Buying wine in Spain can be a minefield, the country has more than 12,000 different grape varietals, that’s almost as many as the rest of the world combined; fortunately, Spain is also home to some of the world’s greatest wineries- try to buy Spanish wine and you’ll soon find that not only are there so many great bottles, but there are also some top-notch affordable Spanish wines too. But how do you know which ones?
With so many options, it can be tough to know where to begin when searching for the ideal Spanish wine, fortunately, we’ve got you covered with our handy buying guide to help you select the best Spanish wine for your budget and taste preferences.
What to look for in a Spanish Wine?
Buying Spanish wine is a bit different from buying wine from other wine-producing countries, if you’re not familiar with Spanskt vin (Spanish wine), there are a few things you should look out for when buying wine: First up, Spanish wines are known for their high acidity- this makes them ideal for pairing with and enhancing the flavors in your favorite foods like meats, seafood, and eggs.
Secondly, Spanish wines are known for their high alcohol content- this can be a good thing if you enjoy drinking wine, but it can also be a bad thing if you have allergies or other issues with heavy drinking finally, Spanish wines are known for their low levels of sulfites- although this is a positive thing for people with allergies, it can also be a negative thing for those who don’t enjoy having their heads spinning from dizziness.
How to choose the best Spanish wine
When selecting the best Spanish wine for your money, there are a few things to keep in mind: first, the grape variety- the majority of Spanish wines are produced from one of the nation’s 12 different grape varieties, with Mencia and Maccari accounting for about 80% of all Spanish wines; second, the wine’s region of origin; and finally, the wine’s alcohol content, grape variety, and region of origin.
Tips for buying Spanish wine
Once you know what to look for in Spanish wine, it’s time to get down to business, below are a few tips to help you choose the best Spanish wines for your money.
- Buy local: While you can find Spanish wines from other regions, you’ll find that most Spanish wines come from the Rioja region, this is the country’s most famous wine-producing region and it also happens to be one of the country’s top tourist destinations and if you have the chance to visit, then it’s worth checking out some of the top Spanish wine producers in this area.
- Know your ABV: The Alcohol by Volume ABV of Spanish wine is often listed on the bottle, this is useful information as it will tell you how strong the wine is and, keep in mind that the higher the ABV, the stronger the wine will taste or you’ll also want to be careful of heavy drinking as ABV levels can vary significantly from one wine to another.
Which Spanish wines are best for drinking with food?
If you’re looking for Spanish wines that are best for enjoying with food, then you’ll want to focus on the most popular grape varieties. likewise, you’ll also want to look out for popular Spanish wines produced by leading wine producers.
