Spain Wine Regions Feature

About Spanish Wine

Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula in southern Europe, and with its Mediterranean climate and abundant sunshine, it is an area well suited to grape cultivation. It has the largest area of ​​grape cultivation in the world, and is the third largest wine producing country after Italy and France, making it one of the world's leading wine producing countries.

In addition to the red wines of Rioja and Cava from Catalonia, Jerez (Sherry) from Andalusia is also famous. In some regions, the temperature can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the summer due to the scorching sun, and the culture of taking a siesta (afternoon nap) was born to escape the heat.

Please try Spanish wine, which is packed with the blessings of the sun.

Spanish wine highlights

1. An environment suitable for grape cultivation

Spain has a Mediterranean climate in the east and south, and a continental climate in the central plateau, with plenty of sunshine and large temperature differences, making it an ideal climate for growing grapes.

2. Barrel-aged red wine

Spanish wine is known for its deep red wine blessed by the sun, and is called by different names depending on the length of time it is aged in barrels.

3. Cava made using the Champagne method

The sparkling wine "Cava," which is made in the same bottle using the same method as Champagne, is also famous, especially in Catalonia.

4. Advanced winemaking that makes the most of local varieties

In the past, Spanish wine was associated with cheap table wine or industrial bulk wine, except in high-end wine-producing regions such as Rioja. However, in recent years, attention has been focused on progressive producers who use local varieties to create high-quality wines.

1. Spain's wine regions

Grapes are grown throughout almost the entire country of Spain, and wines rich in fruit flavors are produced from the concentrated grapes that grow there under the sun.

MAVI Spanish Wine Producer Regions and Features

Andalusia

Andalusia is located in the southernmost part of Spain and is home to world heritage sites such as the historic district of Cordoba and the Cathedral of Seville. It is also the birthplace of flamenco and bullfighting, and is a historic region that is popular as a tourist destination. Throughout history, it has been influenced by Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and this diversity is reflected in its architecture, such as the Mezquita in Cordoba, and its food culture.

Sherry, one of the world's three major fortified wines, is also produced in Andalusia and its surrounding areas.

In the region of Montilla in the province of Cordoba in Andalusia, grapes with a higher sugar content are grown than in Jerez, the main sherry producing region, so sherry-type wines are sometimes made without fortification. Nevado, the producer of Mavi, is one such example. Dry sherry-type wines such as Parido and Dorado, which do not contain added alcohol, are great as an aperitif, and also go great with bar snacks. In addition, olive oil carefully extracted using a low-speed centrifuge method is a powerful and aromatic masterpiece. It is used not only on the region's standard breakfast dish, pan con tomate, but also on cheese and prosciutto, and is used in a wide variety of situations, such as on fried and stir-fried dishes.

Catalonia

Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, ​​home to world heritage sites such as the Sagrada Família, has been a major wine-producing region that has led the way in Spanish wine since Roman times. Approximately 70% of the grapes produced are white grapes, and the region is famous for its sparkling wine called Cava.

Located about an hour's drive from Barcelona, ​​the Bartra family is working on winemaking using the Malvasia de Siges grape variety, which has become a rare variety in the region. The wine is so valuable that it has received the Presidio (known as the "Ark of Taste" in Japan) award from the Slow Food Association. It is a wine with a strong presence comparable to Grand Vin. In addition, you can enjoy wines that make you feel the grapes bathed in the dazzling Spanish sun, such as the fresh yet robust Penedès white and the concentrated Penedès red.

The Vives family, who make their Cava on the Mandeo plateau, the highest point in the Penedès region, aspire to make their own Cava that brings out the best in the grape varieties from the land they live in, rather than the industrial, uniform mass-produced Cava. To achieve this, they try to minimize human intervention and add nothing extraneous, while respecting the balance of nature and striving to express the original taste that the wine itself desires.

Valencian Community

The Valencian Region is a region that produces a lot of grapes, rice, oranges, etc. The old town with its cathedral and other buildings is contrasted with the futuristic areas such as the City of Arts.

Winemaking is also characterized by a mix of old and new. In the past, the region was known for its industrially blended bulk wines and cheap table wines, and was not well known as a wine-producing region. However, in recent years, more and more producers have been focusing on local varieties and incorporating modern brewing techniques to produce high-quality wines.

The Cotino family, who make wine inland from Valencia, are one such family. They are not only making easy-to-drink everyday wines, but also premium wines made from grapes from vines over 60 years old, and wines made from local varieties such as Bobal.


2. Barrel-aged red wine

Spain, which enjoys abundant sunshine, is a country that is known for producing rich red wines made from concentrated grapes.

Spanish wines are classified into different grades according to the degree of aging.

• Joven: Meaning "young" in Spanish, this is a fruity type of wine that is not aged in barrels.
• Roble: Meaning "oak" in Spanish, this type of wine is aged in barrels for 3 to 5 months.

• Crianza means "to mature" in Spanish, and the red wine is aged for 24 months, the white and rosé for at least 18 months. At least 6 months of the aging period is aged in barrels.

• Reserva…means “storage” in Spanish, and red wine is aged for 36 months or more, and white and rosé for 18 months or more. Of the aging period, red wine is aged for 12 months or more, and white and rosé for 6 months or more in barrels.

3. Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine

Spain is also famous for its sparkling wine "Cava," which is made using the same secondary fermentation process as Champagne.

The main production area is Penedès in Catalonia, but 159 municipalities in Aragon, the Basque Country, and the Valencian Community are also certified as Cava. The name Cava means cave, and comes from the caves where wine is aged.

Most Cavas are clean, dry, but there are also high-quality Cavas available, such as Cava made by the Vives family, which is like a work of art in which each bottle is decanted by hand, and Cavareserva, which is aged for a rich flavor, such as that made by the Cotino family.

4. High-quality wine made from local varieties

When it comes to Spanish wine, outside of high-end wine producing regions such as Rioja, the impression for many years has been that it is just cheap table wine or industrial bulk wine. However, in recent years, attention has been focused on progressive producers who make high-quality wines using local varieties.

In the Valencian Community, the appeal of Bobal, which was previously grown primarily as a blending variety, has been recognised, and high-quality wines are being produced one after another.

Mavi Spanish Wine Producers

Nevado family/Andalusia, Spain

Bodega Gomez Nevado

The Nevado family's fields and winery are located in Villaviciosa, a small village of about 3,700 people, about two hours by car from downtown Cordoba, home to historical heritage sites such as the Mosque and Alcazar. In the dry, warm climate, they have been making wine since 1870, and in 1988 they became the first family in Andalusia to receive organic certification. They grow and produce olives and wine, and also run a farm stay.

The most distinctive feature of Nevado's wines is that they are sherry-type wines made without any fortification. In the Sierra Morera region where the Nevado family grows, grapes with high sugar content grow, which results in high alcohol content during fermentation. Also, as moisture is removed during barrel aging, the final wine has a high alcohol content of 15 to 18 degrees.

The Bartra family/Catalonia, Spain

Vega de Ribes

This winery has been in business since 1540, and the current owner, Enric, is the 20th generation. The Domaine is surrounded by ruins from the Romans and Arabs. The Domaine was certified organic in 1981, just after organic certification began in Spain.

The vineyard, located near a natural park, values ​​biodiversity and is home to many different types of herbs, pine, olive and carob trees.

Enric is a hard worker who studied oenology at an American university as a government-sponsored student. He is also a member of the Slow Food Association and is involved in cultivating the extinct Malvasia Sigges grape variety, which is now used to produce high-quality wine.

The Vives family/Catalonia, Spain

Mas de la Bacelora

The Vives family lives in the northwestern corner of the wine-producing region of Penedès in Catalonia, Spain, in the mountains of the Mandeo plateau, the highest point in the region. This small village of just 100 people is home to 15 grape growers. Thirteen of these farms practice organic farming, but all but the Vives family sell grapes to major winemakers and do not make wine.

The Vives family has been making wine since 1869, but the grandfather of the current head of the family, Juan, renovated the winery and began making Cava in 1987. They began full-scale organic farming in 1997 and received organic certification in 2003.

At the Vives family, after receiving an order, we manually deglaze each bottle and ship it out. The reason is that we want people to enjoy fresh wine above all else. This Cava is truly a work of art, different from the mass-produced products of major manufacturers.

The Cotino Family/Barcelona, ​​Spain

Alain Leon / Montesanco

In the dry, sun-drenched land of Valencia, Paco and Maria Cotinho, a husband and wife team from a prestigious Valencian family, purchased a winery that had been in operation since 1927, and began making organic wine in 2003.

In addition to producing everyday wines that are easy to consume, we also produce high-quality wines using the local Bobal variety and old vines that are over 60 years old.

All wines have Braille labels and are vegan friendly as they do not use any animal-derived substances for fining.

Enjoy Spanish wine and gourmet food

In Spain it is said that people eat five meals a day.

In the morning, they have a light coffee and bread, then a snack around noon, and lunch is usually around 2pm, which is the most substantial meal of the day. In the evening, they have a light snack or snack at a bar around 7pm.

This is because Spain uses the same standard time as Germany and France to the east, and since Spain is located farther west, the sun sets later, so it is common to have dinner between 10 and 11pm.

Restaurants don't open until around 8pm. Even at midnight, you can see a lot of small children playing in the squares in front of the bars where adults are eating. This is hard to believe in Japan, but it's a very common sight in Spain.

Spain is blessed with bounty from the sea and the mountains, and there are many dishes that make use of the ingredients. In the mountain areas, there are many processed meat products such as prosciutto and chorizo ​​made from Iberian pigs that are raised on acorns, and recipes that use them.

Olive oil is also famous and is used in a variety of dishes. In Spain, it is common to pour olive oil directly onto ingredients and dishes, and it is often used as a seasoning on salads, cheese, prosciutto, etc.

Bar culture is also an essential part of Spanish food culture. At bars, the menu changes from morning to night, and light meals can be enjoyed all day (except for the lunch break). Popular bars are filled with people enjoying small plates of food called tapas while sipping sherry, beer, wine, etc. from the evening until late at night. This style of enjoying a light drink while eating tapas has even become the verb "tapao." People usually don't stop at one bar, but go around to several. It's a very stylish culture, where you pick up a signature dish, move quickly to the next bar, and enjoy chatting in a lively atmosphere.

Spanish Wine

Recommended popular wines

Breath Roble Red

・Product number: 71003
・Producer: Cotino Family (Valencia, Spain)

A brilliant ruby ​​color with a slight purple tint. The aroma of ripe fruit with a hint of cocoa. The concentrated fruit flavor lingers on for a pleasant finish.

Product Details

Food that goes well with it: Light pasta, pizza, simple sauteed chicken or pork, etc. Regular price: 2,365 yen (tax included)
Member price: 2,175 yen (tax included)
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Penedes White

・Product number: 48002
・Producer: Bartra family (Catalonia, Spain)

A subtle herbal aroma amongst the tropical fruits. The balance of acidity and fruitiness is excellent, and the taste is mellow.

Product Details

Food that goes well with it: Marinated octopus, chicken salad, seafood fritters, quiche, salted seafood, shrimp shumai, shrimp dumplings, vegetable tempura Regular price: 3,300 yen (tax included)
Member price: 3,036 yen (tax included)
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Solo Cava Brut Sparkling

・Product number: 71007
・Producer: Cotino Family (Valencia, Spain)

An excellent Cava that can be enjoyed in any situation, regardless of the food or situation. It has a refreshing taste that is easy on the body.

Product Details

Food pairing: As an aperitif, tapas, pinchos, etc. Regular price: 3,520 yen (tax included)
Member price: 3,238 yen (tax included)
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Parido Sherry Type

・Product number: 38004
・Producer: Nevado family (Andalusia, Spain)

A sherry type with no added alcohol. A light-colored, clean, dry wine perfect for an aperitif or light meal.

Product Details

Food that goes well with it: Tapas such as olives, seafood fritters, prosciutto, hard cheese, Japanese food Regular price: 4,290 yen (tax included)
Member price: 3,946 yen (tax included)
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• Fruity and fresh Breath White
• Moderately aged Bresse Roble Red
• Voluminous White Solo White
• Rich fruitiness and drinkability Solo Red
• Great with fish dishes Penedès White
• A rich red wine with a great satisfaction level: Penedès Red
• Gentle handmade bubbles Cava Brut Sparkling
• Matured Organic Oil Nevado Family Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500ml
• A sip of happiness before or after a meal Dorado Seco Sherry type
• Slightly sweet sherry type Avocado
• Penedès Malvasia White - comparable to Grand Vin
• Rich and elegant Mont Blanc red
• A complex and dense white wine: Mont Blanc
• Fresh White BIB Breath White 3L
• A medium-bodied, easy-to-drink red wine, BIB Bres Roble Red, 3L
• Red Sloe Mon Bobal goes well with grilled eel
• Moscatel, a white wine made with Muscat
• A rich-tasting Cava Mon Cava Brut Nature Reserva Sparkling