I’m sitting in the British Airways lounge at LAX. Thank God for lounges!!! Unfortunately, they don’t have any Spanish wine or cava available, but there will be plenty of time for that. There is nothing like having five TVs to watch with daytime soaps, Divorce Court, and Martha Stewart. UGH! So… I pulled out the September issue of Wine Enthusiast magazine and read the cover story – Spain’s 10 Best Wines. Yahoo!!! What a way to start the Bodega Adventure! This article really showcases the versatility and breadth of Spanish wines. The Tempranillo grape really takes the stage here. The wines hail from a variety of DOs – Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, Rias Baixas, Toro, Bierzo, Cava, and Jerez. Here are the wines if you decide to hunt any of them down (listed in no particular order):
- 2001 Gramona Illustros Gran Reserva Brut Nature (Cava)
- 2008 Pazo de Señorans Albariño (Rias Baixas)
- 2005 San Vicente (Rioja)
- 2005 Bodegas Roda Cirsion (Rioja)
- 2006 Alvaro Palacios Finca Dofí (Priorat)
- 1998 Vega Sicilia Unico Gran Reserva (Ribera del Duero)
- 2006 Numanthia-Termes, S.A. Numanthia (Toro)
- 2005 Emilio Moro Malleolus (Ribera del Duero)
- 2006 Descendientes de J. Palacios Villa de Carullón (Bierzo)
- Lustau Almacenista Palo Cortado (Jerez)
This should get you started while you’re waiting for me to land in Barcelona and pour the first glass. I’ll do my best to post often. Be sure to click on the link to the left (under Bodega Is On The Road) to check out the latest pictures. Be back soon!
Life is short. Drink great wine!
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