Everyone has one of those moments – either they enjoy a special bottle, travel to a specific wine region, or they have a wine experience that helps them decide that this wine thing is their new passion.  Mine was a trip to Spain.

In 2009, I was invited to Spain for 10 days and hosted by various business partners.  The wining and dining left a significant imprint – so much so that I was inspired to start the WSET journey culminating in the Diploma.  

As a result, often when I do bespoke tastings for groups, I highlight the wines I love best from Spain – and that’s what I did at my Mom’s long term care retirement facility to start off the new year.

We started off with a white Rioja made of Viura (aka Macabeo) – I’ll never, ever forget there is a white Rioja, because I got that question wrong on an exam once.  I stood corrected, and have enjoyed them and their creamy lemon, pineapple and white peach profiles ever since.  

I picked Rioja because it is one of two Spanish DOs that have the higher C/Q quality rating, the second being Priorat where I visited in 2015.  It’s really difficult to find Priorat reds with accessible price points, but the 2021 Els Pics (‘The Peaks’) by Bodegas Mas Alta fit the bill.

We talked about the llicorella (blue slate) soils these Carinyena and Garnatxa grapes grow in with their roots that extend into for up to 40m, and the deep currant, plum and umami aromas and flavours that permeate the wines.

The last wine proved to be a bigger hit than I’d imagined.  I’d been ready for push back, but the Gonzalez Byass Jerez DO Oloroso off dry sherry paired with a kit-kat bar was the most popular one of the afternoon.  In fact, when the GM walked in at the end of the tasting, the residents were vocal about wanting to see it put permanently on their evening drink card.

I’d also visited the Sherry Triangle in 2017, and had brought home some examples of the unique chalky, powdery albariza soils famous for growing the Palomino grapes Sherry needs.  Again, it’s hard to imagine someone thought 3,000 years ago, ‘Hmmm, let’s plant some vines and see what happens’ in soil like that.

There were a few more converts to Spanish wine that afternoon.  Salud!