What is the best starting point for wines from Spain?
Beginners guide to what to buy if you have NO experience in wine tasting.
Best Spanish White Wine for Beginners
Albariño white wine from Rías Baixas is one of the must try Spanish white wine for begineers.
The Rías Baixas are a series of four estuarine inlets located on the southwestern coast of Galicia, Spain. There are approximately 20,000 different vineyards in the area. A specific type of white wine, Albariño, originated in the Rías Baixas and now takes up 90% of the wine produced there. This wine is especially successful in the area because the grapes that are the main ingredient are able to withstand and even thrive in the moist, coastal, climate.
Terras Gauda O Rosal
The flagship wine of the winery, Terras Gauda O Rosal is a beautiful representation of a blend of native grapes traditional to the Rías Baixas D.O.
The estate vineyards are grown in the O Rosal Valley, located on the Galician riverbanks of the Miño River.
This wine’s personality comes from a blend of the legendary Albariño, Loureira and Caiño Blanco.
Terras Gauda O Rosal Tasting Notes
Terras Gauda O Rosal is the perfect blend of the best native Rías Baixas varieties.
A greenish-yellow in color, this wine has a generous nose of ripe peach, aromatic herbs, hints of bay leaf and mint, orange blossom, mandarin and orange peel.
On the palate, it is round with hints of mineral and earthy memories. It finishes with crispness and minerality, revealing its stunning structure, density and balanced acidity.
Best Spanish Red Wine for Beginners
How about Spanish red wine for beginners? Rioja wine.
Rioja is the home of bright, berry-scented, barrel-aged red wines made from Tempranillo and Garnacha – is arguably Spain’s top wine region. It is certainly the most famous, rivaled only by Jerez. Located in northern Spain, Rioja’s vineyards trace the course of the Ebro River for roughly 60 miles (100km) between the towns of Haro and Alfaro.
Other than Tempranillo and Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) are also used in red Rioja wines. A few wineries, notably Marqués de Riscal, use small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Let check out the rioja wine below…
Bodegas Ramon Bilbao Single Vineyard
Single Vineyard is a wine that springs from the history of Rioja Alta, where in the past, you could find different variettes together in the same vineyard plot: garnachas, tempranillos, gracianos, mazuelos… In hormage to this tradition Rodolfo created this wine with ist own style and personality.
Bodegas Ramon Bilbao Single Vineyard Tasting Note
Ruby red with some signs of youth from the violet hues. Medium intensity aromas of fresh dark fruit like blackberries and black currants accompanied with hints of licorice. It is clean and bright on the palate with pleasant flavors of vanilla, cinnamon sticks, and wild herbs.
Summary
Both wines are reflecting the flavors of the grapes and their characteristics. This is really important in a beginners wine. Go for young, uncomplicated and balanced wines. If you are looking for more rioja wine, check out the the article here. Or more Spanish white wine alternative, check out here.
Wine Gift Set Suggestions
