Wines form Spain

In Spain, the number of wineries has quadrupled in the past 20 years. Its wine industry is making up incredible ground to which it had lost during this time period. The producers are using the latest in equipment and making enormous investments to improve the quality of the wines produced. Two good examples of new types of wine that are successfully being produced are Naia Rueda and Nora Albarino.

	Naia Rueda 2003 This wine screams spring! Like many light white wines produced in Spain in recent years, this wine is crisp with a pleasant flavor and compliments a wide variety of foods. It is pleasantly dry, but is loaded with many fruit flavors. The bouquet is citrus as well, giving it a very refreshing finish. Because of its youth, enjoy this one now and for about another year. This wine pairs great with light springtime meals such as grilled chicken and fish. $13 Nora Albarino 2003 This wine is pale in color, but loaded with flavor. Similar to Naia, it is crisp, but not quite as full of citrus. Its peach and citrus taste, with a clean finish, makes for a good choice to serve with sushi or broiled fresh, light white fish. $16
	Wrongo Dongo 2003 This wine features a colorful hand drawn label that is unique and unusual. The label is what draws you to this bottle, but it is what's inside that is the real surprise. For a small price, Wrongo Dongo is a very nice young bottle of Spanish red wine. Wrongo Dongo is considered by many publications as a "great value" wine, and was given the distinction of "A Best Value" by the Wine Spectator. Wrongo Dongo is an incredibly light and fruity red wine that comes from the Jumilla wine district of Eastern Spain. This wine is produced mostly from Mourvedre grapes with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, to give its deep violet color. This youthful wine is ready to drink now. You will find hints of tannin, which will improve with another year or two of aging. This wine is bursting with berry and cherry flavors with a touch of plum, chocolate and peppery spice. It is a great wine for those early spring season items fresh off the grill such as steak, chicken, pork or burgers. At this price, next time you're at the State Store, Dongo home without one. $9
	Rioja Spain is filled with some great wine regions. As one of the best, Rioja is an outstanding wine region located in north central Spain. The Rioja district is similar to the climatic districts of Bordeaux and shares many of the same winemaking techniques. Law and tradition have dictated that wines are not to be released until ready to drink;. Red Riojas must then spend many years in wood barrels before being bottled. The winemakers offer distinct levels or classifications for their wines produced. Crianza (least expensive) - released after two years of aging and with a minimum of one year in oak barrels. Reserva (moderately priced) - released after three years of aging and with a minimum of one year in oak barrels. Gran Reserva (usually more expensive) - released after five to seven years of aging and with a minimum of two years in oak barrels. In the 1870's an epidemic infestation of Phylloxera, a grape louse, almost destroyed all the vineyards in Europe. During this time period, some of the vineyard owners in Bordeaux decided to establish wineries in the uninfected Rioja district. This Spanish district was an obvious place to relocate because it is similar to the climate of the Bordeaux district. In fact, Rioja is only 200 miles from Bordeaux and its influence is still noticeable today. 1996 was a good year for Rioja, but 1994 and 2001 were exceptional. The wines from Rioja are great if you like to experience moderately priced wines that have a hint of Bordeaux. They are a good representation of some of the amazing values from the land of Spain. Bodegas Lan Gran Reserva and Bodegas Muga Reserva are two wines that are readily available and pleasant to drink.
	Serra da Estrela 2001 This is another solid white wine from Spain. It has hints of apricot, peach and lemon- lime. Its light herbal flavor leads to a dense and balanced texture. Because of its incredible balance, it will match well with more complex dishes like Paella. This wine has received great reviews from just about everyone who drinks it. $18
	Sherry Sherry is a fortified wine. A fortified wine is one in which a neutral grape brandy is added to increase the alcohol content. When producing Sherry, the brandy is added after the fermentation process, resulting in an increased alcohol content of 15 to 20%. Sherry is produced in southwestern Spain, in Andalusia. The grapes used to produce Sherry are Palomino (which represents about 90% of the vineyards in Sherry) and Pedro Ximenez (recognized by its abbreviation PX). The different types of Sherry are Manzanilla and Fino (dry), Amontillado and Oloroso (dry to medium-dry) and Cream (sweet). Another factor that makes Sherry different from traditional winemaking is that oxygen is introduced to the wine. The American Oak wine barrels used are only filled two-thirds full and the corks are loosely place to allow the wine to oxidize. The aging process of Sherry is equally unique. The Solera System is the art of blending several vintages that are stored in rows of barrels. Never more than one-third of the barrel's content is removed at one time. This ensures a consistent style and flavor. Once the Sherry is removed, it is replaced with a newer vintage. Barbadillo Amoroso San Rafael This Sherry has a bright mahogany color with pleasant aromas of spice, salted nuts and caramel. It has a long, smooth, well-rounded sweet taste that is not overbearing. Served at room temperature, it goes nicely with light appetizers or desserts. $20 Barbardillo Oloroso - Full Dry Oloroso means "full of flavor." This Sherry has spent approximately 15 years in the Solera System. Its golden brown color leads to an elegant bouquet with a slight touch of coffee. With a nice dry finish, it goes well with rich sauces, mushrooms and tart-tasting soups. Serve this Sherry at room temperature. $9