The Best Value Wines from Spain
The best wines from Spain at the Wine Access 2012 International Value Wine Awards
Spain is in the midst of renewal, and a corresponding resurgence of popularity among knowledgeable consumers and sommeliers. Yet it is hard to define what Spanish wine actually is, other than being from Spain. As evident in our list of winners, there are many styles, from fortified sherry to sparkling cava to rosada. But Spain’s red wines really carry the ball, most made either from tempranillo, garnacha, monastrell or a combination thereof. And small, formerly unknown appellations such as Calatayud, Carenina, Toro, Montsant and Ribera del Duero in north-central Spain are leading the way. (David Lawrason)
Spa Time
Relax during your European vacation by visiting one of these four spas in the heart of wine country
Five Great Wine Routes to Explore
Drink in centuries of tradition on a European wine trip
Escape the crowds of Tuscany and head to the hills of nearby Umbria instead. This wild, mountainous region of Italy isn’t as famous as, say, Chianti, but that just makes discovering its bright, food-friendly wines that much more exciting. Umbria has long been known for Orvieto, a crisp, dry, white blend produced around the medieval village of the same name. But it is also becoming celebrated for elegant reds based on sangiovese, such as Torgiano Rosso, which pairs beautifully with the area’s hearty, game-based cuisine. Be sure to visit the village of Norcia, which is as famous for its pork salume and black truffles as it is for being St. Benedict’s birthplace.
Long-time Spanish Enologist Named Valencia's Best
Luis Garcia Severino has spent more than 30 years at Vincente Gandia Winery
Luis Garcia Severino, head enologist for the Vincente Gandia Winery, was recently named Valencia's best winemaker of 2011. The vote was made unanimously by the Valencian Association of Enologists.
The 2012 Hot List: 10 Top Wine Regions
Your essential guide to 10 of the world's top wine-producing countries
Illustration by Michael Newhouse
The Best Value Wines from Spain
The best wines from Spain at the Wine Access 2011 International Value Wine Awards
Already well-established in the United States as a leader in value, Spain’s moment in the Canadian spotlight cannot be far off. There’s an increasingly broad palette of intriguing varieties and wine styles; tellingly, the country’s most-planted and best-known grape, tempranillo, doesn’t figure in this year’s top picks. It was, instead, the rich, warm, generous wines from old garnacha vineyards just south of the Pyrenees, and the full, structured, ultra-ripe monastrells of the Levante that earned the judges’ affections as top-value reds. The inclusion of sparkling Cava among the country’s best is no surprise, but what remains perplexing to all, especially to the people who market it, is the relative unpopularity of sherry. Despite repeatedly earning the judges’ highest admiration, sales remain modest. Try one tonight, dry or sweet, and you cannot help but be impressed by the extraordinary depth and complexity for your money, as we were. (John Szabo)
My Favourite Wine: Rebecca Marshall
This "Saw 3D" and "Party Down" actress enjoys pinot noir and Spanish white wines
Rebecca Marshall was born and raised in Toronto and knew that she wanted to be an actress from a young age. Marshall got her start in musicals and music videos, and has appeared in "Saw 3D," "The West Wing," "Big Shots," "CSI: Miami" and "Party Down."
Touring Parés Baltà
Tom Firth visits the vineyards and tastes the wines of this Spanish wine producer
After visiting Luxembourg to judge at the Concours Mondial, I headed to Barcelona for a few days with my brother, who is currently studying in Brussels, Belgium.
