Taste the Winners from the Wines From Spain Awards 2022
When we hear the words Spanish wine, what do we immediately think of? Rioja? Certainly. Cava? Probably. Anything else? If not, then read on to discover a world of vinous diversity in terms of style, region and price points that will blow your mind.
The Wines from Spain Awards has been running for eight years now and exists to celebrate true excellence in Spanish winemaking and shine a light on the most exciting wines produced in the country today across all styles and categories. From the classic gems to bold, modern finds and each showcasing Spain’s unique heritage and personality, this winner’s list really does offer something for everyone and for every occasion.
How do the Wines From Spain Awards work?
Chaired by the inimitable Tim Atkin MW, a team of fourteen professional judges picked out 100 wines before awarding 16 ‘Champions’ in categories ‘Best in Show’, ‘Best Red over £10’, ‘Best Cava’, ‘Best Discovery’, ‘Best Rosado’ and ‘Best Premium White and Red over £20’. Tim said:
“Spain is the most exciting country, certainly in Europe, and possibly in the world, right now. If you are prepared to pay a little bit more, it gets you extraordinary value for money. It is so diverse and exciting. There is a lot happening, not just in the traditional places like Rioja, Navarra, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Sherry, but also elsewhere. Look under the surface of Spain and you will find lots of wonderful, gleaming jewels.”
Our Top Three Winning Spanish Wines to Try:
Sparkling: Cava
Cava is a sparkling wine made in the same time consuming, ‘traditional method’ as Champagne but it hails from much larger production areas around the North of Spain and is usually made with a blend of local, Spanish grape varieties: Parellada, Macabeo and Xarel-lo. It’s much closer in style to Champagne than Prosecco with its more savoury brioche and umami notes that come from lees ageing and time, though the price point is often much lower than the famous French fizz because there’s more of it. Cava is a much more democratic drink in Spain (and elsewhere) just like Prosecco is in Italy. The perfect aperitif on any day of the week and in Cava’s case, the most versatile food wine you can get and it sings with cold cuts, nuts and hard cheeses.
Try: Mas Macià Cava
This is a delightful Cava, authentic and fresh with notes of crunchy apple and pineapple with moreish, chalky notes on the finish. A good, savoury fizz that’s perfect with tapas.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Price: £12 - £12.50
Find it at: AllAboutWine and NobleGreenWines.
White, still wine: Garnacha Blanca (White Grenache)
White Garnacha, aka Grenache, to give it its more usual French name, is a grape that has been on the rise in Spain recently and does fantastically well. This is probably due to the popularity of red Grenache (Grenache Noir), even though it’s technically a different grape that behaves very differently. We are seeing a revival of Garnacha Blanca in the regions of Priorat, Aragón and Montsant but it is also increasingly common in Rioja blends as well as in top end, single-varietal wines. It’s storming it in Navarra too at the moment, with acreage growing from 2.5 to 123H in fifteen years. It is no longer a minor grape variety so if you like rich and weighty white wines, seek out a Garnacha Blanca. Try this grape with rich and creamy poultry or rice dishes.
Try: Perelada Només Garnatxa Blanca 2021
(Best White over £10)
Hailing from the region of Empordà in Spain, this is 100% white Grenache and a great example of it at that. Think weighty, fleshy and creamy white wine with notes of melon, vanilla, baked apple and white chocolate. Great with food like hard cheese, nutes and poultry.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 13%
Price: £10.45 -12.45
Find it at: Vinnissimus, AMPS and Lekker Wines.
White, Still Wine: Godello
Godello is a Spanish white wine grape that has been finding favour over recent years as a great alternative to Sauvignon, Soave, Gavi and the usual suspects. It’s most popular in Galicia where Albariño is king, but can be found in other Spanish regions as well as across the world where it is also known as Gouveio (Portugal) and Agudelo (France). It’s a grape whose style will change based on terroir and winemaking techniques but very generally, is often zesty, refreshing, saline and textured with notes of grapefruit and lime and a hint of smokiness.
Try: Godello Pepa Porter, Adegas Terrae 2021
Hailing from the lesser known, dry and granite-rich D.O. Monterrei, which is located in the southeast corner of the province of Ourense in Galicia, this wine made the top 100 list and is cracking value. Think savoury stone fruit and a slick of salty licorice and lime. Delicious.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5%
Price: £12-13
Find it at: Vinissimus & VinoDirect.com.
Red, still wine: Priorat
Priorat is a Spanish wine region loved by oenophiles but not quite yet on every consumer’s lips in the way that Rioja is or Ribera del Duero even might be. Priorat is located in the province of Tarragona to the southwest of Catalonia and is home mostly to some powerful red wines with a distinctive texture and figgy flavour profile thanks in part to special black slate, quartz soils there known as llicorella, which always makes us think of licorice. Red Priorats are usually heavy on the red Garnacha and Cariñena but can also use Garnacha Peluda, Tempranillo, Picapoll Negre, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah so they can feel quite international in style. The main white grapes used are Garnacha Blanca, Macabeo, Pedro Ximénez and Chenin Blanc but the Moscatels, Blanquilla, Picapoll Blanc and Viognier are permitted. Try the powerful, Priot reds like the one below with meat stews, barbecues and grilled vegetables.
Try: +7 Priorat, Bodegas Pinord, 2019
Concentrated and silky with luscious notes of chocolate, figs, baking spice, licorice and bramble fruit. Big and brooding. A food wine that needs air but is super special.
Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Price: £28.99 -£33.99
Find it at: StrictlyWine and Winebuyers.com
Wines from Spain: The Champion Wines
Here is a list of the champion wines that were singled out by the competition judges as the best in their category or the best in show generally. You can find a catalogue detailing all the 100 wines that made the cut however, here.
White Champions:
Best Cava: Bodegas Pinord Cava +&+ NV, RRP £13.99
Best Premium Sparkling: Gramona Argent Brut Nature Rose 2017, RRP £57
Best White Over £10: Perelada Només Garnatxa Blanca 2021, RRP £12.45
Best Premium White: Rioja Vega Tempranillo Blanco Reserva 2019, RRP £49.99
Best White Discovery: Soto Manrique La Viña de Ayer Albillo Real 2018, RRP £13.00
Best Premium Discovery: Estones PX 2019, RRP £26.00
Best White of Show: Familia Torres Forcada 2018, RRP £37.99
Rosado Champion:
Best Rosado: Bodegas Gordonzello Gurdos 2021, RRP £10.00
Red Champions:
Best Red Under £10: Bodega Casas de Moya Gloria 2020, RRP £9.50
Best Red Discovery: Bodega Binigrau Bi-Negre 2017, RRP £15
Best Red Over £10: Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro Laderas del Norte 2020, RRP £18.77
Best Premium Red: Conde Valdemar Balcón de Pilatos 2019, RRP £25.75
Best Sweet Wine: Bodegas Monovar Fondillón 1996, RRP £66.50
Best Dry Fortified: Fernando de Castilla Antique Oloroso NV, RRP: £34
Best Sweet Fortified: Fernando de Castilla Classic Pedro Ximénez NV, RRP £22
Best White of Show: Familia Torres Forcada 2018, RRP £37.99
Best Red of Show: Conde Valdemar Balcón de Pilatos 2019, RRP £25.75
See what Helena tasted this week with Mike Graham on talkTV here!