernet Sauvignon UK £9 // US $8.98
Mid-Tier: Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon UK £21.50 // US $25.19
Top-End: Mt Brave UK £79.99 // US $99.99

Malbec

This one’s a bit of a no-brainer. Argentina, where some of the world’s best Malbecs are made, also produces some of the world’s best beef so, obviously, the two will go together! Inky and rich, Malbec’s soft tannins and juicy, ripe sweetness make it a good pairing with everything else you’ve got going on the plate too, such as roasted carrots and crisp roasties. Don’t just stick to Argentina though; try Malbecs from Chile or for a more savoury, structured style, head to Cahors in the south of France, which is in fact the grape’s original homeland (and where it is known as cot).

Affordable: Tesco Finest Argentinian Malbec £8
Mid-Tier: Bramare Malbec Lujan de Cuyo £29.44 // US $39.99
Top-End: Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino UK £81.95 // US $119.99

Shiraz / Syrah

Whether in its more concentrated, richly-fruited, juicy and peppery form (Shiraz) or a more meaty, herbaceous style (Syrah), this versatile grape variety is a delicious match for beef. Old-World style Syrahs such as those from the grape’s original home in the Northern Rhône, can often be quite savoury and earthy, so make a good match for the all-important side veg (carrots, parsnips, you name it). Meanwhile, wines labelled as Shiraz, usually from Australia, are typically robust and juicy enough to make the beef stand out. Great halfway styles between the two classics can be found in California or cool climate, Northern Chile.

Affordable: McGuigan Reserve Shiraz £6
Affordable: The Black Stump Durif Shiraz £11.99
Mid-Tier: Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz UK £29.95 // US $27.99
Top-End: Mclaren Vale Yangarra Estate Ironheart Shiraz UK £89.97 // US $121.88

Grenache

It’s not hard to love Grenache. This grape’s got plenty of body, great for meaty dishes like Sunday roast beef but, thanks to soft tannins and lower acidity, it’s also seriously approachable and fruity (read: dangerously drinkable) with notes of wild strawberry and spice. You can easily sip it before, during and after the meal – it’s just as tasty on its own as it is with food, so it’s a prime pick if you’re draining a few bottles with friends over a pub meal where everyone has ordered something different. Spanish wines will label it as Garnacha, while Australian or Rhone ‘GSM’ blends see it blended with Syrah/Shiraz and Mourvedre, aka Mataro.

Affordable: Waitrose Cotes du Rhone Villages £7.99
Mid-Tier: Anayón Garnacha £22.15
Top-End: Orin Swift 'Abstract' UK £39.99 // US $37.99

Tempranillo

One word: Rioja. Savoury, spiced and bursting with strawberry, licorice and leather notes, this medium-bodied wine basically goes with loads of different foods and that means every bite of your sautéed cabbage (if you like that kind of thing with your roast) is going to taste just as great as those roasted potatoes or green beans. While the region of Rioja offers us the most famous expression of Tempranillo, you’ll also find the grape grown elsewhere in Spain and in countries like Australia, where styles are sometimes fuller and more juicy, with chocolate and black fruit notes.

Affordable: Il Carretto IGT Rosso di Puglia £8.75
Mid-Tier: Altos de Baroja Rioja Joven £10.95
Top-End: Marqués de Murrieta Gran Reserva Rioja £48.95

Pinotage

South Africa’s flagship red grape, brooding, earthy Pinotage will give love to the roasted, charred flavours on your plate with its plum, blackberry and dark cherry flavours. Don’t be put off by the ‘burnt rubber’ character that it’s sometimes described as having; the very best-made wines have plenty of fruit, structure and, as they age, develop notes of smoke and spice., especially when you choose a more premium wine made from older vines.

Affordable: Swartland Private Collection Pinotage £8.29
Mid-Tier: The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage £22.90
Top-End: Hamilton Russell Ashbourne £37.95

Sangiovese

Even if you’re not fully ‘au fait’ with the Sangiovese grape, you’ve probably drunk it. For example, ever had Chianti or a Brunello? This Italian grape’s fresh acidity and earthy character makes it infinitely matchable with food, and it can take on a trad British roast just as successfully as Nonna’s finest lasagne. It’s also one of the rare grapes that loves acidic tomato sauces, If you’re looking for something quirkier, try Sangiovese grown in California (you’ll find some interesting takes in the Napa Valley) or Australia. 

Affordable: Caparzo Sangiovese Toscana UK £11.15 // US $12.99
Mid-Tier: Le Volte dell' Ornellaia £28.99
Top-End: Antinori Tenuta Tignanello 'Marchese Antinori' Chianti Classico Riserva UK £34.79 // US $49.99

Looking for some fun Easter drinks gifting? Why not try these Delicious Chocolate Alcoholic Drinks and while you’re at it why not check out these Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?

The Best Spanish Wine Region You Never Knew About: Cariñena

Words by Helena Nicklin

In the Northeast of Spain, nestled within the Ebro Valley of Aragón between Barcelona and Madrid, is a wine region that to any non Spaniard, once they discover it, seems to be the country’s best kept secret for wine: Cariñena. Brimming with history and some of the oldest vines in Spain, Cariñena is one of those areas that should absolutely be on your radar. For despite its long history and old vines, which produce wines with complex and intense flavours, its more famous neighbours (Rioja and Ribera del Duero) steal the limelight - but also, the price tags. Cariñena wines show impressive quality for their prices. Here’s more about some of those reasons why.

The Cariñena Wine Region

History

Evidence has been found of winemaking in Cariñena since the 1st century, where wine was aged in earthen vats. The Iberians talked about wild vines and after them came the Phoenicians who brought with them various cultivation techniques. As so often happens however, it was the Romans who helped increase in the production of wine and ever since then, wines from Cariñena found their place at important, historical moments, as gifts from royalty (Ferdinand 1 was a big fan and took it with him on his tours) to playwrights and philosophers. Such was Cariñena city’s vinous legacy, King Alfonso XIII granted it official city status in 1909 in recognition of this and its key role in the fight against phylloxera, the wine louse that decimated many European vineyards in the years before. The fact that the region itself gave its name to a grape that now has international fame, Cariñena, also known as Carignan, Samso and Mazuelo, speaks volumes of its wine culture.

The Wine

Since 1932, the Cariñena wine region has had its own Protected Denomination of Origin (Denominación de Origen Protegida) or ‘DOP’, similar to the French appellations, which simply means that wines are made according to rules that protect authenticity and quality - and it’s quality well worth protecting, thanks to its varied terroirs. 

A diversity of wine styles

Cariñena is celebrated for its old vines at different altitudes, its soils with ancient stones and a special wind known as ‘el cierzo’, that helps bring unique characteristics to the wines of the area. Growing in these soils are grapes indegenous to the region, with two in particular sharing the crown: Garnacha (also known as Grenache) and of course, Cariñena, which we know better in the UK & US as Carignan(e), both of which have an impressive number of vines over 45 years old. The Cariñena region is the true home of the Cariñena and Garnacha grapes; you could do a masterclass in them just from this region alone, discovering the juicy, modern, fruity styles all the way up to the more complex, spicy and aged wines from the older vines. 

Although Garnacha and Cariñena are king and queen of the wine grapes in this region, there are many other grapes used here too; some local varieties and other international ones. Combine these with the varied soils, altitudes and techniques and you’ll find an amazingly diverse and truly authentic array of wine styles from deep, rich reds, to cool whites, vibrant pinks and even bubbles, all at different quality and price levels. There is another key reason why the Cariñena region has been going from strength to strength in recent years however, and it’s all to do with people working towards a shared goal - and a goal that wouldn’t be possible without one particular, very special winery…

Grandes Vinos

Grandes Vinos was born out of a passion and a vision to raise all ships higher by working together. It all started in 1955 when the Cooperativa Vinicola San Jose de Aguarón was established, bringing together 155 growers and their families to share equipment and make wine. By 1960, almost all vine growers in Aguarón were members of the coop, but they knew they needed more help if they wanted to reach a global market. They looked around to see what others were doing and how they could potentially pool resources - physical and experiential - in order to reach the quality levels and pricing needed to compete on a world wine stage. Finally, in 1997, the Vinicola San Jose joined forces with four other coops to become a part of a professionally managed group. Grandes Vinos was born. 

Today, nearly 70% percent of all income for the residents in Aguarón comes from viticulture. It has allowed them to keep their population when other smaller towns were being deserted by the younger generations and enhanced the services and infrastructure necessary for a good quality of life in the villages, from healthcare clinics and schools to banks, restaurants and shops.

The now legendary Spanish winery Grandes Vinos, has the great advantage of being the only winery of the DO that covers all 14 municipalities of the District of the Campo de Cariñena. It has unparalleled access to the rich and varied landscapes at different altitudes, packed full of vineyards of all ages, some of which are around hundred years old. They work with 10 different grape varieties over 4500 hectares and with 700 growers, many of which today are the direct descendants of those original winemakers. The result of this huge collaboration with their countrymen is their ability to offer a wide variety of wine styles over several unique labels, from premium, classic Spanish blends to modern, single varietal wines. You can take a full tasting tour of the region of Cariñena by discovering their much-loved brands:

The Grandes Vinos Wine Range

Using ten grape varieties, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Macabeo, Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay, Garnacha, Cariñena, White Garnacha and Muscat from Alexandria, Grandes Vinos produces several unique labels:

Beso de Vino (Kiss of Wine) is the most accessible, youthful and fun label in the range, created to celebrate the creativity and joy of Spanish wine. The Beso de Vino mascot Antonio, a friendly looking cartoon character, adorns the labels in different costumes to denote the varied personalities of each wine inside and show that there is a style for everyone. If you download the Grandes Vinos app and point your phone at them, you can also see a brilliant augmented reality experience of Antonio. The wine style is intense but fruity and extremely fresh and there are frizzante wines too. When the Beso de Vino Syrah Garnacha blend was released it was the only wine under $10 to be awarded an impressive 90 points. This is where to start when you want to get into Spanish wine. 

El Circo (The Circus) is another modern, accessible label, created to celebrate the diverse characteristics of single grape varieties and their unique personalities, made without oak and without ageing. Each grape has its own circus character from the ‘trapeze artist’ Tempranillo to the ‘acrobat’ Garnacha. This is the range to do a masterclass in grape varieties, both classically Spanish and international.

Anayón is the most premium, icon wine label in the Grande Vinos stable, representing minute attention to detail in the winemaking process, from specific grape selection to hand selected barrels for ageing. These limited edition wines in numbered bottles showcase beautifully the maximum expression of the region of Cariñena in a glass.

Corona de Aragón (Crown of Aragon), so named in homage to one of the greatest kingdoms in Spanish history, celebrates the region’s deep-rooted, wine-producing prestige and culture. Another premium Grandes Vinos brand with high altitude wines over 500 metres ASL and both indigenous and international varieties over 40 years old, this is a label that produces smooth and silky aged wines as well as some Cava, Vermouth and other interesting tipples. 

Monasterio de las Viñas (Monastery of the vines), is named after the famous Monasterio de las Viñas, built by the Cistercian monks in the 11th century. It sits in a privileged place within the Sierra de Aguarón, an area known for its spirituality as well as the great quality of its wines. This is the Grandes Vinos brand with the greatest international presence and boasts fine wines made at altitude with oak ageing. 

Find our more about Grandes Vinos at grandesvinos.com

Spanish Food & Wine Pairing

The Grandes Vinos wine range is a great place to explore a variety of classic food and wine combinations as the wines are so versatile. Try these pairings below with a varied selection of red wine styles. 

FISH: ‘Bacalatus Edulis’ by chef Lucio Lanzan Chueca

Wine match: Anayón Parcela 15 Cariñena

Ingredients

Cod fillet 
Porcini mushrooms 
Sweet onion (julienne sliced)
Garlic (finely chopped)
Guindilla (Spanish hot chili pepper) or regular hot chili pepper
Extra virgin olive oil

Method: Lightly fry the onion and add the sliced porcini mushrooms with a pinch of the garlic and cook until golden brown. In a separate pan, fry the sliced garlic with a small piece of the  chili pepper in olive oil, making sure to remove the garlic before it burns. Allow the oil to cool, then add the cooked onion and porcini mushrooms along with the cod fillets with the skin up. Cook over a low heat (70-80 Cº) while gently moving the frying pan and allow the sauce to thicken. Place the cod fillets over a bed of cooked onions and wild mushrooms. Cover with sauce and garnish with a few slices of fried garlic.

CHICKEN: Grandma’s Country Chicken in Chilindrón Stew

Chef: Domingo Mancho Mairal
Wine match: El Circo Tempranillo

Ingredients

2.4 kg Free range chicken
480g Red pepper
180g Green pepper
8 Cloves garlic
Bay leaf
600g Sweet onions
720g Fresh tomato
150g Cured ham
300ml Olive oil
375ml White wine
Paprika optional
Freshly ground salt and pepper
Finely sliced bread
Casserole dish

Method: Chilindrón is a tomato and pepper stew. Chop the chicken into 6 pieces from each breast and thigh. Season with freshly ground pepper. Slice the red pepper into medium-sized squares (remove skins if desired). Blanch and peel the tomatoes, remove the seeds and cut into pieces. Clean and slice onions into small squares. Clean and de-seed the green pepper and cut into medium sized squares. Peel garlic, leave 3 whole for frying and finely dice the rest. Cut the cured ham into squares, reserving 2 or 3 pieces to crisp up for garnishing. In a frying pan, slowly fry the whole garlic cloves until golden. Remove and save for garnishing. Fry the chicken until golden brown then add to the casserole dish. Fry the diced garlic, then add the cut ham squares, onion and a bay leaf and lightly fry. Allow it to mix for 5 minutes, then add the peppers and allow it to cook for a further 5 minutes. Add a small amount of paprika (optional) and the chopped tomato. In the casserole dish, add the white wine to the chicken and allow wine to reduce. Add the tomato and pepper sauce from the other frying pan and cook slowly until tender and the tomato and pepper sauce is almost dry. Season. Blend a small amount of the stew to add ‘snowcap’ decorations on the plate. To assemble, place 3 or 4 pieces of chicken on a plate encircled with the Chilindrón stew. Crisp some chicken skin, as well as the slices of cured ham. Lightly toast the slices of bread. Finally garnish with a sprig of parsley, thyme, or rosemary, as desired.

PORK: Breadcrumbs “Migas”

Chef: Enrique Pérez Prieto
Wine match: Corona de Aragón Crianza

Ingredients

2 large round loaves of dry/hard bread
3 cloves of garlic
150g cured ham cut into small cubes 
150g grapes (preferably smaller sized). 
Fresh chorizo, sliced
Eggs
Olive oil and salt.

Method: Allow the loaves of bread to air dry for at least two days before use so that they are hard. Mill them into small crumbs, then moisten with water and toss well until they are damp and full. In a large pot, fry the garlic with extra virgin olive oil and then add the breadcrumbs (‘migas’), stirring constantly so they don’t stick. Season to taste. In a separate frying pan with a small amount of extra virgin olive oil, fry the cured ham and the chorizo until they are crispy. Strain and add to the “migas.” To assemble, fill a plate with fried “migas” and the cured ham cubes and sliced chorizo, add small grapes, place a fried egg in the centre and enjoy. 

LAMB: Ternasco de Aragón braised in Coca Cola 

Chef: José Luis García Solanas
Wine match: Monasterio de las Viñas Gran Reserva

Ingredients

200g young lamb (we prefer Ternasco de Aragón)
660ml cola
1 onion cubed
6 cloves garlic (sliced)
300g Carrot (julienne sliced)
300g Swiss chard (julienne sliced)
30g Brown roux
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

Method: Lightly fry the garlic cloves with the onion in olive oil. Once golden brown, add the carrots, Swiss chard and the lamb. Sauté everything for 5 minutes over low heat. Add the cola along with the brown roux and season. Cover the pan and let it boil for 15 minutes, tasting to season. Remove the meat and put aside. Pass the vegetables and sauce through a food mill and then strain to give a smooth jus. Add the pieces of lamb and bring to the boil for 2 minutes. Serve hot!

VEGETARIAN: Aragonese Ratatouille (VEGETARIAN)

Chef: Emilio Lacambra Mazano
Wine match: Beso de Vino Garnacha Rosé

 Ingredients

1 medium onion 
2 red peppers 
2 green peppers 
1 medium courgette
2 medium potatoes
4 cloves of garlic
Extra virgin olive oil

Method: Chop the onion and peppers into squares of approx 1 cm. Slice the courgette lengthways, then again into 2cm slices. Cut the potatoes into approx 2 cm squares. In a frying pan, sauté some garlic cloves (to give flavour to the oil), then fry each ingredient separately until half done and set aside. Combine the ingredients together and continue to fry over a low heat, stirring little by little with a wooden spoon. When placing all together, add salt. Optional: Fried eggs can be served with the dish and a small sprinkle of tuna in brine adds an intriguing kick.

DESSERT: Caramelized Torrijas

Chef: Salvador Alagon Sarasa
Wine match: Beso de Vino Old Vine Garnacha

Ingredients

1 Large round bread loaf, sliced
1l Milk
150g Sugar
500ml Cream
1 Cinnamon stick. 
1 lemon (zest only)
Ice cream

Method: In a small saucepan, combine the milk with the sugar, cream, a stick of cinnamon and the lemon zest and bring to the boil. As soon as it starts boiling, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Once cool, submerge the bread slices into the mixture before coating each side in sugar. Heat a non-stick frying pan and caramelise the bread on each side. Place each slice on a plate or piece of slate with a spoonful of ice cream (we like meringue milk), cinnamon powder and a few bits from the cinnamon sticks.

For more information about Grandes Vinos, go to www.grandesvinos.com

Listen also to our podcasts, episodes 17 - 21 here.

One Minute Wine Ace: Tempranillo

In the early hours of the morning, you spot him from your window. He’s back: the mysterious cowboy. The man is a legend in these parts and each town has a different name for him. You watch this alluring figure in faded leather boots as he unsaddles his horse. You spoke to him once: his voice was soft as velvet and sweet, like wild strawberry. He smelled of wood smoke mingled with fresh, vanilla tobacco. It has been a long time. He has aged well. 

Introducing Tempranillo, the early-ripening grape (‘temprano’ is Spanish for ‘early’) with notes of wild strawberry and liquorice, often tempered by cinnamon spice and leather from years of ageing in oak barrels. The result is a mellow, spicy wine that’s moreishly chewy. Think of comfortable, worn leather, tobacco and stewed strawberry fruit. Without the oak though, it’s rustic and medium bodied with ripe, bright red fruit. It’s very easy to love!

Fact!

While Tempranillo is now found all over the world, it has always been the flagship red grape of Spain, where it is responsible for 88% of vine plantings. It is the principal grape used in red wines from the famous Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions too. Our cowboy has many aliases, however, even in Spain where it’s also known as Tinto Fino, Cencibel, Ull de Llebre and Tinta del Pais. You may see it in Portugal too as Aragonez or Tinta Roriz. Who said wine was complicated?

Food Match

Tempranillo can handle earthier meats like roast lamb with lots of garlic, or anything with a tomato base, like lasagne. Barbecued meats in general work nicely as do grilled vegetables. It’s the smoke.

Helena’s oldie but a goodie. This time, you’ll remember what you learned!

TASTING TOUR

Tempranillo 1: Rioja

When you think of Tempranillo, your first thought should be Spain. Head straight to the region of Rioja and start with the younger versions before working your way up the age ladder: go from Joven (meaning ‘young’ in Spanish) to Crianza, then Reserva and, finally, Gran Reserva. The difference is the amount of time the wine has aged in oak and then in bottle before release. Both bottle and oak age increase as you move up the scale.

Try La Rioja Alta ‘Gran Reserva 904’, 2011

This fantastic producer hails from the Rioja Alta, Rioja’s largest subregion, where the Tempranillo is perfectly suited to the cooler climate thanks to the Atlantic climate and higher altitude. The 904 is only made a few times each decade and the 2011 version shows beautiful concentration with a perfume of tobacco, dark fruit, spice and prune. On the palate, it’s full but refreshing with fabulous ripe and dried fruit notes and a cool acidity. Worth splashing out on for Christmas!

Find it for £50 a bottle from Armit Wines and other retailers.

Tempranillo 2: Ribera del Duero

Stay in Spain, but mosey on over to Ribera del Duero: an exciting area for Tempranillo where wines traditionally have more body and power than those from Rioja thanks to slightly different geography.

Try Psi Bodegas y Vinedos Alnardo 2017

The modern wine world meets tradition here in this powerhouse of a wine from one of Ribera de Duero’s most celebrated winemakers, Peter Sisseck. Concentrated, brooding and intense, with lush, dark fruit tannins and spice. It’s the iron fist in the velvet glove. 

Find it at Corneyandbarrow for £27.25

Tempranillo 3: Douro

In Portugal’s Douro region, Tempranillo is known as Tinta Roriz. It’s one of the principal blending grapes in Port, but is now also making some stunning, still, dry wines that simply must be tasted.

Try Castrum Douro Red

Made by renowned producer Quinto do Crazto, this Tinta roriz wines shows what brilliant value Portuguese red wines can be. Think plum pudding in a glass with caramelized raisins. Delicious!

Find it at CO-Op for £10

Tempranillo 4: Australia

Various regions in Australia are now producing some delicious, juicy, red-fruited Tempranillo from the Margaret River region in the West all the way over to the Barossa Valley in the East.

Try The Hedonist Tempranillo, McLaren Vale

This one from McLaren Vale is meant to be a more youthful, soft and  juicy style, with vibrant red fruit  and liquorice flavours.

Find it at Fareham Cellars for £15.50 a bottle

Like this One Minute Wine Ace? Try our other pieces for Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and One Minute Wine Ace: Pinot Noir, One Minute Wine Ace: Sauvignon Blanc and Cotes du Rhone.