spain

“We started making ECO wines from the beginning (1991)…; for us, it is more a matter of philosophy than of being commercial.” When it comes to sustainable viticulture and organic production in the DO Priorat, the Clos Galena winery has positioned itself as a pioneer since its inception. What started as a matter of philosophy for the team behind the Catalan brand has now evolved into a clear trend. And in…

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) reported that this year’s wine production had been at its lowest since the 1960’s. Indeed, the harvest saw an 8% fall in production with only 246.7 million hectolitres. Moreover, despite a growing wine consumption among different population types, the production decreases steadily. According to the OIV, climate change is one of the main reasons for these poor figures and it blames warmer autumns and longer…

At first sight, the issue might appear trivial, however, several customers recently asked me the following question: “What is the difference between the wines from the Rioja and those from the Ribera del Duero?”. What’s more, according to my experience, the next question tends to concern the price difference. This is why I thought an article would be the ideal opportunity to come back on the topic, especially considering that…

Madrid stands out by its gastronomy in the form of food markets, some of them of great tradition and some new. In fact, in the city there are many markets, and it is difficult to choose those who deserve to be highlighted. San Anton market is one of them, located in the square that bears its name, Anton Martín, in Chueca. It had some renovations and is noted for the…

One of the things that everyone love about Spain is paella and sangria. It may seem a cliché, but ends up being something real, since a large part of foreigners ask sangria for its quite different and strong taste. It is a drink that is served throughout the year, but summer is the best time, since always is served chilly. The advantage is that it’s a wine cocktail, mixed with…

Sommeliers, wine producers and connoisseurs from all over the world are praising the values of the Grenache grape, that offers fine wines and intense production. This variety, though it has a strong historic presence in countries such as France, Spain and Australia, is also spreading elsewhere. Additionally, those that highlight Grenache as a grape of great future, do so thanks to its large capacity to thrive in hot conditions. Something…

January comes, and after the Christmas holidays, your pocket is empty. Do not worry, you can keep buying quality and great flavored wine at affordable prices. Here you have some references to the dreaded ?January hill?. Take good note! Paco Garcia Crianza 2010. A pure red that you could savor during the year 2015, thanks to its varieties of grapes, Tempranillo and Grenache. It has a Robert Parker score of 90…

Penedès is a wine-producing areas of Europe, besides imposing historical territory of the autonomous community of Catalonia, it is subdivided into the regions of Alto Penedès , Garraf and the Bajo Penedès. One of the most outstanding drinks of Penedes is the cava, s produced in greater quantity than in other Spanish regions. It has a designation of origin for the production of red and white wines too. Like in…

After reading a review by Manuel Colmenero Larriba of Lluis Tolosa’s new book España no es California, in which he discusses the issue of attracting tourists to Spanish wine regions, I thought of all the news I have been recieving recently about Napa– new restaurants with celebrity chefs, new state of the art wineries, luxe resort openings, and had mixed feelings on the topic. Spanish tourism is underdeveloped in most of its wine…

Unlike in the New World, where appellations are still being defined (for example segmentation crazy Napa Valley, who seems to be in constant turmoil, most recently over a new proposed Mayacama Mountain range AVA), the Old World wine producing countries usually look at their wine regulations as being set in stone. For the most part, you are allowed to only grow the same grapes that were approved for your great…