Importing Spain
For centuries, Spanish winemakers have being creating some
of the world’s most popular wines.
Their ways have been passed down through generations and despite
modernization, winemakers continue to respect the wisdom of the old ways-and the
flavors that go with them.
Spain has more land under
vine than any other nation in the
world, yet the culture of making wine remains in the hands of many small
producers who continue family traditions of bottling everything from table wine
to premium wine.
There are over
70 officially recognized and geographically defined wine regions in Spain each
producing their own distinctive flavors according to Spanish wine importer,
Travis Vernon. “The wines from the
different regions are almost like tasting from a different country, it's really worth discovering for yourself”
Vernon says.
Outside of the major cities, small towns such as Alella near
Barcelona and the Ribera Del Duero region north of Madrid, offer visitors a
chance to experience Old World Spanish culture and taste some of the country’s
gorgeous red, white, and rose wines.
As
importers of boutique wines from across Spain, Vernon and his wife, Carolyn
have been granted a behind the scenes view of Spain's wine culture and they're
eager to share the experience.
"Wine tourism in Spain is an incredibly rich experience"
describes Vernon. "Spain offers the
traveler a confluence of culture, gastronomy, history, and of course, some of
the world's most exciting wines and picturesque landscapes."
Here are
five smaller production wineries to explore and taste:
·
Alella
Vinicola 15 kilometers north of Barcelona, this family run winery boasts some of Spain's best sparkling wines in a
breathtaking Mediterranean setting
·
Bodegas
Reinade Castilla in the province of Castilla y Leon the winery is
surrounded by small medieval
villages and produces refreshingly
crisp white wines
·
Cellar
los Trovadores makes premium wine from mountainside vineyards with up to120 year old vines, crafting some of
Spain's most elegant reds
·
Lui &
William is a family owned winery in the heart of Toro. Known for handcrafted, ancestral winemaking, their Fighting Bulls Tempranillois artisan
wine at its very best
·
Bodegas
Pascualwill take you underground,
literally. The winery still uses its original family cellar which was carved
into the earth to naturally store wine at ideal temperatures.
