About white wine from spain
July 12, 2011
Maybe it’s the conventional images of a bullfighter’s cape and a flamenco dancer’s dress from old Life magazines or retro travel posters that make many of us, at least of a certain age, “see red” when we think about Spain. Similarly, when we consider Spanish wine, red almost immediately comes to mind, perhaps due to the popularity of Rioja and, yes, even of Sangria. But just as a few vivid images do not entirely capture the vast spectrum of Spain’s culture, fashionable Riojas and other classic and modern tintos do not totally represent the breadth and quality of its wines.
Indeed, ever since the death of General Franco in 1975 and the establishment of a parliamentary democracy in 1978, Spain’s wine industry has benefited from the country’s new economic freedoms. And, as with other wine producing countries, membership in the European Union has contributed much to improving the quality of the country’s wines. Old methods have given way to new; careless viticulture and shoddy wine production have been replaced with more meticulous and regulated counterparts. And the expanding markets for fine wine, both at home and abroad, have fanned the fires of Spain’s wine revolution: Cooperatives have been taken over by private estates; native grapes have been complemented by international varieties; and tannins have been better balanced with fruit.
The new Spanish whites, which are becoming more widely available in the United States, offer some outstanding values especially when compared to our domestic offerings. What’s more, they provide some appealingly distinctive alternatives to our formulaic, dare I say boring, Chardonnays.
With summer, not too far away, I thought this an ideal time to focus on Spanish whites that will aptly complement hot-weather dishes like pasta and seafood salads, poached fish, and grilled seafood. Indeed, some of these wines possess so much character that they make appealing aperitifs and perfect patio sippers.
Spain’s most popular native white-wine varietals include:
Airen, widely planted, especially in La Mancha, resists drought and is used primarily for brandy and local wines.
Albarino, from Galicia, can yield perfumed, elegant wines that are sometimes compared to Viognier. It is very popular in Rias Baixas.
Godello, popular in Galicia’s Valdeorras zone, makes a tangy wine that is both dry and light bodied.
Loureira, similar to Portugal’s Loureiro, is found in Galicia. It is often used in a blend with the aromatic white Treixadura. However, it can also be found bottled as a varietal.
Macabeo, wide spread in Northern Spain, is used for Cavas, Spain’s popular Champagne alternative. In Rioja, it is known as Viura and can produce wines with a floral character.
Palomino, found mostly in Southern Spain, is low in both acid and sugar. However, wine made from it tends to oxidize. It is often used to produce sherry.
Verdejo is Rueda’s prized white. It has nutty characteristics and is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc.
In addition, international varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and even Viognier have found their way into Spain’s wines and vineyards.
So this summer, when the weather turns hot and you’re looking for a cool, crisp, refreshing wine to serve with dinner, try an affordable Spanish white and let the bulls go after the red.
For this tasting, we paired our eleven wines with two Spanish dishes. The first, a cold appetizer, was the ever-popular seviche, made with sea scallops marinated in lime juice and seasonings. Our second course was a quick and easy to prepare lenguando al limon (flounder in lemon sauce). We found the recipe in Penelope Casas’s The Food and Wines of Spain. Both dishes are great for summer entertaining.
For more on Spain’s new style of wines, see our earlier feature Where Have All the Tannins Gone?
The wines for this feature were generously provided by Jose Ramon (Joe) Gude, of Tempranillo Incorporated, located in Mamaroneck, New York. Their name on a bottle’s rear label almost guarantees a great wine.
As is our custom, we tasted each of the wines individually without any food and the again with our meal.
Source: http://www.tablewine.com/archiv52.htm
Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.
This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.
Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.
Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
Wine@Yats-International.com
YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:
http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com
While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.
The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com
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