Hot Topic: A Tour of Spain ~ Taking A Look At Fruits of A Long Tradition of Labor
By Bryan Robbins, Cool Springs Wines & Spirits
Published in VIP Franklin Magazine, June 2006
One of the great pleasures of living in Middle Tennessee is entertaining
outside during the mellow days of late spring and early summer. Firing up
some steaks or burgers on the grill gets everyone's attention, but what
about choosing a wine that might perk up the taste buds of a crowd used
to drinking Zinfandel or Australian Shiraz?
Take a look at the hottest additions on the wine list of your favorite restaurant
or the latest arrivals in wine stores and you'll find yourself deep in the heart of Spain.
While Spanish wines are becoming more familiar in the States now, Spain has a long
tradition of producing great wines. Getting acquainted with the wines of Rioja, Priorat,
Navarra and Ribera del Duero can make summer nights on the deck like a tour of
Spain — no passport required. So where do we start our tour?
There is no more famous or fabulous name than Rioja — the legendary region
located in the north of Spain that has given it's name to the wine. Rioja
is a blend of different grape varieties that can be either red, white or rose.
In red wines, Tempranillo is one of the most popular grapes in Rioja,
followed by Garnacha (commonly known as Grenache), Graciano and Mazuelo.
Rioja wines are broken up into three categories: Crianza, Reserva
and Gran Reserva. Crianzas are two years old, spending at least one year
in oak casks. Reservas also spend at least one year in oak, but are 3 years
old. Gran Reservas are sometimes misleading to the American wine consumer
who is used to buying wines that need additional aging before they are
truly ready to be consumed.
Gran Reservas are aged a minimum of two years in oak casks and three years in the
bottle, so the wine is at least five years old upon release. This makes them older
(upon release) than the famous wines of Bordeaux. A traditional Rioja will feel
elegant in the mouth with loads of jammy red fruits along with black currants,
blueberries, licorice and floral notes leading to a lengthy finish.
Spanish wines are gaining notoriety and are truly on the horizon of becoming
the next big thing. When you visit your favorite wine retailer, try adding
some Spanish gems to your regular selections and discover the allure these
wines have for the American palate. You'll see — they'll be a great compliment
to that grilled Ribeye this summer!