{"id":11980,"date":"2020-05-25T17:29:19","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T15:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madridfoodtour.com\/?p=11980"},"modified":"2020-05-25T17:29:19","modified_gmt":"2020-05-25T15:29:19","slug":"how-read-spanish-wine-label","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/how-read-spanish-wine-label\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Read a Spanish Wine Label"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With some of the best wine for value out there, it\u2019s no wonder the world is finally starting to catch on to the wonders of Spanish vino. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you aren’t familiar with Spanish wine<\/a> and don\u2019t understand some of the concepts and terms that are unique to Spain, a Spanish wine label can seem difficult to understand. But it’s not as hard as it seems! In this guide, we’ll give you a complete breakdown of some of the most common Spanish wine terms and classifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Close<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wine is easily one of the best (and most delicious!) souvenirs<\/a> you can bring back from Spain. But of course, it\u2019s important to understand what you\u2019re buying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter whether you\u2019re in Spain or browsing the aisles of your local wine shop at home, this guide will help better understand how to read a Spanish wine label so you can feel confident and pick the right bottle every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

How to Read a Spanish Wine Label: The Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To get started, there are eight things that nearly every Spanish wine label will include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. The name <\/strong>of the wine<\/li>
  2. Region<\/strong>: The location of production; this includes quality classifications tied to that region such as D.O. (denominaci\u00f3n de origen<\/em>)<\/li>
  3. Aging classification<\/strong>: The type of grape maturation<\/li>
  4. Vintage<\/strong>: The year of the harvest<\/li>
  5. The producer<\/strong>, or the bodega that made the wine<\/li>
  6. A description<\/strong> of the wine (occasionally printed in English as well), including the grape varietal<\/strong><\/li>
  7. Percentage of alcohol<\/strong> by volume<\/li>
  8. The official seal<\/strong> of the regional regulatory council, if applicable<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"Close
    A few basic elements of your typical Spanish wine label.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Now let\u2019s break it down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Region<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The first thing to keep in mind is that Spanish wines are Old World wines<\/a> (this includes all European wines and those from regions with very long histories of winemaking). That means they typically label based on region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    New World wines, on the other hand, label by grape varietal. That\u2019s why, in the US, you would order a cabernet sauvignon or a chardonnay, rather than a \u201cNapa Valley.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When checking a Spanish bottle, the first thing to look for is the region. Oftentimes you will be able to find the varietal on the bottle, but that information almost always comes secondary to the region in which it was produced. Now why is that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Bunches
    The same grape can produce wildly different wines depending on which region of Spain it was cultivated in.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    While many types of grapes grow in Spain, only a select few go into the majority of wines. Take tempranillo, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tempranillo comes from in many regions of Spain, and its character varies greatly depending on the production area. So buying a bottle of \u201ctempranillo\u201d tells you very little about the wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For example, a tempranillo from La Rioja is going to taste drastically different from a tempranillo from Toro. In fact, in Toro, a region to the west of La Rioja, tempranillo goes by another name, tinta del toro<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    See? It can get a bit confusing when we start talking grapes. So that\u2019s why we stick to the regions most of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There are some select wines that label based on varietal, such as albari\u00f1o and some monastrells. Also, sherry wines from the south of Spain are labeled by style, such as \u201cfino\u201d or \u201camontillado.\u201d But generally speaking, region is key when labeling Spanish wine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Close
    The region will be easy to spot on most Spanish wine bottles.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Grape Varietal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    That said, most bottles will also include the grape varietals. Top varietals used in Spanish wine include tempranillo, garnacha and monastrell. Keep in mind that the grapes oftentimes won’t be front and center on the bottle, and sometimes they won\u2019t be there at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember that there are certain wines that will be labeled primarily by the grape, such as those we listed above, but this isn\u2019t the norm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Four
    The grape varietal will be easier to spot on some bottles than others.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Quality Classification<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Spanish wine is classified into several categories, one of which you\u2019ll likely see on the label of your bottle. Here\u2019s how to interpret the four most common quality indicators. <\/p>\n\n\n\n