WINES FROM SPAIN

Spain is the first vineyard in the world in terms of cultivated vineyards. It is normal that we find then some of the most prestigious appellations of origin in the world. In the DO La Rioja we have prestigious wineries such as Marques de Riscal, Ysios, López de Heredia or Marques de Cáceres among others. In DO Ribera del Duero there are internationally renowned wineries such as Vega Sicilia, Dominio de Pingus, Hacienda Monasterio wineries, Protos wineries and many more. The DO Priorat is known for the spectacular quality of its wines, with wineries such as Alvaro Palacios, Agnès de Cervera, Clos i Terrasses or Cellers Scala Dei within a large list of high quality wineries.

With WIKWINES you can enjoy a wide range of Spanish wines from different denominations of origin and always at the best prices.

RIOJA WINES

Rioja is located in the North of Spain, on both banks of the Ebro River and has 63,593 hectares that are distributed in three provinces: La Rioja, Álava and Navarra.

The whole area benefits from the confluence of two opposite climates, Atlantic and Mediterranean, with mild temperatures and annual rainfall, and a diversity of soils that provide ideal conditions for the development of the vine and give their wines unique characteristics.

Among the main grape varieties of D.O.C. Rioja are: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano for inks and Viura, White Grenache and White Tempranillo for White.

The Rioja appellation of origin is divided into three sub-areas: Rioja Alavesa, Rioja Alta and Rioja Baja. Each of them has its own characteristics that make the wines that are produced totally different.

Rioja Alavesa: It is located north of the Ebro River, in the province of Álava. Here you will find some of the most prestigious and traditional wineries such as Marqués de Riscal in the town of El ciego e Ysios.
Rioja Alta: It extends through the territories of the autonomous community of La Rioja, between Haro and Logroño, south of the Ebro River. In Rioja Alta, almost half of Rioja's total vineyard is found. Within this area highlights the municipality of Haro, whose wines have been considered for many years as those of greater Rioja personality. In its surroundings are prestigious wineries such as López Heredia - Viña Tondonia, Bodegas Riojanas or Marqués de Cáceres.
Rioja Baja: It occupies the southeastern part of the region, with wines of greater degree and wineries such as Viña Herminia or Marques del Atrio.

Wines of La Rioja, given their excellent quality, are especially suitable for aging during longer ripening times. Therefore, four categories are established:

Crianza: corresponds to wines with a minimum aging period of 24 months and at least the first 12 months in oak barrels.
Reserva: corresponds to wines with a minimum aging of three years between oak barrels and bottle and at least one in barrel.
Gran Reserva: corresponds to wines from great harvests that have been bred during a total period of sixty months with a minimum of two years in oak barrels and 3 years in the bottle.

RIBERA DEL DUERO WINES

Ribera del Duero is a designation of origin located in Castilla y León, in the Duero river basin, about 115 kilometers long and 35 wide, and around 22500 hectares. It extends throughout provinces: Soria, Burgos, Segovia and Valladolid.

The climate of Ribera del Duero is characterized by moderate rainfall and marked temperature oscillations between stations. This Mediterranean and continental climate provides a lot of character and is fundamental for the quality of its wines.

Wines of the D.O. Ribera del Duero are mainly red wines with a common denominator: the Tempranillo grape, known under the name of Tinta del País or Tinta Fina and which constitutes more than 90% of the production. Along with tempranillo, the DO allows five other varieties: Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha Tinta and Albillo or Blanca del País, the only white one. To use the distinctive of the D.O., the wines are subjected to a process of qualification by the Regulatory Council that endure that in their production they have followed certain processes guaranteeing their quality.

In relation to red wines, they must be made with a minimum of 75% Tempranillo variety, in any case 95% of the grapes used must be Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. There are four types:

Tinto joven: Without permanence in wood and less than 12 months per barrel.
Tinto Crianza. 12 months at least in oak barrels.
Tinto Reserva: 36 months of aging between barrels and bottles, at least 12 of them in barrels
Gran Reserva: At least, 60 months of aging, 24 of them in barrel and then 36 in bottle.

In relation to the Rosé Wine, it must be made with a minimum of 50% of the tempranillo, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Garnacha Tinta varieties.

PRIORAT WINES

Priorat Denomination of Origin has an area of more than 17,600 hectares and is located in the province of Tarragona. It is formed mainly by family holdings and by cooperatives, with 106 wineries currently registered. One of the most remarkable features is its rugged orography, very mountainous, which gives rise to limited productions but of great prestige and quality.

The vineyards, planted "coster" or sloping, are between 100 and 750 meters high and with a slope of 15%, reaching in some places 60%, hence the work is more traditional than elsewhere.

The most cultivated varieties in Priorat area are the inks, with Mazuelo and Garnacha as the most outstanding native varieties, although we also find Tempranillo, Garnacha Blanca or Macabeo.

Along with the wines produced each year by the DO, a number of areas of the DO sell the so-called Villa Wines and Finca Wines, which in addition to the requirements that the other wines of the DO comply with, must meet specific characteristics and marked production requirements, guaranteeing its origin and reinforcing its commitment to quality.