Among European wines Spanish production is increasing

When you think of European wines, Italy and France come to mind for a storied tradition of premium red wines and easy-to-drink whites, with Germany not far behind.
Lost in translation is the vast grape growing area of Spain.
A closer look at this terroir reveals a rich history of wine making with unique character. Spain is now an eye-popping third largest producer of wine, only behind France and Italy. Spain has more land dedicated to wines than any other country: 4.5 million acres! With those credentials, I would observe that his country’s wines have been grossly overlooked.

All the above is about to change as tremendous investments are being made nationwide to Spain’s wine industry in viticulture and equipment. In the Rioja district ( Spain’s most recognized district) the number of wineries since the 80’s has gone from 40 to 200. Rioja is just a few hours to France’s famed Bordeaux district so the style has been influenced by the French.

The major red grapes in the area are: Tempranillo and Garnacha (brought to France where it’s now called Grenache). The wines are getting better with the tempranillo grape leading the charge. Look for the Spanish government designation "Denominacion de Origen" (DO) on the labels. Like Italy and France, quality is a government goal to authenticate the information on the labels. Best recent vintages were 1998 through 2001, with 2001 being an exceptional vintage.

An articulate proponent of the Spanish style of wine is Julian Contreras, manager of Wine Street in Carlsbad. Julian is a native of Spain and can speak with authority on this little-known terroir. "We see Spain as a great source of both value and discovery wines," he said in a recent interview. "Dollar for dollar, I think Spain delivers more bang for the buck with more expressive wines." Julian is now teaching classes in wine appreciation as the only Certified Wine Educator in San Diego County. Spain is the spotlight country this Friday at Wine Street from 5:30pm to 8pm. The tasting fee is $20.00.

I recently had the pleasure of tasting a Tempranillo, known in the Cigales district as "Tinto del Pais," made from old vines and iron-rich clay soil. Cigales is west of Riojas, and the winery, Traslanzas, has produced a 2001 red, barreled in a traditional "bodega," an aging cellar dug down about 75 feet below the earth’s surface. This, you remember, was an extraordinary year’s harvest in Spain.
A small boutique producer, Traslanzas was the first high quality wine to come out of the Cigales district with start-up in 1940. Only 1,500 cases are brought to market. Cost is about $40.00 and available at Meritage Wine market in Encinitas.

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Temecula Valley wineries will light up with the "Winter Barrel Tasting" Saturday and Sunday January 27 and 28 from 10am to 4:30pm. Visitors can indulge their senses by swirling, sniffing, smelling and sipping their way through each of the 20 participating wineries over the two day event.

The wines are aging in barrels and are unreleased wines, which is what the winemakers taste-test almost daily. The winemakers will be on hand to answer questions. Gourmet food comes with the tasting fee of $83.00 per person. To purchase tickets in advance, call 1-800-801-9463 or go on-line to www.temeculawines.org.

The Local Sip

A hearty hello and good fortune to the latest of the new wine shops dotting the landscape in North County: VINO100 in San Marcos’s new Grand Plaza, at Las Posas and Grand Avenue. Owner Molly Pereira says "there are more than 100 great wines for $25.00 or less." The shop is beautifully organized and brightly lit, and there are always bottles open to taste free. She plans to have wine tasting events in the near future. You can sign up for updates by accessing the website at www.vino100sanmarcos.com. The phone number is 760-591-9113.

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A Batasiolo Italian wine event is planned for Tuesday January 9th at Acqua al Due in the Gaslamp District of San Diego. These Piemonte wines have scored big and should be sensational with Chef Martin’s cuisine. Menu and wines at www.acquaaldue.com... Or call 619-230-0382.

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Il Fornaio at the Del Mar Plaza continues its successful Italian regional wine and dine "festas", this time featuring the cuisine of Trentino-Alto Adige. Rich, aromatics whites and lush native reds compliment the "Secondi" entrees... Call 858-755-8876.

Carlsbad resident Frank Mangio is a certified wine connoisseur. Reach him at:mangiompc@aol.com.

 

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