by Victor de la Serna » Mon Oct 04, 2010 9:49 am
'Blockbuster' Spanish wines are fortunately beginning to ebb, as less extraction and less overt oak are finally beginning to be advanced by a new generation of terroir-driven winemakers (the successors of lab-bound oenologists). So the better wines are powerful and naturally concentrated because this is a much warmer and drier land than almost anywhere else in Europe (and the world), but heaviness is increasingly frowned upon.
Some supposed 'blockbuster producers' have actually been unfairly maligned because in reality that's not their style at all - I'm thinking of Artadi and Benjamín Romeo in Rioja, for instance.
Moving outside of Rioja and Ribera and Priorat (and Jerez perhaps, although Jerez remains far from mainstream in the US), which I guess is what Robin wants, here is a rundown of emerging regions and worthy producers:
Northwestern Spain:
Rías Baixas (white and some red): Do Ferreiro, Pazo de Señoráns, Palacio de Fefiñanes, Goliardo, Lusco.
Ribeiro: Pazo de Gomariz, Antonio Cajide Gulín, Campante, Viña Mein, José Estévez
Monterrei: Quinta da Muradella
Valdeorras: Rafael Palacios, Guitián, Joaquín Rebolledo, Godeval, Gaba do Xil, Valdesil
Ribeira Sacra: Algueira, D. Ventura, Thémera, Guímaro, Raúl Pérez
Bierzo: Raúl Pérez, Herederos de J. Palacios, Luna Beberide, Dominio de Tares, Estefanía, Gancedo, Losada
VT Cangas del Narcea: Monasterio de Corias
VT Liébana: Picos de Cabariezo
Bizkaiko Txakolina: Itsasmendi, Doniene Gorrondona
Getariako Txakolina: Ameztoi, Talai Berri, Txomin Etxaniz
Northern Spain:
Navarra: Chivite, Artazu, Nekeas, Pago de Cirsus, Camilo Castilla, Emilio Valerio
VT Queiles: Bodega del Jardín
Northeastern Spain:
Empordà: Castillo de Perelada, Masia Serra
Costers del Segre: Castell d'Encús, Cérvoles, Tomàs Cusiné
Montsant: Espectacle, Acústic, Capçanes, Joan d'Anguera, Venus La Universal
Penedès: Can Ràfols dels Caus, Colet
Terra Alta: Vins Piñol, Laureano Serres
Campo de Borja:Borsao, Alto Moncayo
Calatayud: Niño Jesús, San Alejandro, Ateca
North-Central Spain:
Toro: Maurodos, Dominio del Bendito, Teso La Monja, Pintia
VT Castilla y León: Abadía Retuerta, Mauro, Quinta Sardonia, Ossian
Rueda: José Pariente, Angel Rodríguez Vidal, Marqués de Riscal, Viñedos de Nieva,Belondrade y Lurton, Vinos Sanz, Castilla La Vieja
VT León: Dehesa de Rubiales
South-Central Spain:
Vinos de Madrid: Jeromín, Bernabeleva, El Regajal, El Rincón
Méntrida: Jiménez Landi, Canopy
VT Cebreros: Pegaso, El Reventón
VT Castilla: Vallegarcía, Calzadilla
Dominio de Valdepusa: Dominio de Valdepusa
La Mancha: Ercavio, La Plazuela, Paso a Paso
Southeastern Spain:
Terrerazo: Mustiguillo
Valencia: Celler del Roure, Rafael Cambra
Manchuela: Ponce, Altolandón, Cien y Pico
Alicante: Gutiérrez de la Vega, Enrique Mendoza, Laderas de El Sequé, Bernabé Navarro, Primitivo Quiles, Heretat de Cesilia
Jumilla: Casa Castillo, Hijos de Juan Gil
Yecla: Castaño
Almansa: Almanseñas (Adaras)
Bullas: Lavia
Southern Spain:
Sierras de Málaga: Molino Real, Jorge Ordóñez, Cortijo Los Aguilares, Friedrich Schatz
Montilla-Moriles: Pérez Barquero, Alvear, Toro Albalá
Balearic Islands:
Maciá Batle, 4 Kilos, Ànima Negra
Canary Islands:
El Grifo, Eufrosina Pérez Rodríguez, Tanajara, Viñátigo, Tacande, Monje, Los Bermejos, Carballo