When imagining Spain and Portugal, hot and arid landscapes often come to mind, with golden rolling hills dotted with gnarled old vines. The far northwestern corner of Spain, however, often referred to as “Green Spain,” defies this stereotype. Likewise, across the Miño River (or Minho River, depending on what language you’re speaking) in northern Portugal, the wine regions are defined by a cool, coastal climate with ample rainfall.
Read MoreRioja is one of the most historic—and dynamic—wine regions, beloved by collectors around the world. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the formal establishment of the appellation, which has continued to evolve in recent years with exciting new projects and ventures. In many ways, modern-day Rioja is where the past, the present, and the future come together in dynamic fashion.
Read MorePriorat, like so many classic regions in Spain and beyond, is having a renaissance. Though once known for rich, extracted wines with big points to match, many new winemakers on the scene are harvesting earlier and fermenting the wines more gently, avoiding any harsh over-extraction of tannins.
Read MoreOne of my favorite things about the Iberian Peninsula is that there’s always something new to discover. After many years on my wine journey, I’m still finding new gems here—and it's my job to know them! Sometimes it’s an undiscovered region with centuries of grape-growing history, or a reimagined variety or style. I especially love discovering new grape varieties. With so many great wines out there, it's easy to overlook hidden gems, but today I’m here to share a few for you to explore on your own wine journey. From best buy Riojas, to under-the-radar Portuguese deals, and hard to come by collectibles, this selection has a little bit of something for everyone. Enjoy!
Read MoreOne of my favorite things about the Iberian Peninsula is that there is always something new to be discovered. I have been on my wine journey for a long time, and I am still always finding new things on this peninsula—and it is my job to know these things! Sometimes it is a region: a place where grapes have been grown for centuries but maybe is too isolated or too small to have rated as an appellation—that is until the world finds out the exceptional wine that is being made there. Sometimes it is the reimagining of variety or a style. And I always love discovering new grape varieties. There are so many great wines out there it is all too easy to overlook the off the beaten path wines. But I’m here today to bring you a few to discover on your own wine journey.
Read MoreThere are several great things about the sparkling wines of Spain. My very favorite is the ratio of quality to value. You can get some excellent wines of superior quality for under $40. I had the opportunity, care of K&L Spanish & Portuguese Wine Buyer Kirk Walker, to taste quite a few of these on Valentine’s Day eve. I am familiar with some of them while others are brand new to me.
Read MoreThe most important wine region in Spain’s Galicia area is Rias Baixas. What is interesting is that it is better known for Albariño than even by its own name. I am as guilty as the next person for this, as I rarely ask someone if they like the wines from Rias Baixas; rather I ask if they like Albariño. I think that Albariño is one of the most exciting white grape varieties in the world. Here is a selection of some delicious Albariños currently on our shelves, all comfortably under $30. These are definitely worth checking out for any white wine drinker!
Read MoreLast year we started our relationship with the Hernaiz brothers. I am enamored with their wines. They do two of the most important things a wine can do: The first and foremost, their wines are delicious. It is a treat to drink their wines. Secondly, their wines tell a story. That is something that not all wines need to do, but for me these wines perfectly capture Rioja, the deep history of the region, and how it is trying to move forward.
Read MoreOur Buying team truly comprises some of the most knowledgeable, passionate wine and spirits experts in the biz, and we’re happy to bring you a set of their favorites from across our aisles. From years of traveling and extensive experience in the industry, each buyer represents a wealth of knowledge broadly about wine and spirits, but very deeply about their own regions and categories. If you want to shoot the breeze about soils, talk about best vintages to buy, or just learn what’s new and exciting—they are unparalleled resources! Seek them out on our sales floor or shoot them an email via our Staff Profile page.
Read MoreWhat do you get for the Syrah lover in your life this holiday season? Syrah of course. But it is always fun to surprise them with something that they haven’t had before. Now, unless you have access to their tasting notes you might not know what they have or haven’t tasted—but I’d wager there is an extremely low chance that they have tried the 2020 El Escoces Volante "Dos Dedos De Frente" Syrah Aragon $29.99 95WA from El Escoces Volante.
Read MoreAs the Spanish buyer I must take the opportunity of International Grenache Day to remind the wine drinking world that Grenache, AKA Garnacha, is from Spain. It is believed to originate in the Aragon region. It was the Crown of Aragon that brought the grape variety down the Ebro River to Catalonia and from Catalonia (what would become the French and Spanish sides) to the Rhône, Sardegna, and the rest of the Mediterranean. Now that the super-abbreviated history lesson is done, I want to take you on a quick tour of Spain’s take on the grape and point out several Garnacha-based wines that I highly recommend.
Read MoreToday's newsletter gives Portugal a long-overdue stint in the spotlight. With some of the greatest stylistic and varietal diversity in the world, it's a wine explorer's paradise… For all our Spanish aficionados, I'm also providing a fresh look at some of the most intriguing producers redefining the landscape of the country's most important region, Rioja.
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