Tim Atkin MW returns to Ribera del Duero for second 'Special' report

Five minutes with Hamilton Lowe, Carmosina Holdings & Vitoria Regia gin

Andrew Catchpole catches up with Hamilton Lowe, co-founder of Carmosina Holdings, which launched the globe’s number one cachaça, to discover more about his new Brazilian range of gins.

Ramón Bilbao: Reviving old favourites

In 2024, Ramón Bilbao will celebrate its centenary, 100 years of fine winemaking that has firmly established it as one of the leading producers in Spain and one of the world’s most admired wine brands. However, since the start of the current millennium Ramón Bilbao has become famous for more than just great winemaking. Under head winemaker Rodolfo Bastida, who assumed the reins in 1999, and the ownership of the Zamora Group, the Haro-based producer has been at the forefront of innovation in Rioja Alta and beyond. While pursuing excellence, it has cast aside many of the conventions that led many people to brand Rioja as boring and predictable.

How Rueda is coming of age

In many ways, Rueda has been a counterpoint to Galicia’s roll call of increasingly sought-after (but often niche) whites. As Spain’s premier white wine-producing region, Rueda has long provided crisp, easy-going styles, with the ‘green’ notes of its flagship Verdejo grape dubbed the ‘terrace tiger’ for its popularity as a summer refresher. Not that Rueda is without quality credentials; sitting at 700-800m above sea level on pebble-infused sandy soils, with big diurnal shifts in temperature and many old vines, these green (‘verde’ – Verdejo) wines have thrived here for up to 10 centuries. But as a category, it has more often played the everyday crowd-pleaser to Galicia’s more exalted status among independents and sommeliers.

Galicia: Spain's Atlantic challenger

Spain’s north-west corner challenges the cliché of full-bodied, fully ripe wines associated with the country. Galicia is the gateway to Atlantic storms and Rías Baixas, its largest DO, a succession of estuaries that allow the ocean to penetrate inland and one of the world’s wettest wine regions with an average rainfall of 1,400–1,600mm. Its lush vines trained mainly in pergolas yield small, thick-skinned Albariño berries that are behind some of Spain’s best whites.

D.O. Navarra announce collaboration with Sarah Jane Evans MW and Susy Atkins

D.O. Navarra has announced a collaboration with Susy Atkins and Sarah Jane Evans MW, to help promote the region's wines in the UK. 

Q&A: Fernando Muñoz Naranjo, Wines From Spain

With Spain’s colours still flying high, Andrew Catchpole invited its UK director to outline his vision for its future

Tim Atkin MW: Singling out Rioja's merits

Modern and traditional are surprisingly slippery terms in Rioja and should be handled with caution. Techniques, ideas and debates that are considered contemporary turn out to have strong historical precedents. Reading Ludger Mees’ new book The History of Rioja Wine (Routledge), I was struck by how often the present echoes the past. As early as 1771 – long before Rioja became a famous wine region – people were grumbling about excessive yields and low prices, the very subjects that still exercise commentators, growers and producers today.

Spain embraces a modern approach

Jo Gilbert catches up with top Spanish specialists to identify the leading current and future trends.

Cava’s return to power

Cava’s image has been bruised in recent years, not least by an exodus of nine influential producers in 2019 from the DO. Nonetheless, it remains a sparkling powerhouse, led by corporate giants Codorníu and Freixenet. The numbers speak for themselves: global exports rose by 16.45% in the first nine months of 2021, according to the Consejo Regulador. However, with stagnant growth in the UK, there are challenges ahead if the DO hopes to reconquer one of Europe’s most dynamic sparkling wine markets.

Registrations open for Discover Rioja’s 100km of Diversity trade tasting in London

100km of Diversity offers the chance to connect with over forty producers, winemakers and importers, many of whom will be travelling to London from Rioja to share the unique stories behind their wines. Visitors will be able to try the latest Viñedo Singulares, the finest Espumoso de Rioja, barrel-aged whites, elegant rosados, classic Gran Reservas and everything in between. There will also be the chance to discover wines not yet available in the UK.  

Bibendum boosts Spanish portfolio

Bibendum Wine has folded Riojan estate Remírez De Ganuza and El Escocés Volante from Aragon into its portfolio.

Extreme summer shrinks Cava harvest in 2022

Cava's regulatory council has issued a statement about the difficult growing season this year, characterised by “continuous and above-average high temperatures, along with successive heat waves in late spring and early summer.”

Green light for Vineyards of Alava appellation in Rioja Alavesa

The Basque government has authorised the Vineyards of Alava appellation (PDO) for wine producers in Rioja Alavesa, the Rioja sub-region which forms part of the Basque Country in Northern Spain.

Gran Orden de Caballeros welcomes three new members

At a gala dinner held at the Savoy hotel yesterday (18 October), three ‘leading lights of the Spanish wine industry in the UK’ were invested into the order.

October is the month of Rioja

Following the success of its inaugural 2021 launch, Rioja wine month is back with a 41% uplift in participants compared to last year.

Bodegas Montecillo move to Ehrmanns

Bodegas Montecillo, D.O.Ca. Rioja’s third oldest bodega and Fuenmayor’s oldest has appointed Ehrmanns as its UK importer and brand owner.

Rueda DO launches search for first Rueda Wine Ambassadors

DO Rueda is looking for two Rueda Wine Ambassadors: a sommelier/on-trade professional and an off-trade influencer, to help promote wines from the region in the UK.

DO Rueda announces nationwide marketing campaign

DO Rueda will launch a new marketing campaign from September 2022 to April 2023 to increase sales of Ruedean wine.

Record-breaking early harvest for Spain

Spain has recorded some of its earliest ever harvests this year, with many parts of the country bringing picking forward in order to mitigate a barrage of wildfires, widespread drought and “constant heat”.