by Decanter.com

Latest trends in Spanish fine wine

Latest trends in Spanish fine wine

In partnership with ARAEX Grands

Perfectly suited to the climate and growing conditions of Spain’s high plateau, the Monastrell grape is revered by Jumilla’s winemakers – and a new generation is pioneering the evolution of expressive modern styles

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW,

A few decades ago, Spain was an easy country for wine geeks to study. Two regions, Sherry and Rioja, whose wines had clearly defined taste profiles, one dominant red grape variety, Tempranillo, and a sea of cheap stuff.

There were some emerging regions, built upon Tempranillo, eventually Garnacha, but Spain’s future used to depend on the adoption of modern viticulture and French varieties. Nowadays, Spain is much more complicated.

Tempranillo grapes in Dominio de Cair. Credit: Araex

Traditional styles are reinventing

First, there is not a clear definition of Rioja or Sherry.

Both are in a process of diversification and re-creation, resulting in dozens of different styles, often with amazing quality.

Then, the emerging red wine regions of the past, such as Toro, Ribera del Duero or Priorat, are now classic wine countries, and a high number of new fine wine regions appeared: Bierzo, Alicante, Utiel-Requena, Penedès, Gredos, Jumilla, Aragón, Canary and Balearic Islands, Arribes, Galicia, Empordà.