Spanish Red Wine

Spanish Red wine is the result of the alcoholic fermentation of red grapes and takes its reddish color from the natural dyes of the fruit. These natural dyes are called anthocyanin and their intensity levels, important to determine the color of the wine, depend on the grape’s variety and ripeness. These molecules are practically nonexistent in green grapes.

The tannins (polyphenols,) present in red grapes, and in less quantity in green grapes, also influence the color and quality of the wine, this is specially appreciated in barrel aged wines. These substances are to a large degree, responsible for the beneficial effects of wine on people’s health, antioxidant properties are also attributed to red wine; with the ability of reducing free radical concentrations, and therefore cellular aging.

Grape Varieties

The quality of wine and its organoleptic properties, are directly related to the grape variety used to make the wine. In fact, the different red wine denominations precisely establish the grape variety or varieties that can be included in the wine. DOC Spanish wines not only guarantee grape variety, it is also demanded that the grapes come from an specific geographic area.

The variety of red grapes used to make red wines are many; and all of them determine the personality, color, aroma and taste of the wine. In Spain, some of the red grape varieties most commonly used are: garnacha, tempranillo, mecía or cabernet sauvignon.

Characteristics of some red grapes 

Garnacha: garnacha or grenache in other countries, is a grape of Spanish origin, and nowadays is grown all over the world. This grape is characterized for its medium size, and its resistance to harsh environments. It has more anthocyanin than tannins, which results in fruity wines with an intense maroon(granate) color and medium high acidity. Garnacha grape is used a lot in young red wines, and it mixes well with other grape varieties in aged wines. It is also present in numerous denominations of origin (DO) and it is typical of the Navarra region wines.

Tempranillo: Is a grape native of Spain which comes from the Rioja region, but it is also grown in a big part of the country. It ripens early, hence its name, and it is used to make full bodied wines, it is present in a great part of the Spanish denomination of origin (DO) wines, such as; Rioja Alta, Alavesa, Ribera del Duero, Costers del Segres or Valdepeñas. Depending on the area of growth and its sun exposure, wines form different areas have different colors and acidity, however they usually are full bodied wines. Tempranillo grape is used to make young wines and Crianza wines Mencía: This grape is grown in the northwestern region of Spain, it comes in small compact clusters with small thick skinned grapes, which give many polyphenols. Red wines made from this grape have low acidity, are very aromatic, and they age well.

Mencía is typical in wines from the Asturias and Bierzo regions, and from Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras and Monterrey denominations of origin (DO) Cabernet Sauvignon: This grape of French origin, is currently gown all over the world. It is a small, thick skinned grape of intense color. It possesses high tannin content and is suitable for wines aging in barrels. The wine is a very intense red color with a very distinctive taste.

Cabernet Sauvignon is present in many denomination of origin (DO) wines such as; Ribera del Duero wines, Penedés, Jumilla wines, or Valdepeñas.

Do you want to buy Spanish Red Wine? In our online celler you could buy Spanish Red Wine at best price

 

 

“El vino lava nuestras inquietudes, enjuaga el alma hasta el fondo y asegura la curación de la tristeza” – Séneca