Wine tours in Lakewood Ranch can take you across the world. Let’s face it. When it comes to wine, virtually all of us are looking for something that’s healthy, tastes good and doesn’t break the bank. I completely understand. So if great white wine at a very reasonable price is your objective, I recommend that you look south of France, west of Italy and a good deal east of the USA. I’m speaking, of course, about Spain.
The wines of Spain have been pleasing folks around the globe for a very long time. But they have yet to become household names – like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. Perhaps because French grapes were the first to be produced, and relatively easy to grow in America, wineries and distributors were content to enjoy the abundant sales they generated. Later, Pinot Grigio caught on because it was light, refreshing and cheap to produce, import and sell.
But Spain offers dozens of fabulous white grape varieties that manifest into incredibly delicious and complex wines. And, dollar for dollar, they produce better quality wines for a lower price than almost any other wine producing nation.
Here are three Spanish white wines that might really make you smile:
Albariño
The nose of the Albariño is rich and delightful reminiscent of ripe fruit like peaches and apricots. But the wine has a high level of natural acid which produces a light, refreshing beverage. General price range $13 – $20.
Verdejo
This tasty grape is grown widely in the Rueda region of Spain. Verdejo tends to be very aromatic and heavily bodied (like Chardonnay) with soft, lush mouth feel. A good bottle will typically cost $10 – $15.
Cava
If you love sparkling wine but hate to pay those extravagant prices – listen up. This delightful bubbly is produced throughout Spain in both white and rosé versions. Made primarily from the Macabeu grape, only wines produced in the traditional champenoise method may be labelled “cava”. Those produced by other processes may only be called “sparkling wines.” It has lively aromatics, a citrusy flavor profile and a tangy finish. Prices range from $10 – $17. Avoid the biggest selling brand, Freixenet Cordon Negro Extra Dry and try the Segura Viudas Brut Reserva for about $9.99. Much better. I might add that Cava is a delightfully inexpensive part of a recipe for a Mimosa or any other cocktail requiring a portion of sparkling wine.
So that’s it. Take a wine lover trip to Spain this month. You’ll find wide selections of all of these wines at your neighborhood wine store. Ask your favorite wine professional for a recommendation and tell him Bob the Wine Guy sent you.
Sunny Sipping!