July 2024
Spanish Summer
This month it’s all about refreshing, summery wines from sun-drenched Spain. The selections stretch across the entirety of the country, from the Basque Country in the far north all the way down to the Sierras de Málaga, near the Straits of Gibraltar.
What brings these wines together? All four of them are uniquely, deliciously Spanish. Txakolina,a wine style once left for dead, has seen a dramatic comeback in its Basque homeland. Rueda is the ancient home of Verdejo, and the ‘Lirondo’ expression is a fiery representation of what the grape can do. Farther south, near Gibraltar, Molina Real is reviving fine wine in an area long forgotten and given over to cheap sweet wines. And finally, in Valencia, the ‘Zillamina’ red is a spicy contrast to the Monastrell (Mourvedre) of Southern France.
Since it’s summer, I’m sure you all would rather be outside drinking these wines instead of me going on about how much I love Spanish wine, so let’s cut to the chase…
Salud!
Or, in Basque Country, Topa!
Uriondo ‘Bizkaiko Txakolina’
Basque Country
The Grapes
100% Hondarrabi Zuri - Organic
Producer Profile
Uriondo is the oldest winery in the region of Bizkaiko, outside of Bilbao, where winemaker Roberto Ibarretxe led the revival of Txakolina wine, a once-lost artform in Basque Country. Uriondo farms a single, 2.5 hectare vineyard and makes one single cuvee, this classic Bizkaiko Txakolina.
Tasting Notes
Excellent in its simplicity. Lightly aromatic, distinctly citrus-driven on the nose. Meyer lemon and tart lime on the palate with plenty of acid and minerality to keep you coming back for more.
Pairing Suggestions
Oysters, mussels, or really anything from the sea. Our lemon pepper smoked oysters from Ekone, in Washington are a perfect fit!
Cantalapiedra Viticultores ‘Lirondo’
Rueda
The Grapes
100% Verdejo - Natural and Organic
Producer Profile
Manuel Cantalapiedra is a third-generation winemaker in Rueda, where he works distinctly against the grain of traditional winemaking in the area. All of his vineyards are organic and biodynamically farmed and he uses minimal intervention in the making of his wines. Wild yeast, no filtration, and no sulfur throughout the winemaking process. This Verdejo showcases the wilder side of a classic Spanish grape.
Tasting Notes
Lemon, both juice and zest, with some white peppery aromas on the nose. Tart apple, honeycomb, oregano and more lemon zest on the palate. Body is textured and rich from extended lees-contact during aging. Higher acid, zesty finish.
Pairing Suggestions
Thai coconut curry will go wonderfully here. Otherwise look towards other southeast Asian cuisines that provide some spice.
Molino Real ‘Mountain Blanco’
Sierras de Málaga
The Grapes
100% Muscat de Alexandria - Organic
Producer Profile
Molino Real was founded in the early 90’s by two winemakers looking to revive fine wine in a forgotten part of Spain: the far southern interior. Without direct access to a port, wines from the mountainous Malaga region had dwindled into nonexistence internationally. Molino Real has since cultivated ~10ha of Muscat de Alexandria vines on intensely steep vineyards from which they make a couple of traditional sweet wines and this, an exceptional dry white, something very rarely seen from this region.
Tasting Notes
Intense aromatics immediately jump out of the glass. Jasmine, lily, and ripe peaches. On the palate the aromatics are still there, guided by distinct minerality and perfectly balanced acid. More peaches with some citrus mixed in. The finish is complex and lasts quite a while for a white wine.
Pairing Suggestions
Grilled chicken rubbed with mediterranean spices and harissa broccoli.
Bodegas Pinoso ‘Zillamina Red’
Alicante, Valencia
The Grapes
100% Monastrell - Organic, Chillable Red!
Producer Profile
Founded in 1932, Bodegas Pinoso, who makes this house red for importer Jenny & Francois, is one of the largest fully organic and vegan coop producers in Spain. All of their fruit is sourced from high-elevation vineyards that see decent influence from the nearby Mediterranean, leading to vibrantly profiled wines.
Tasting Notes
Light and fruit-forward for Monastrell, lots of cherry, strawberry, and blackberry on the nose. Similar fruit on the palate with a pleasant spiciness and some dry herbaceousness. Moderate acidity and tannin with a nice cherry finish.
Pairing Suggestions
Perfect on its own, but we would pair with a berry and soft-cheese (definitely goat) based charcuterie spread.