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- Descendientes de J. Palacios\u2014the place that brought wine lovers to Bierzo in 1999. Cult bottles here can go for more than $1,200!<\/li>\n
- Bodegas Estefan\u00eda\u2014became a key player in recent years. Get a guided tour and generous pours for an incredible price.<\/li>\n
- Dominio de Tares\u2014another key pioneer surrounded by high-quality vineyards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What to Love<\/h3>\n
For the last 20 years or so, Bierzo has been on a hot streak. They\u2019re paving their way in the Spanish wine world, partly because of Menc\u00eda, a grape related to Cabernet Franc. When vinified well, it leaves wines with a superb structure, fine balance, and even better versatility. Better yet, when you visit Bierzo, you can find big-bodied Tempranillos and Garnachas and so much more! It\u2019s a quiet area that offers a lot to its guests.<\/p>\n
Pened\u00e8s<\/h2>\n
Considered one of the country\u2019s best wine-producing regions after Rioja, Pened\u00e8s is also one of the most significant ancient viticultural areas in Europe. Again, when you travel here, you won\u2019t get only good wine, but also stunning views and history as rich as the wine. You can visit easily from Barcelona and head down into Cava country. There are over 300 wineries in the area, with many boasting beautiful Cava varietals. But you won\u2019t just find sensational sparkling wines here\u2014you\u2019re also sure to find a few bottles of red and white that you\u2019ll want to take home with you.<\/p>\n
Sipping Spots<\/h3>\n
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- Cava\u2019s most ubiquitous producers\u2014Codorn\u00edu and Freixenet\u2014offer low-end bubbly, complex Reservas, and beautiful history.<\/li>\n
- Caves F\u00e9lix Massana\u2014spend a day behind the scenes and pop open some Cava bottles.<\/li>\n
- Familia Torres\u2014a beautiful place to seek out red and white wines of the region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What to Love<\/h3>\n
This is a region you can visit easily if you\u2019re heading on a general trip to Spain. As we mentioned, it\u2019s not far from Barcelona, so you can make a day trip for Pened\u00e8s easily. But truly, Cava is what to love about this region. It\u2019s the premier sparkling wine of Spain, and its high acidity and semidry taste pairs magically with tapas. It\u2019s a must-have!<\/p>\n
Rioja<\/h2>\n
Now to the big name that everyone talks about when it comes to Spain\u2019s wine regions. The region\u2019s acclaimed red wines typically come from the Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano grapes. You\u2019ll come here for red wine\u2014beautiful, rich, deep reds. If you\u2019re looking for white wines, this may not be the region for you, as whites account for only 10 percent of the region\u2019s total wine production.<\/p>\n
Because of the power of the region\u2019s red wine, there are wine classifications to help consumers identify their favorite Spanish wines. You\u2019ll see three classifications on the front or back of Spanish wine bottle labels\u2014Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva.<\/p>\n
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- Crianza are fruit-forward, youthful reds that are aged in oak for a minimum of one year, then spend another year gaining in the bottle. It\u2019s often considered the perfect partner when it comes to food pairing.<\/li>\n
- Reserva reds increase in both complexity and price. These wines spend a minimum of one year in the barrel and another two years aging in either a barrel or bottle.<\/li>\n
- Gran Reserva wines are considered the best of the best of Rioja\u2019s reds. These wines require barrel aging for two years and a minimum of three additional years of bottle aging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sipping Spots<\/h3>\n
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- CVNE\u2014found in the Barrio de la Estaci\u00f3n, this world-class winery offers powerful reds.<\/li>\n
- Bodegas Bilba\u00ednas\u2014close to CVNE, you can visit one spot and head right into the other. This spot boasts many delicious wines to meet the needs of any group.<\/li>\n
- Bodegas Campo Viejo\u2014a traditional visit that you don\u2019t want to miss. These wines embody the progressive styles of Rioja to satisfy any palate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What to Love<\/h3>\n
Truly, what\u2019s not to love? There are over 670 wineries, over 16,000 grape growers, and so much natural beauty, you\u2019ll never want to leave. What\u2019s to love? Visit and you\u2019ll find out in no time!<\/p>\n
The Sherry Triangle<\/h2>\n
Last on our list is the wonderful Sherry Triangle. Also known as the Jerez wine region, this is made up of three sunny towns\u2014Jerez, Puerto de Santa Maria, and Sanlucar de Barrameda. It\u2019s found in the sun-baked corner of southwestern Spain, and because of that, it has plenty of chalky, limestone-rich soil. These are the perfect conditions for growing Palomino and Pedro Zimenez grapes, which are what\u2019s used to make the most delicious sherries.<\/p>\n
Sipping Spots<\/h3>\n
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- Bodegas Emilio Lustau\u2014a well-known producer in the area, this is a magical place with even more magic in their wines.<\/li>\n
- Bodegas Gonzalez Byass\u2014one of the most prestigious sherry wineries in the world. Need we say more?<\/li>\n
- Bodegas Williams & Humbert\u2014head here to visit Europe\u2019s largest winery, which sprawls nearly two million square feet<\/em>. No to mention some unbelievable wines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What to Love<\/h3>\n
Another wine region that\u2019s not too far from popular tourist destinations, the Sherry Triangle is only about 90 minutes from Seville by car, and trains connect the entire region with the rest of Spain. If you\u2019re a fan of sherry or simply want to delve more into this world, then this is definitely the place to fall in love.<\/p>\n
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