AUSTIN, TX (March 15, 2012) – From the staccato of flamenco dancers to the roar of a soccer game, Hispanophiles delight in Spain’s sights, sounds and tastes, including some of the most sought-after wines in the world. From crisp albariño to velvety tempranillo, Whole Foods Market will celebrate Spain’s wine heritage this spring by featuring 12 stellar wines from one of the world’s most exciting wine regions, all priced under $20.
With the largest grape acreage in the world, Spain is also the third largest producer of wine, following only Italy and France. Spain has enjoyed explosive growth and popularity over the past decade, and Whole Foods Market will showcase not only the diversity of Spanish wines, wineries and wine regions, but also tapas recipes and cheeses to pair with each wine.
“Spain is on fire right now,” said Doug Bell, national buyer for Whole Foods Market. “Ten years ago, people thought of dusty, thin Rioja from Spain, but today, there are lesser known, fine wines from La Mancha to the Basque Country. We’re excited to share these beautiful Spanish finds with our shoppers.”
Wine enthusiasts are invited to learn about and sample wines from Spain at in-store tastings, as well as during two different Twitter Tastings. Go to wholefoods.com/wine for more information about the Twitter Tastings and use the hashtag #WFMwine to follow the conversation. Participants must be 21 years of age or older.
Spanish Wines Twitter Tasting 1 – Mar. 22 at 7 p.m. CDT
- Hermanos Lurton Verdejo
- Castaño Organic Monastrell
- Monte Oton Garnacha (Grenache)
Spanish Wines Twitter Tasting 2 – Apr. 19 at 7 p.m. CDT
- Castell de Raimat Albariño
- Faustino Rioja
- Más de Leda Tempranillo
Featured Spanish wines include:
Hermanos Lurton Verdejo from Rueda – rounded and soft on the palate, this wine has an intense nose of white-fleshed fruits and cut hay and a soft finish.
Recipe pairing: Mussels Vinaigrette
Cheese pairing: Capricho de Cabra, lush goat’s milk cheese with soft creaminess
Castell de Raimat Albariño from Costers del Segre in Catalan – fresh and well-balanced, this dry white has intense aromas of citrus, dried flowers and spices.
Recipe pairing: Spanish Blue Cheese Olives
Cheese pairing: Morbier, classic raw-milk, creamy mountain cheese from France
Spartico Organic Tempranillo from Valencia — first wine from Spain to meet the USDA Certified Organic NSA (no sulfites added) requirements, this fruity, medium-bodied violet black wine has smoky, salty nut aromas with sugared berry sweetness and tartness with a firm, powdery tannin finish.
Recipe pairing: Spanish-style Grilled Portobello Mushrooms and Peppers
Cheese pairing: Manchego, aged six months, is a sweet and creamy sheep’s milk cheese
Protos Tinto Fino from Ribera del Duero – this spirited tempranillo is bright, ruby red with notes of dried red berries, sweet spice, toasted oak and vanilla.
Recipe pairing: Bacon Blue Cheese Sea Scallops
Cheese pairing: Harbison, decadent soft-ripened cheese wrapped in spruce bark
Faustino Rioja from Rioja – this young tempranillo has aromas of black and red fruits with light hints of vanilla and cocoa.
Recipe pairing: Spanish Pork Meatballs
Cheese pairing: Robusto, Gouda-style cheese with nutty flavors from Holland
Maximo Tempranillo from La Mancha – with aromas of plums and red berries with tobacco and vanilla notes, this velvety red also has hints of licorice and mint.
Recipe pairing: Spanish Chickpeas and Chorizo
Cheese pairing: Mahón, one of Spain’s few cow’s milk cheeses with a creamy texture
Más de Leda Tempranillo from Castilla y León – a fresh, succulent red with aromas of red candied fruit and licorice, this tempranillo also has a touch of cinnamon and spice.
Recipe pairing: Tuna and Piquillo Pepper Tapas
Cheese pairing: Mitibleu, a spicy sheep’s milk blue cheese
La Vendimia Garnacha Tempranillo from Rioja – this lively, fragrant red blend of grenache and tempranillo has supple aromas of fresh orchard fruit, wild berries and ripe blood oranges, with additional notes of sweet spice and raspberry jam.
Recipe pairing: Spanish Tortilla with Roasted Peppers and Spinach
Cheese pairing: Mitica Naked Goat, an aged raw goat’s milk cheese
Cellars Can Blau Blau Cariñena Garnacha-Syrah from Priorat – this crowd-pleasing blend of carignan, syrah and grenache delivers a mouthful of fruit along with notes of mineral, lavender, blueberry and plum.
Recipe pairing: Beef Skewers with Romesco Sauce
Cheese pairing: Robusto, Gouda-style cheese with nutty flavors from Holland
Monte Oton Garnacha from Campo de Borja – plump and velvety, this fruity red offers plum, blackberry and raspberry flavors, accented with vanilla and licorice.
Recipe pairing: Piquillo Peppers with Tuna, Spinach and Goat Cheese
Cheese pairing: P’tit Basque, sheep’s milk cheese with touch of sweetness from the Pyrénées
Castillo de Monséran Garnacha from Cariñena – this New World-style grenache is a soft, round red with herbal overtones, bursting ripe berry and plum fruit flavors.
Recipe pairing: Spanish-style Bruschetta
Cheese pairing: Drunken Goat, a Spanish goat’s milk cheese cured for 48-72 hours in red wine
Castaño Organic Monastrell from Yecla – made from organic grapes from 30-year-old vines, this easy drinking red wine has a bright, fresh raspberry bouquet with dense cherry flavors on the palate.
Recipe pairing: Bacon Manchego Dates
Cheese pairing: Solé Gran Queso, nutty cheese in the style of Spanish Manchego
For more information about Wines from Spain, visit winesfromspainusa.com or facebook.com/spanishwines.
