Spain

Bodegas Roda produces fabulously modern expressions of traditional Spanish grape varieties which express themselves in bold red fruit flavours with the support structure of firm smooth tannins, spicy complex aromas and depth, in this case that blend is 93% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 3% Garnacha.
The grapes are grown on bush vines older than 30 years, mostly in Haro and its surroundings. The yields are low, which produces wines with rich concentration of flavour. The fermentation is in French oak vats equipped with temperature control, followed by a malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels for 14 months. A further ageing of 22 months in bottle enabled the wine to mature before release. 

Garnacha with structure and weight as well as approachable red fruit appeal and smooth mouthfeel. This lovely new wine is one of a range of great reds based on the Grenache grape grown in Sierre de Gredos, east of Madrid in Spain's hot arid interior. 

The granite soils, native yeasts and French oak that go into this wine all contribute to the complexity, depth and deliciousness in this impressive Spanish red.

Spain's great offering to the world of sparkling wine is called Cava and it is made in the same way as champagne and this exceptional bubbly spends the same amount of time ageing in the bottle on yeast lees as most champagne. That long ageing process is 15 months and it results in a wine with fresh baked bread and yeasty aromas, which are tempered by citrusy freshness and depth of flavour from the complex combination of both. This makes it stunningly good value for money. 

The producer is Gonzales Byass, the largest sherry producer and owners of the great classic, Tio Pepe Fino. 

This bubbly comes from grapes grown on a vineyard planted in 1991 in Espiells, the highest, windiest area of the municipality of Sant Sadurn? d?Anoia. 250 metres above sea level. Bordered to the south by the Coastal Serralda and to the north by the Montserrat mountains, the vineyard benefits from an exceptional microclimate. The soil is alluvial and comprises three layers;; of clay and silt, pebbles and loose stones and fine sand that compacts down and is called ?saul??. Together, they produce a cava with very warm climate characters which are balanced by a touch of saltiness. The Parellada vineyard is located at 700 metres above sea level in the municipality of La Llacuna, considered to be one of the highest in Pened?s.

Stunning full bodied red blend from Spain, made from 70% Carignan and 30% Garnacha from 60 to 80 year old vines, which were planted on stony vineyard sites at high altitude. Grapes were destemmed and macerated for 15 days. The wine was aged for 13 months in new and one year old, low toast French oak barriques. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The word Braó is Catalan for strength, courage and valour; three qualities this wine encapsulates beautifully. 

Vegan friendly.

What the critics say

Josh Raynolds Vinous Media - 92 Points 

"Deep, shimmering violet. Intense dark berry, cherry cola and floral pastille aromas are complicated by baking spice and smoky mineral flourishes. Sappy and energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors that show spicy back-end lift. Smooth, well-knit tannins frame the persistent finish, which features lingering mineral and floral notes."

Barbazul is a Spanish red blend of Tintilla de Rota, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose is complex, with notes of red fruits, fig leaf and a touch of citrus, leading to a  palate that is tasty and fruit forward, with a lively acidity.

If you're a fan of dry white wine, try this sensational Spanish white from Telmo Rodriguez, one of the country's most revered winemakers for his role in reviving indigenous grapes and giving them a new lease of life with modern winemaking methods. 

This is 80% Verdejo and 20% Viura with dry, crisp, delicious flavours of ripe lemons and oatmeal notes. It's made from organically grown bush vines from vines at 750 metres altitude in Rueda, 90 minutes' drive north west of Madrid, on the fringe of Toro DO. The climate here is continental with hot summers,  cold winters and extreme temperature fluctuations. Rueda is a white wine only appellation and all grapes in this wine were hand picked into small baskets, then cool fermented in stainless steel with no additions - it's natural, but without the marketing noise - aside from a small touch of sulphur at bottling. 

Basa is a not-so-fruity Rueda Verdejo with the Viura in the blend to add zest and length to the wine. 

A gorgeous dry white - a must try.

A great example of fruit-forward easy drinking Garnacha from Campo de Borja near Aragon in northern Spain. Garnacha, if done well, offers a happy blend of red and dark fruits with relatively high alcohol and decent tannins. The warm Spanish climate suits this grape well and you're all but guaranteed ripe fruit and silky smooth tannins.

Tempranillo is the king and queen of Spanish grape varieties with over 206,000 hectares in that country’s entire vineyard area, making it the most planted red grape variety and the second most overall after the little known white Spanish grape called Airen. 

This tasty and super affordable, dry Spanish red is made from organically certified vineyards in Uclés in Castile, Spain, where the vines are grown as part of an integrated ecosystem, along with old oak trees. This region's continental climate provides hot sunny days and cool nights, which provide favourable ripening conditions for the Tempranillo grape. 

The grapes in this wine are harvested in the cool of night and early morning, given a light crush and fermented in stainless steel to preserve fruit freshness. Maceration is typically eight to 10 days and no oak is used in the winemaking, so the fruit is hero in this smooth, medium bodied red. 

The name Tempranillo comes from the Spanish word temprano, which means early. It’s apt. Tempranillo is an early grape to bud in spring and it ripens early in autumn. Along with its big bunches of small, thick skinned grapes and relatively big yields (that’s means it provides a lot of grapes to harvest and make wine from), it’s a successful grape to grow. As for the taste, Tempranillo’s character tends to be soft, smooth, bright and fruity. What’s not to love? There’s

Bodegas Casa Castillo is located on the plateau of Jumilla where its 174 hectare vineyard enjoys a high altitude and the cooling influence of the Mediterranean. Lovers of Bandol reds will enjoy this lovely smooth, full bodied red from Casa Castillo, a blend of Monastrell 60%, Garnacha 20% and Syrah 20%. 

It's made from old bush vines which provide very small amounts of highly concentrated juice. Modern winemaking with cold macerations retains freshness and new French oak provides structure. The wines are generally bottled unfiltered to allow them to be as expressive as possible and they are a bargain for the quality produced.

Bodega Terras Gauda overlooks the gentle green countryside of Galicia in north west Spain where its vineyards are planted. Terras Gauda uses its own yeasts, selected from its vineyards. These yeasts are unique to the winery and have been patented. This is one of the reasons the TG wines are so consistent because they don’t need to rely on commercial yeasts.

Chill this wine to 12 degrees and break out your best seafood, recommends wine importer Sophie Cotter, who brings this wine into New Zealand. 

Albarino is on trend globally right now and originally comes from north west Spain and the north of Portugal, where makes its fresh, zesty, dry as a bone and super flavoursome taste go particularly well with seafood. This wine comes from Terras Gauda Winery on the Spanish side of the Minho River, which separates Portugal from Spain.This region and its Portuguese counterpart over the border is the original home for the Albarino grape, known in Portugal as Alvarinho.

Al Muvedre is a varietal Monastrell from Alicante created by Telmo Rodríguez.

The grapes come from old vines in vineyards located in the town of Monóvar in the province of Alicante. The harvest, done by hand, is performed in late October, and goes through a process of fermentation in stainless steel and concrete. The wine is full of purple fruit, black olive tapenade and spice, a rustic, exciting expression of Monastrell.

Superb value Spanish red made from 50% Monastrell with 50% Syrah to add structure to the dark cherries, raspberries, crushed boysenberries and red plum flavours in this lovely wine. Complex notes come from a hint of vanilla spice on the nose and the body is medium, soft and silky.

Acustic is an old vines blend of Carignan and Garnatxa from the Montsant region in Spain. This is a somewhat Rhone-like wine with red fruit flavours complemented by balanced spice and herbal notes. This expressive wine is bottled without fining or filtration.

Dry, silky Spanish red field blend of Garnacha, Rufete and Pinuela (also known further afield as Tempranillo). This incredibly affordable wine is a bit of a maverick not only due to offering such fab value for money but in being a lighter style with depth from a country renowned for its big bold red vinos. Drinks well now and can definitely age further too.