Wine with Leslie: Spanish wines are the best value — here are three I recommend
I recommend three Spanish wines below, all making their debut on this page with two brand new to the market. Picture: iStock
What is the world’s best value wine region? For me it has to be Spain, yes you will find occasional bargains from France, Chile and Italy but if I had to pick one country with a diverse range of quality red and white wines at great prices it would have to be Spain.
Wine from Spain is being celebrated this month, “Eat Drink Spain” runs from September 11 to 27 and wine shops and restaurants around the country will have events and promotions.
I am hosting a Spanish food and wine dinner in the wonderful Mustard Seed in Ballingarry Co Limerick on Sunday September 27. The Mustard Seed featured on the Irish Examiner’s 100 Best Restaurants list earlier this year and it is one of my very favourite places to stay and eat. I love the seasonal balanced cooking, and John Edward Joyce’s hospitality, attention to detail and sheer avoir-faire is second to none, do join me if you can. Wines provided by Cassidys and Forrestal Wine Merchants ( forrestal.ie).
Mabel Lane in Carrigaline and Tradehouse Central in Ballincollig are hosting Rioja dinners on September 16 and 17. The Cervantes Institute hosts a Spanish culture quiz on the September 24, and do check with your local wine shop for tastings, promotions and offers.
I recommend three Spanish wines below, all making their debut on this page with two brand new to the market. Spain is one of those wine countries you can take a risk with, watch for obscure regions such as Calatayud, Costers del Segre, Jumilla, Yecla and dozens more.
Meanwhile SuperValu’s annual French Wine Sale started last week and includes some proper bargains such as Ch. Les Ormes de Pez 2020 for €20 and six bottles of Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône for €50. I will feature a couple of my favourites next week.
A new wine on the market imported by (always reliable) Febvre, a reminder that there are fine whites from Spain made from grapes other than albariño.
This is mostly verdejo with pear and floral-herbal aromas, a generous rounded palate shot with streaks of lemony acidity and a tangy bay leaf tinged finish. The Alonso garnacha-syrah red is also recommended.
- Carry-Out Mallow, Mullingar and Carrick; Fresh; Independents
Paco & Lola is best known for albariño from their fine co-op in Galicia but the brand also has outposts including this tasty Cava that rivals supermarket Champagne. From parellada and chardonnay this has fine persistent bubbles, aromas of melon, citrus and almonds, a touch of creamy softness on the palate balanced by lemon acidity. On the menu at The Mustard Seed wine dinner on Sunday September 27.
- Number 21; Tesco; SuperValu; canavin.ie
I had to include a Rioja, arguably Ireland’s favourite red wine region. This ‘Viñedo Singular’ (implying limited production of the highest quality) is new to Whelehans Wines and is beautifully balanced, packed with ripe blackberry fruits, lush dark cherry and cedar notes.
On Thursday September 17 Jorge from the winery is giving a masterclass with a selection of Rioja and cheese from the region.
- Whelehans Wines, Sliver Tassie Loughlinstown www.whelehanswines.ie
Mizunara is legendary, expensive and leaky Japanese oak, and Glendalough are the only Irish craft distillery with access to one of the very best producers.
At a recent tasting in Searsons Baggot St. it showed brilliantly; sandalwood, chocolate, treacle toffee aromas, a layered, fruity and complex palate, it’s rather wonderful.
- Wine Centre; Celtic Whiskey; Corkscrew; Redmonds; James Fox; Irish Whiskey Museum; glendaloughdistillery.com
