WFS ANNUAL TASTING 2022 - UK

June 01 2022 - June 30 2022

Jun 09 2022

New Era Spain

Ahead of her masterclass in Glasgow on 20 June, Master of Wine and The Scotsman’s wine columnist Rose Murray Brown reflects on some of the recent developments that make Spain one of the most exciting wine-producing countries in the world

A new era is dawning in Spain with diverse and exciting new wine styles being crafted by an ambitious generation of winemakers.

Many of these winemakers are passionate about nurturing Spain’s indigenous grapes – either grapes which have been long established but overlooked - or grapes which had almost gone out of existence and are now being revived. Winegrowers are also exploring the potential of little-known regions neglected in the past - from northwest Ribeira Sacra and Ribeiro, east coast Empordà and Terra Alta down to Utiel Requena, Manchuela, Yecla and Jumilla and across to central Cebreros in the Sierra de Gredos.

One native white grape enjoying a renaissance is Palomino. New laws now allow Andalucia’s winemakers to make unfortified wines in Jerez, which have great purity and freshness akin to today’s desire for lighter styles of wine. Other white grapes enjoying an exciting revival in their native regions include Albillo Real, Garnacha Blanca, Godello, Doña Blanca and Caiño Blanco.

After years playing second fiddle to Tempranillo, Garnacha is now coming into its own from Calatayud and Cariñena regions in its homeland of Aragon and neighbouring Navarra, across to the high-altitude vineyards of Gredos. In the northwest, the Mencía grape is proving a star grape in Bierzo. Inland from Valencia there is renewed interest in local Bobal and down in Jumilla and Yecla, Monastrell is now being revered once again. Lookout also for a host of unusual red grapes which are just starting to make their mark from Prieto Picudo in León, Caiño Tinto in Galicia, Bruñal in Arribes, Trepat in Catalonia to Mallorca’s Manto Negro.