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As a wine country, Spain is an interesting blend of tradition and modernism. There are regions such as Rioja where wine has been made for centuries and the regulations ensure that the wines continue to respect this history. On the other hand there are also new and interesting regions such as Rias Baixas and Bierzo which allow for a total new outlook on Spanish wines. In short, Spain has it all when it comes to wine - if you know where to look.

Spain has traditionally been most known for red wines which saw their first great export success in the late 19th century as a replacement for French wines which had been heavily hit by the phylloxera virus. The main grape variety used is Tempranillo but there is a whole range of other indigenous varieties such as Cariñena, Garnacha, Mencia and Monastrell. The reputation of the white wines may not be as great, but Albarino from Galicia in the Northwest is fast becoming one of the most popular white wines and everywhere in Spain a new generation of fresh and modern white wines of great quality are emerging. Some great examples of this from the Penedes region are the interesting whites from Villadelops based mainly on the Cava grape varieties of Macabeo and Xarello mixed with Chardonnay and Viognier.

Some producers such as Bodegas Chivite in Navarra manage to embrace both their 350 year history of producing wines in the area with staying ahead of current trends. They were among the first to plant international varieties such as Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in the area, but also create a range of superb wines based mainly on the traditional Tempranillo which is Spain's main grape variety. The stunning new Arinzano winery is another example of the family's ability to continually reinvent themselves and is fast becoming a benchmark for what can be achieved, for instance winner of Spain's best white wine 3 years in a row with the great Colleccion 125 Chardonnay.

Another area we have recently had the opportunity to discover at first hand are the interesting wines in the Southeast of Spain near Barcelona in the regions of Penedes and Priorat. Penedes may in many respects be synonymous with Cava, but there is so much more to this region than the basic Cava you see in the supermarkets. Once you have tried the high quality Cavas from the Mestres family (a family that has been in the region since 1312) you will realise that Cava can be up there with the best sparkling wines in the world. The wines of Priorat have had a renaissance in recent years and La Perla del Priorat is a great example of this - the name was based on the reputation that the monks had for their olive oil in medieval times but could today just as well have been given for the superb wines.

If you are looking for a specific wine and do not find it on our list you can always drop us a line at info@advintage-wines.co.uk. In addition to the wines we list we have access to literally thousands of other wines which we can always get at the best possible prices - anything from Zinfandel!