Great Wine Source Wine Blog

Basic information about wine, wine education and wine business discussions

Posts Tagged spain

Wine of the Day – Mourvedre

Feb 1

Posted by greatWineSource in California, France, Reds, Spain, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for February 1, 2010

Mourvedre

Can you believe it’s February already?! A month down, 11 to go. :) Hope I can find 334 more topics to write about. Please send me ideas. I’m open to hearing from you about what you’d like to see.

Origin

Mourvedre actually originated in Spain, where it is known as Monastrell, and had been a component of Châteauneuf-du-Pape until Grenache overtook it, and is only surpassed in acreage in Spain by Grenache. It is also cultivated in France, Australia and California.

Mourvedre grape

Style

This black grape can be found as a single varietal, but is widely blended with Syrah, Carigñan and Tempranillo to produce wines that have aging potential as well as to improved tannin and color.

Characteristics

Wines made from Mourvedre have beautiful intense garnet color, deep red fruit flavors, with aromas of game and leather. This grape makes it challenging to select any distinct characteristics, but when young in highly tannic and alcoholic, so decant, decant, decant your young Mourvedre.

Pairing

Mourvèdre-based wines pair well with grilled and roasted meats, root vegetables, mushrooms and dark fowl such as duck. It is a great wine for a winter meal of chicken and dumplings.

Stop by

If you are out and about this week, stop by Associated Bank on Richmond Street in Appleton, and check out my display (it’s a small display). Let me know what you think.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Parellada

Jan 28

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 28, 2010

Parellada

Origin

Grown in the Catalonia region of Spain, this white grape is one of three traditional varieties used to make Cava. This grape has limited growth potential and grows better in poor soil.

Parellada grape

Style

Parellada produces very small, tight-bunched grapes of good structure and aroma, however, because it is not a wine that will age well, it is more frequently used in blends, as mentioned above to produce Cava, but also blended with heartier grapes Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to produce wines that will withstand a bit of cellaring.

Characteristics

As a still wine, you will notice an abundance of acidity and floral aromas. It is considered a main grape in the following DOs: Conca de Barberá, Costers del Segre, Penedés, and Tarragona. You can read the Cava blog for a bit more information on how it changes that sparkler.

Pairings

Pair the still wines with lighter fare such as salmon and light salads.

This wine is also known in Catalonia as Montonec meaning “grape of the mountain”.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Verdejo

Jan 27

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 27, 2010

Verdejo

Verdejo grape

Origin

Verdejo is a native grape of Rueda in Northwest Spain and is debated to have originated in North Africa and spread to Rueda in the 11th century. This grape was relatively unknown for hundreds of years until it resurfaced and became more respected around 1970.

Style

This white grape has historically been used to make a dry Sherry wine, but in the 1980s, this wine was given the DO classification (Designation of Origin). Therefore, wines classified as Rueda must contain at least 50% Verdejo, and wines classified as Rueda Verdejo must contain at least 85% Verdejo.

Characteristics

Verdejo produces a wine that is soft, aromatic and full-bodied, reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc. You will enjoy a crispness to this wine with hints of nuts and honey. It is considered very high quality and one of the best white varieties in Spain.

Pairing

This high quality and food friendly wine will pair well with grilled salmon, seared scallops, lemon chicken or a fresh summer salad.

Interesting little fact about this wine … it is generally harvested at night. This wine can oxidize easily and so harvesting at night means the grapes enter the cellar at a lower temperature and lower temperatures mean less oxidation or browning of the juice.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Viura

Jan 25

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 25, 2010

Viura

Viura grape

Origin

This grape grows well in hot climates, and because of that is believed to have originated in the Middle East. However, since others also believe it originated in Aragon, Spain, it is included in Spanish week.

Style

This white grape prefers to be grown in dry, warm climates (hmm, I wonder if it would do well in Arizona), and in southern France is often made into a fortified wine (similar to Port). Viura itself as a wine should be drunk young.

Characteristics

Viura produces a light, dry and easy wine with floral bouquet and light straw color. Isn’t this image of the grape amazing? It is a beautiful picture all on its own!

Pairing

Whether you find a Viura varietal or a blend of white Rioja, enjoy this
Wine with yogurt, garlic dip, tapas and grilled fish.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Wine of the Day – Albariño

Jan 24

Posted by greatWineSource in Spain, Whites, Wine of the Day | Comments off

Wine of the Day for January 24, 2010

Albariño

Starting out in a new week of grapes, I think I’ll focus on the Spanish originating grapes. Why? No special reason, other than I can live vicariously through my blogs since I haven’t had the opportunity to travel to these regions myself … yet!

Albarino

Origin

Albariño is called “wine of the sea” because it originates in northwest Spain in the Rías Baixas region, along the Atlantic coast of Spain. It is also grown extensively in the Monção region in northwest Portugal.

Style

Albariño is a white wine grape that thrives in the cool climate of the northern region of Spain and Portugal. This small green grape is thought to be related to Riesling.

Unlike many other European wines which are labeled after the region in which they are grown, Albariño is labeled as the grape (e.g. tempranillo grape creates Rioja wine and is labeled in Europe as Rioja).

Characteristics

This grape produces a golden color wine, with aromas of peach, apricot, and honeysuckle similar to Viognier and Gewürztraminer, along with strong floral notes and a crisp acidity.

Pairing

Enjoy this wine with fried chicken, seafood pastas (lighter sauces) and tilapia.

Bunco party

As I mentioned in the post yesterday, I had a Bunco game at my house last night: lots of food (yummy sushi from Koreanas in Appleton), beverages and of course, we did play Bunco. I opened a Pinot Grigio, Muscat and Cabernet Sauvignon instead of the Misti Bianco, so I’ll have to let you know at a later date (after 1/28) more about the Misti Bianco.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to play Bunco, find a game. It is great fun and gives you a chance to win a little money too!

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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