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This month, we celebrate the remarkable diversity of Spain, one of the world's most exciting wine-producing countries. From the cool Atlantic coast of Galicia to the rugged terraces of tiny Priorat to the East and the historic vineyards of Rioja, these wines showcase Spain's rich winemaking heritage, indigenous grape varieties, and exceptional terroirs. Each bottle demonstrates how climate, elevation, soils, and tradition create distinctive expressions that have earned Spain a place among the world's great wine-producing nations.
Pecíolo by Aresan Albariño
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Origin: Rías Baixas DO, Galicia
Variety: "Albariño" (alba-ree-nyoh) About the wine: Produced in the cool Atlantic region of Rías Baixas, Pecíolo captures everything that makes Albariño one of Spain's most celebrated white varieties. The region's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean produces wines known for freshness, minerality and vibrant acidity. Granite soils naturally limit vine vigour, concentrating flavours while promoting excellent drainage. Cool temperatures and abundant rainfall encourage slow ripening, allowing Albariño to develop its distinctive aromatic profile and saline quality while preserving crisp acidity. Fermentation in stainless steel preserves fruit purity and highlights the grape's naturally expressive character. SERVED BEST AT: Cold (5 – 8 °C)
IDEAL PAIRINGS: Raw oysters, fish tacos, shrimp salad, ceviche, sushi and Mediterranean seafood. WINE PROFILE: Peach, nectarine, citrus blossom, honeydew melon, grapefruit and saline mineral notes with refreshing acidity and a crisp finish. Recommended if you like: Vinho Verde, Furmint, Assyrtiko, Riesling |
Marqués de Murrieta Capellanía Rioja Blanco
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Origin: Capellanía, Rioja Alta, Rioja DOCa
Variety: "Viura" (vee-yur-ah) - also called Macabeo About the wine: Founded in 1852, Marqués de Murrieta is one of Rioja's most historic wineries and is credited with helping establish the modern Rioja style. The Capellanía vineyard is a single-vineyard estate dedicated exclusively to Viura, Rioja's flagship white grape, producing one of Spain's most prestigious white wines. Located at higher elevations in Rioja Alta, the vineyard enjoys a continental climate moderated by Atlantic influences. Limestone-rich clay soils provide excellent drainage while retaining sufficient moisture during the growing season. These conditions allow Viura to ripen slowly, developing remarkable concentration while maintaining vibrant acidity. Following fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for a minimum of 15 months, then extended bottle maturation, creating complexity without overwhelming the fruit. SERVED BEST AT: Cold (5 – 8 °C)
IDEAL PAIRINGS: Coconut curry sauces, noodle bowls, roasted pork, creamy seafood dishes WINE PROFILE: White flowers, citrus zest, ripe pear, honeydew melon, toasted hazelnuts, subtle vanilla, honey, layered minerality; vibrant with a long, refined finish. Recommended if you like: Alsatian Grand Cru Riesling, oaked Chardonnay, Sémillon |
Urbina Rioja Crianza
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Origin: Rioja Alta, Rioja DOCa
Variety: "Tempranillo" (temp-rah-nee-oh) About the wine: Bodegas Urbina is a family-owned winery with generations of experience crafting traditional Rioja wines. The winery focuses on expressing the elegance of Tempranillo through extended ageing in both oak barrels and bottle. Rioja enjoys a unique combination of Atlantic and Mediterranean influences. Warm sunny days ripen the grapes while cooler nights preserve freshness and acidity. Limestone and clay soils naturally limit vine vigour, producing concentrated fruit with excellent ageing potential. As a Crianza, this wine spends one year ageing in American & French oak, then seven years in the bottle before release. This ageing develops greater complexity while maintaining vibrant fruit. SERVED BEST AT: Slightly Cool (12 – 15 °C)
IDEAL PAIRINGS: Roast lamb, grilled steak/burgers, tapas, charcuterie and aged cheeses. WINE PROFILE: Ripe cherry, raspberry, plum, vanilla, cedar, sweet spice and leather with smooth tannins balanced by refreshing acidity. Recommended if you like: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Pinot Noir |
Señorío de Sotillo Reserva
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Origin: Ribera del Duero DO
Variety: "Tempranillo" (temp-rah-nee-oh) About the wine: Bodegas S. Arroyo is a family-owned winery founded in 1968 in the village of Sotillo de la Ribera. The Arroyo family cultivates estate vineyards planted predominantly to Tempranillo (locally known as Tinta del País), combining generations of traditional viticulture with modern winemaking techniques. The winery is renowned for producing elegant, age-worthy wines that reflect the power and finesse of Ribera del Duero while respecting the region's winemaking heritage. The vineyards are situated at high elevation, where warm, sunny days are followed by cool nights. This significant temperature shift allows the grapes to achieve full ripeness while preserving freshness and natural acidity. Poor limestone, clay and alluvial soils naturally restrict vine vigour, producing low yields of intensely concentrated fruit. The continental climate, combined with low rainfall, encourages small berries with thick skins, resulting in wines with deep colour, firm tannins and excellent ageing potential. The Señorío de Sotillo Reserva is produced from carefully selected Tempranillo grapes, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks before undergoing 30 months of ageing in a combination of American and French oak barrels, followed by 18 months of bottle ageing before release. This lengthy ageing develops complexity while integrating the oak seamlessly with the fruit. SERVED BEST AT: Slightly Cool (12 – 15 °C)
IDEAL PAIRINGS: Braised beef short ribs, mature cheese and slow-cooked game dishes. WINE PROFILE: Black cherry, ripe plum, dried blackberry, tobacco, leather, espresso, cedar, sweet baking spices, cocoa and balsamic herbs. Full-bodied, refined, polished tannins, vibrant acidity and a long, savoury finish. Recommended if you like: Chianti Classico Riserva, Barolo, |
Clos Berenguer del Molar 'Clos de Tafall'Priorat DOQ
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Origin: Priorat DOQ, Catalonia
Variety: 43% "Grenache" (grenn-nosh), 21% "Syrah" (sear-ah), 18% "Carignan" (kare-rin-yen), 18% "Cabernet Sauvignon" (kab-er-nay saw-vin-yawn) About the wine: Founded in 1999, Clos Berenguer is a family-owned winery located in El Molar, in the heart of Priorat DOQ. The estate is dedicated exclusively to producing wines from its own vineyards. Their philosophy is centered on sustainable vineyard management, low yields, and allowing each parcel to reflect the purity and minerality that have made Priorat one of Spain's most prestigious wine regions. The estate's vineyards are planted across four sites surrounding the winery, predominantly on the region's iconic llicorella (slate) soils, with a smaller proportion of limestone soils. These fractured slate soils force vine roots deep into the subsoil in search of water and nutrients, naturally limiting yields and producing grapes of exceptional concentration. The warm Mediterranean climate, coupled with low annual rainfall and significant day-to-night temperature variation, allows the grapes to achieve excellent ripeness while preserving freshness and acidity. Old vines of Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena (Carignan) are complemented by small plantings of Syrah and 50 to 80-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines, adding complexity and structure to the final blend. At the winery, grapes are harvested by hand, chilled before fermentation, and vinified by individual vineyard parcel in small fermentation tanks. The winery's gravity-flow design minimizes handling, preserving fruit purity and elegance. The wine is matured in French oak barrels for 12 months under carefully controlled conditions before additional bottle ageing, resulting in a wine that balances power with remarkable finesse. It is unfiltered to avoid removing any aromas or flavors from the wine. SERVED BEST AT: Slightly Cool (12 – 15 °C)
IDEAL PAIRINGS: Grilled ribeye, braised lamb shank, venison, wild mushrooms, aged Manchego and other mature hard cheeses. WINE PROFILE: Blackberry, black cherry, plum, Mediterranean herbs, licorice, graphite, dark chocolate, licorice, toast, balsamic. Full-bodied and richly textured, firm, polished tannins, vibrant acidity, and long, complex and exceptionally elegant finish. Recommended if you like: Chateauneuf-du-Pape, other Rhone red blends |
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