Wines from Spain speaks with Jordi Paronella, Head Sommelier of José Andrés’s Jaleo Restaurant, about changes in the hospitality industry, exciting new developments in Spanish wine, and the perfect pairing for paella.

Enter Txakoli (CHOCK-oh-lee), one of the country’s inimitably Spanish wines. Almost always made from native grapes Hondarrabi Zuri (white) and Hondarrabi Beltza (red), this vibrant, low alcohol, and often slightly sparkling wine is both the ideal aperitif and quintessential all-day sipper.

The last ten years have seen an explosion of new Spanish vermouths as younger generations rediscover “the vermouth hour” - the pre-lunch period when families in cities like Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia would meet for an aperitif.

As we cautiously ease out of our Covid-19 isolation, we find ourselves looking for ways to safely reconnect outdoors with those around us, enjoying the summer even as we adapt, together, to a new normal.

Located in Spain’s warm, sunny southeast, Alicante DO, founded in 1957, is home to one of the country’s most distinctive red grapes, Monastrell.