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Northern Spain
Primarily known for the fine red wines of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, these two attention-hogging stars are merely a part of the abundant riches that Northern Spain has to offer. Tempranillo is the grape that forms the backbone of both, but this region has a wealth of indigenous grapes and has successfully imported international varieties. Galicia, Navarra, Aragón and Catalonia stretch from the west to the east of the region, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean via the foothills of the Pyrenees, and the wines they produce are as varied as their climate, topography and local cuisines.
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- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Elegant on the nose with aromas of plum and vanilla. Well structured and very pleasant to drink. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
This is a bold, full bodied Rioja with a pronounced nose of punchy red fruit, vanilla, and spice. More of the same on the palate leading into a long, ... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Brilliant, pale straw yellow colour with greenish hues. Fruity, varietal bouquet with a fresh mouthfeel and good balance. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Bierzo
Pleasant aromas of white fruits and flowers lead in to an expressive, fresh and palate, this maximizes its effect via dry citrus and a pronouced miner... Read More -
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- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
A pronounced nose of intense redcurrant fruit is joined on the palate by summer berries and soft spice. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
A fresh, fruity red which combines fresh red berry fruit with a subtle hint of spice on the finish. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
A bright ruby-red colour, with shades of violet typical in its youth. The aroma is open and fruity with light touches of vanilla and other spices. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
As Rioja goes this is very light and approachable style. It has a ripe cherry fruit character which combines well with savoury notes to create a wine ... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Aromas of blackberries and raspberries are supported by hints of hazelnut, with a deep flavour and a vanilla filled finish. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
An intense nose full of aromatic complexity with ripe red fruit and a rich roasted character. Subtle spice is present on the palate with some liquoric... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Clean, bright ruby red with aromas of vanilla, toast and spices. Well structured, meaty and balanced in the mouth. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
A traditional-style Rioja which has been bottle-aged, giving the wine a smooth rich flavour with a soft balance. Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Intense black-cherry colour with an attractive, powerful berry-fruit nose and hints of vanilla and spice. Velvety soft on the palate, this is a wine w... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
The wine is characterised by ripe red fruit and exhibits secondary aromas of liquorice, cedar and cloves. The palate has a creamy texture interspersed... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
This incredible wine is aged 18 months in new American oak barrels, bottled and then aged another 16 months. This gives it a dark cherry/plum colour. ... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Concentrated aromas of dark berry and fig compliment the full body and rich fruit flavour. The flavour is reminiscent of fruit cake as the finish brin... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Great aromatic intensity and elegance, where the mature fruit dominates with hints of quince jam, figs, almond liquor, and pure cocoa assembled with b... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Rioja
Powerful, rich and seductive and exhibits vegetable/tobacco aromas nose. On the palate it is classy and complex with perfect harmony of oak and glorio... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Campo de Borja
Garnacha is one of those grapes varieties widely used yet hardly ever heard of in the UK. This wine from Northern Spain shows all the hallmarks of wha... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Priorat
Another stunning red from Joan Sangenis. Packed with opulent damson fruits with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon that are harmonised by silky tannins. Thi... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Priorat
Dark cherry in colour with an invitingly attractive nose of aromatic herbs, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Very pronounced fruit, with ripe plum flavour... Read More -
- Origin
- Spain
- Navarra
The deep red colour hints at the richness of the palate. Fresh red berry fruit on the nose with a smooth and round mouth-feel. Read More
Styles of Wine
Rioja and Ribera del Duero produce some of the world's finest red wines and are strictly regulated. The terms joven, crianza, reserva and gran reserva refer to how long the wine has been aged before release - in oak barrels and the bottle - and each has a markedly different style. Cava is produced in various pockets throughout Spain but the bulk comes out of Catalonia in the north. The Cava wineries are very modern but use the same traditional techniques as Champagne. Navarra is well known for its rosés and Galicia is the home of excellent whites that go perfectly with the seafood of the district.
Key Varieties
International vines such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and even Gewürztraminer have all been successfully grown in Northern Spain, but it is the traditional grape varieties that hold the greatest interest. Tempranillo is the star, but Garnacha, Cariñena (known as Grenache and Carignan in France) and Graciano are other marvellous reds and Albariño, Godello and Viura are whites that are capable of greatness.
Climate and Topography
The region is wide and diverse, hence the variety of wines. Weather coming in off the Atlantic is the influence on Galicia, whilst the warmer Mediterranean holds sway over Catalonia. In-between these two districts there's more variety still, especially in height and temperature, and conditions will vary vastly from one year to another. The wines of Ribera del Duero, for example, will be predominantly Tempranillo in drier years but Cabernet Sauvignon when it is wet. Other than to say that they allow for excellent wines, it is impossible to generalize about the climate and conditions of Northern Spain.
