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Spanish White Wine: My 6 Favorite Varietals
Spain is a country known for its amazing food and wine. And normally red wines are typically the main attraction, but we’re here to encourage you to give Spanish white wines a try!
Spain is home to some of the best white wines in the world. The climate and soil in Spain are perfect for vines, and the Spanish wine industry has been around for centuries.
And we love Spanish white wines because they offer a unique taste and style that is hard to find elsewhere. Not only do they taste fantastic, but they’re also quite cost-effective. There are some great tasting white wines available for less than $20.
In this blog post, we will explore six (6) of my favorite Spanish white wines (not including sherry wines). We will describe how they taste and what makes them unique. We hope you enjoy!
What are my 6 Favorite Spanish White Wines?
1) Albariño
Tasting Notes
This Spanish white wine is light and refreshing with notes of citrus and stone fruits. It’s one of Spain’s most fragrant white wines. It has a beautiful zesty acidity that makes it perfect for pairing with seafood and many other foods.
The dry to bone dry style of Albariño is distinctive. On the palate, there is a lot of citrus flavor, as well as a hint of saltiness.
Where is it Produced?
Albariño is produced in the northwest region of Spain called Galicia, more specifically Rias Baixas. The climate there is cool and wet, which is ideal for this strong thick skinned grape variety.
Why Buy?
If you’re looking for a dry to bone dry white wine (high acidity) that is delicious and crisp, this is the wine for you! It’s a great value for an excellent wine.
2) Verdejo
Tasting Notes
Verdejo is a crisp and citrusy wine with notes of lime, green apple, and some herbaceous notes. If aged in oak, you will find it a little more sweetness and nuttiness to it. It’s light and clean, with a lovely fresh aroma. It grows almost exclusively in Spain, and I find it quite tasty.
Where is it Produced?
Verdejo is native to the Rueda region of Spain, which is located in the central part of the country. The climate there is warm and dry, which is perfect for this grape variety.
Why Buy?
If you generally enjoy Sauvignon Blancs/Pinot Gris, I’d recommend a Verdejo for a similar taste and a quality Spanish white wine.
3) Garnacha Blanca
Tasting Notes
Garnacha Blanca is a full-bodied white wine with green fruit flavors, floral notes, and stone fruit aromas of peach, apricot, and honeysuckle. It has a beautiful golden color with some baking spice notes, and a creamy texture, if the wine is aged in oak.
Where is it produced?
Garnacha Blanca is native to the Navarra region of Spain, which is located in the northern part of the country. The climate is warm and dry, which allows the ripe fruit flavors to blossom.
Why Buy?
If you’re looking for a Spanish white wine similar to Chardonnay or a wine to pair with spicy dishes, then I’d recommend a Garnacha Blanca.
4) Viura
Tasting Notes
Viura is a light-bodied white wine with delicate floral and fruity citrus notes. It’s refreshing with high acidity and easy to consume.
Where is it produced?
Viura is the most widely planted grape variety (white) in Rioja, which is located in the northern part of Spain. Typically known for their reds in this region, this high yielding grape is known to produce many white table wines.
Why Buy?
If you’re looking for a delicious, simple, and affordable crisp white, I recommend the unoaked Viura. However if you are looking for a high quality, complex white wine that will age very well, get an oaked Viura. This is a favorite amongst wine lovers looking for amazing Spanish white wines.
5) Godello
Tasting Notes
Godello is a medium-bodied white wine with notes of citrus fruit, grapefruit, stone fruit, tropical fruit, and minerals. It has excellent balanced acidity for unoaked Godello and vanilla flavors with a creamy texture for Godello aged in oak barrels.
Where is it Produced?
This Spanish grape is native to the Valdeorras region of Spain, which is located in the northwestern part of the country.
Why Buy?
If you like New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, I’d suggest you try an unoaked, steel fermented Godello. I think of it as a old world New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Try it and let me know what you think.
If you like Viognier, Chardonnay, or Vanilla ice cream, I suggest an oaked Godello.
6) Txakoli (Hondarribi Zuri)
Tasting Notes
Txakoli is a light and refreshing wine with notes of citrus and minerals. It has high acidity and a slightly spritzy texture (slight bubbly). It’s a unique wine and a must try!
Where is it produced?
Txakoli is native to the Basque region of Spain, which is located in the northern part of the country. The high elevation of the hillside vineyards is responsible for its natural acidity. And until recently, it was a wine that was only consumed in the Basque region.
Why Buy?
This are not many wines like this one. Txakoli will be delightful for you if you enjoy a clean white wine with a pleasantly surprising slight effervescence. And I also really enjoy the Txakoli Rose wines!
Summary
Spain produces some of the most delicious white wines in the world. If you’re looking to try something new, we recommend any of the following six (6) varieties. If you are looking for some great red wines from Spain, check out this article!
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