When conversations arise about the great wine producing nations of the world, Spain is not always the first to jump out. While Spain has a rich and long history (some of the first vines were planted by the Phoenicians in the 4th century BCE), it still does not carry the same caché of other winemaking nations. When Spain does come up, it is always the “Big 3” that come up, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Priorato, and then the way too often forgotten and way too under-appreciated, Sherry or Jerez.
Not to say that these are not world class wine regions, because they are indeed and very exciting ones at that, but there is so much to explore in Spain, so many wines that can bring so much enjoyment, wines that can make you think, wines that can make you laugh, and wines that can bring your senses to another world. Spain is in a class all its own, and it can cover any taste from dry to sweet, sparkling to still, and red, white, and rosé. Is there a reason for this “Ode to Espagna”? For all of the reasons above I am showcasing the wines of Spain in a number of ways through out Fearrington Village over the holidays, in an effort to promote all the diversity of Spanish wine.
We have already gotten started over at The Belted Goat deli where we have been pouring the Casamara Verdejo from Rueda and the Cartijo Tempranillo from Rioja by the glass. The Verdejo is full of powerful aromatics with grapefruit, tangerine, and sage notes on the nose, and refreshing acidity on the palate great for our selection of fresh salads. The Cartijo is fruit forward with notes of dark cherry, macerated cranberry, and raspberry on the nose, and medium bodied on the palate, with a ripe fruit finish, a great accompaniment to my favorite Sandwich, the Cubano.
On Thursday December 8th, I will be hosting a wine class on the wines of Spain at The Fearrington Granary Restaurant and their perfect affinity for the holiday season. We will look at almost every section of Spain. We will start with a Cava from Penedes, then move to an Albariño from Rías Baixas, then to a Mencía from Ribera Sacra, and, well I can’t tell you everything we are trying; it’s like giving up the end of a movie. We will try some great, memorable wines, with a lot of character and oenological history. It starts at 5 PM, and will be done in time for you to enjoy dinner at The Granary afterwards. All of the wines will be for sale at the tasting as well, just in time for gifts for the holidays. Learn more about this and other upcoming wine classes here.
Over at The Fearington House Restaurant we have always had a large selection of Spanish wines. One that has really excited me as of late is the Els Jelipins from Catalonia in Spain. The winery is owned by a young couple, Gloria Garrige and Oriol Illa, who started the winery because they wanted to raise their family in a natural environment and make natural wines. There is no added sulfur to these wines, no pesticides, and no new oak in the aging of these wines. The wine shows bright berry fruit, with a bit of a liqueur quality and a note of balsamic vinegar, on the palate it is medium-plus in body, with good acidity, and a long complex finish. These wines are remarkable, and also not very easy to find, since there are less than two thousand bottles produced, and of those less than a hundred of them have made it to the States. This is a real treat, and one we here are Fearrington are lucky to have.
With all of the above going on in Fearrington Village, there are plenty of opportunities to explore what Spanish wines have to offer. Whether you are looking for a nice bottle of Cava to enjoy at a last minute party with friends, or a fine Rioja or Priorato to enjoy with a special someone, Spain has something to offer every wine lover, and every taste. Hope to see you at one of our restaurants soon, and look forward to recommending a great Spanish wine for you to enjoy.