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Viva Espana! Try a glass of Spanish White Wine this Summer!29th May 2013
Without doubt Spain is famous for its celebrated red wines but did you know how many wonderful white wines are also available? There are hundreds of grape varieties of grape grown in Spain but some of the most popular and well known native white varieties are; Airen, Albarino, Garnacha Blanca, Godello, Macabeo, Palomino, Parellada, Verdejo, Viura & Xarel-lo. Foreign white grape varieties grown in Spain include; Chardonnay, Malvasia & Sauvignon Blanc but we think it's great to get to know some native Spanish grapes for a change, below we take a look at three white Spanish grape varieties that are becoming ever more popular in today's market. The white Verdejo grape has been cultivated in the Rueda DO wine region, north east of Madrid for centuries. However it was only in the 1970's that Verdejo really began to shine when the Marques de Riscal winery teamed up with French Oenologist Emile Peynaud to create a fresher, fruitier style of wine similar to Sauvignon Blanc to be named as Rueda (Typically a blend of 50% Verdejo with either Sauvignon Blanc or Macabeo). The El Tesoro Verdejo offers an abundance of juicy ripe tropical fruit notes such as passion fruit & guava combined with mouth-watering tangy gooseberry & citrus aromas & flavours underscored by hints of grass & fresh herbs. Fantastic when it comes to food and wine matching with grilled fish & seafood, salads with citrus based vinaigrettes, vegetable risottos or light cheese based dishes. Verdejo was a well-kept secret under the name of Rueda until recently but now as a varietal in its own right that displays both class & crowd pleasing capabilities, often at an outstanding price point, Verdejo is really starting to explode onto the wine scene!
Another contender for rising white wine star of Spain & proclaimed by some as potentially the greatest white wine of Spain is Godello. Once again a grape variety grown in the Spanish DO of Rias Baixas within the region of Galicia, Godello is a hugely versatile grape that has been likened to a wine that posseses the sumptuous fruit flavours of Chardonnay, the refined steely minerality of Chablis and the crisp tangy snap of Sauvignon Blanc! As with Chardonnay the wine produced from Godello is hugely influenced by the terroir & the style of the producer. The Pazo de Rey Godello is a fantastically fresh example; totally un-oaked with a bouquet of pear, apricot, grapefruit & lemon. Sliced golden apple, grapefruit & pear flavours develop on the refreshing clean palate while notes of honey & spice linger in the finish. A seriously sophisticated wine that pairs wonderfully with foods such as fish, seafood, chicken, charcuterie & vegetable dishes. So if you feel like a change from the usual equally delicious suspects; Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc, we hope now you feel inspired to try something new from Spain this summer, even better you can buy wine online from T. Wrignt Wine & come rain or shine they won't disappoint! Salud! |
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Let the wines of 
One Spanish white wine that has been taking the industry and consumers by storm over the past few years is Albarino. Principally grown in the DO wine region of Rias Baixas in Galicia in the north west of Spain, Albarino produces a beautiful aromatic wine that balances clean, pure orchard & citrus fruit flavours, notably peach & apricot with a lean minerality & soft rounded texture, it's elegance & complexity make it a perfect aperitif choice with or without food . Our {Benito Santos Igrexario de Saiar Albarino} maybe a bit of a mouthful! but it is quite simply a stunning wine & an excellent wine pairing for fish & seafood dishes, summer salads, white meats, medium flavoured cheeses, all manner of vegetable dishes including risotto & white sauce based pasta dishes, also a great match for Asian, Thai cuisine & sushi.
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