The most UNDERRATED Wine Category?!
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Spanish White Wines – Completely Underrated?
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I use this wine key: Forge de Laguiole Ebony
I have used the following glass in this video: Spiegelau Definition Universal Glass
I have tasted the following wines in this Video:
2023 Bodegas Guimaro – Pedro Rodriguez Perez Cepas Viejas, Ribeira Sacra, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/bodegas+guimaro+-+pedro+rodriguez+perez+cepas+viejas+ribeira+sacra+spain/2023?referring_site=KSB
2021 Bodegas Emilio Moro ‘La Revelia’ Godello, Bierzo, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/emilio+moro+la+revelia+godello+bierzo+castilla+y+leon+spain/2021?referring_site=KSB
2020 Forjas del Salnes – Rodrigo Mendez a Cruceira Albarino, Rias Baixas, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/2020+forjas+del+salnes+-+rodrigo+mendez+a+cruceira+albarino+rias+baixas+spain/2020?referring_site=KSB
2022 Bodegas Rafael Palacios ‘As Sortes Val do Bibei’ Godello, Valdeorras, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/raphael+palacio+as+sortes+val+bibei+godello+valdeorras+galicia+spain/2022?referring_site=KSB
2022 Bodegas Mengoba Cruz Dona Blanca, Bierzo, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/bodegas+mengoba+cruz+dona+blanca/2022?referring_site=KSB
2023 Suertes del Marques Vidonia, Valle de la Orotava, Spain
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/suerte+marquis+vidonia+valley+de+la+orotava+canary+island+spain/2023?referring_site=KSB
The 100 Point Scoring System (from www.robertparker.com):
96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume.
90 – 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.
80 – 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws.
70 – 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine.
60 – 69: A below-average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor or possibly dirty aromas or flavors.
50 – 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable.
It may be one of the most exciting categories in the world of wine, but it does not get enough attention. Spanish whites are fascinating and have blown my mind a few times recently. In addition to their potential quality, they tend to be affordable and very diverse in style, so there is a lot to discover.
I did dive deeper into white Riojas last year, but there is more to Spain’s White wine scene. Spain is the third biggest wine-producing country in the world, only behind Italy and France. While it is best known for producing rich red wines, particularly from Rioja and Ribera del Duero it might come as a surprise to you that Espana produces more white wine.
In 2021, Spain produced 14.4 mhl of red and 17.4 mhl of white wine, making Spain more of a white wine country. I find it truly amazing how diverse the whites from Spain can be – from fresh and fruit-driven wines to rich and oaky ones.
You might think Spain is too hot to produce lively whites, but that is only partially true. Spain is in the South of Europe, and you can see Africa from its southernmost tip. Its climatic conditions, however, are diverse, and it is possible to produce a wide range of styles.
Much of Spain is covered by a plateau, the Meseta Central, that allows producers to plant cool vineyards at higher elevations. Additionally, the north-west coast, from Galicia to the Pyrenees, is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, and it is therefore rainy and relatively cold.
The areas at high elevations and the ones influenced by the Atlantic can produce lean and vibrant wines. Maybe not what people expect out of Spain. So let’s dive into the lineup to taste interesting wines.