Northern Spain
AUGUST 2023
Following Portugal last month, we decided to head up and over into Northern Spain, showing off Albariño from DO Rías Baixas in Galicia, 45 minutes southwest of Santiago de Compostela, the destination for the famous pilgrimage with routes through France, northern Spain and Portugal. Your second wine is a classic red from the most famous wine region in Spain, Rioja.
Photo credits: Rías Baixas Wines (top) and Bodges Siglo, Rioja (above)
Rías Baixas & Viña Almirante
Rías Baixas, in the southwest corner of Galicia, butts up again the Atlantic Ocean and the border to Portugal. The region is famous for the indigenous grape Albariño, considered a world-class fish wine. It's also a great summer sipper! Like so many wines in this area, your club wine is produced by a co-op, Viña Almirante. Formed in 2000, it's a group of 80 wine growers and families with 45 hectares of vineyards dotted around the region. Co-op vineyards pictured.
Maccerato 2020 Albariño
Rías Baixas, Spain // Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
100% Albariño. 12 months on the lees. Citrus, apples, stone fruits, little earth. Flavors of lemon, pineapple, white peach. Good body. Soft, elegant. Pleasant, dry, zesty finish. Drink now to 2 years. Great with seafood paella!
Photo credit: suggested Albariño pairing from Rías Baixas Wines
Rioja & Siglo
Rioja, designated in 1925, is the oldest and most famous wine region in Spain. Located in northcentral Spain on either side of the Ebro River, it's 40 kilometers wide with vineyards at about 700 meters above sea level. The soils range from chalky-clay to ferrous-clay to alluvial with many micro-climates. Bodegas Manzanos produces several lines of wines including the Siglo wine.
Siglo 2015 Crianza
Rioja, Spain // Reg $14.99 | Mixed Case $11.99
A Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano blend. Older vintage. Smell is earthy, leathery, red berries, plums. Perfect, traditional Rioja nose. Similar flavors plus dark cherries. Note of mocha, dark chocolate. Good acidity. Keeps the wine alive. Soft tannins. Epic vintage. Drink now. For the money, this wines gives you a lot. This is what Spaniards drink. It's medium-bodied enough that it would taste great with the seafood paella above!
I lived in Spain for a couple years between my military service and studying medicine. I remember those years fondly, and these wines take me back. Hope you enjoy them as well.
Hope to see you Saturday!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop & J. Strecker Selections