Antxiola (ahn-cho-la) Rosado is steel-fermented Hondarrabi Beltza left to macerate on the skins to extract body, flavor, and salmon-pink color. The vines are planted in clay soils on sunny hillsides above the Bay of Biscay, where... Read More
Antxiola (ahn-cho-la) is a steel-fermented blend of Hondarrabi Zuri (90%) and Hondurrabi Beltza, both native Basque Country varietals that are the basis for Txakoli (cha-koe-lee) wine produced near the Bay of Biscay. Anxtiola... Read More
Listan Blanco is another name for Palomino, the grape made famous by Sherry producers. This crisp white wine has no flor or Sherry notes, but the volcanic rock shines through with flint, minerals, lemon fruit, indigenous yeast,... Read More
Also called Palomino Negro, high-altitude Listan Negro yields a savory, medium-bodied red wine with bright, dry red fruit, minerals, and mountain herbs. There is no wood vinification, just tank fermentation with indigenous yeasts... Read More
Most Sherry companies have been in business a long time, but Bodegas Alonso is relatively new to the scene with an artisanal approach. Like Fino Sherry, Manzanilla is quite dry and made of Palomino grapes, but this wine is produced... Read More
Most Riojas are blends—usually a high proportion of Tempranillo complemented by Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan), and Graciano (Morrastel). In a rare twist, Lagrimas de Bhilar is all Graciano, which is prized for... Read More
As one of the top crus, Prado Enea is made with the choicest fruit available. The winemakers then adhere to a low intervention model by fermenting the late-harvest grapes in large oak without added yeasts or temperature control.... Read More
Fermi Bohigas is a family winery dating back to the 13th century. Located on the outskirts of Barcelona, this 700-acre estate is known for high-end Cava made with a traditional blend of Xarel-lo, Macabeo, and Parellada. The current... Read More
Xarel-lo is a Catalonian grape most commonly used to make sparkling Cava in Penedes. Admired for its aromatic qualities, it is often blended, but winemaker Amôs Bañeres and grape-grower Alex Ruiz decided to do something... Read More
In the world of Sherry, there is Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso, Palo Cortado, Cream, PX (Pedro Ximénez), and a few more in between, spanning the entire sweetness range. East India Solera is technically a Cream Sherry with... Read More
Emilio Lustau was founded in 1896 when Sherry enjoyed enormous popularity. In the late 20th century, fortified wines became relics from another age, but the Lustau brand managed to weather the storm and keep every single style... Read More
Gramona is a world-class Cava producer, yet one of their finest wines is this well-kept secret called Gessami (jess-ah-mee). It is a steel-processed blend of about 50% Sauvignon Blanc blended with various Muscat and some Gewürztraminer.... Read More
Ready to try a wine from the Azores? Though technically Portugal, the Azores are a group of islands 870 miles west of Lisbon in the Atlantic Ocean. From the volcanic island of Ilha do Pico, Terras de Lava is a steel-fermented... Read More
The people behind the label are John “Juan” House of Ovum Wines and Kerin “Kiki” Auth Bembry, who met on a bus in Spain back in 2011. The partnership started out as a way to express the terroir of Utiel-Requena... Read More
Founded in July 1890, La Rioja Alta built its brand on the '890' and '904' series of Gran Reservas. From then on, new properties and vineyards were acquired as they became available. The winery is still going strong... Read More
In 1904, La Rioja Alta assimilated Bodegas Ardanza (founded in 1890) and gained some of the best vineyards used in Viña Ardanza to this day. The 2016 Reserva is a blend of separately vinified/aged Tempranillo (80%) from... Read More
Sweet strawberries and leather on the nose and palate. wonderful complexity with well integrated hints of vanilla and spice. Another great vintage from a benchmark producer.