{"title":"Spain's rising stars","description":"\u003cp\u003eA new shipment has just turned up from Spain, so I’ve put together an incredible selection from some of the country’s top independent talent.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"el-hato-y-el-garabato-sin-blanca-2019","title":"El Hato y el Garabato Sin Blanca 2019","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wine is from the tiny and remote Arribes region, in the far west of Spain, right on the Portuguese border.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s so remote here that Tempranillo never made it this far west - and therein lies Arribes’ secret weapon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe local grape varieties - like Juan García, Bruñal, and Rufete - fully ripen at 12 to 12.5% alcohol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo you get full-on Mediterranean flavour, at much lower alcohol. The holy grail!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wine is a field blend of these varieties - making it the perfect introduction to this little-known wine region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grapes were picked from 80-120 year-old plots, and fermented whole-bunch for a bit of extra grip and structure. The wine is aged then for 11 months in French oak, just 10% of which are new.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has gorgeous red fruit, bursting with lavender and rosemary, and a fresh, elegant palate. If you love Beaujolais, this will be a revelation!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50469608358219,"sku":"ELHSIN19","price":22.31,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0140_2_ac7a62ea-3f74-4e22-a5ba-5972924dd350.jpg?v=1729089579"},{"product_id":"el-hato-y-el-garabato-de-buena-jera-2021","title":"El Hato y el Garabato De Buena Jera 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is José \u0026amp; Liliana’s flagship wine, and tells you everything you need to know about the potential of Arribes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's exactly why Raúl Pérez, one of Spain’s most famous winemakers, is doing a special project with \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJosé \u0026amp; Liliana at their winery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe grapes are \u003c\/span\u003efrom José’s grandfather’s 110 year-old vineyard; these old vines produce fruit that is complex and concentrated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose is dark and serious with amazing oak - I think it’s very Burgundian. The palate is spicy, complex and very long - a sensational wine from an exciting place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll at a very accessible 12% alcohol - the dream.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003erecently showed a couple of top Irish journalists my newest Spanish discoveries and this seemed to be the star of the show.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Wilson of the Irish Times immediately named it his Wine of the Week, writing he ‘\u003cem\u003eloved it and will certainly try it again\u003c\/em\u003e’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd Leslie Williams was also blown away, describing it in \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ethe Irish Examiner as ‘\u003cem\u003epacked with red fruits, spice and earth with a layered complex palate that reminded me of top quality Barolo\u003c\/em\u003e'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh praise indeed, but give it a try and I've no doubt you'll agree! \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50469663539531,"sku":"ELHJER21","price":30.65,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0139_3_9107c639-a27c-4906-8807-0083ee6f998d.jpg?v=1729090146"},{"product_id":"la-suerte-de-arrayan-albillo-real-2023","title":"La Suerte de Arrayán Albillo Real 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf I’m going to bring the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/winespark.com\/products\/el-bufon-de-arrayan-albillo-real-2022?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=d8a0fdcab\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003efirst Albillo Real\u003c\/a\u003e to Ireland, I may as well bring the second!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s from the Méntrida region outside of Madrid, and made by the incredibly talented Maite Sánchez.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaite’s previous experience, making wine at the likes of Vega Sicilia, Clos Mogador and Comte Armand taught her the importance of respecting local grape varieties and making wines in a traditional, artisanal way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat’s exactly what she does here - Albillo Real is a very rare grape that grows really well in the harsh and remote mountains around Madrid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 70 year-old vineyard is near Toledo and is based on granite-sandy soils.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFermentation starts gently and spontaneously to preserve all that vineyard character and build complexity, and the wine is aged for 9 months in old French oak barrels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou get a bright and mineral nose with hints of pear and honey, and the palate is beautifully textured and balanced, with a very long finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut don’t just take my word for it - Decanter magazine gave this 95 points in a recent review of indigenous Spanish whites, and ranked it in second place out of 87 wines tasted!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50730596729163,"sku":"ARRSAR23","price":19.91,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0221.jpg?v=1732719197"},{"product_id":"la-suerte-de-arrayan-garnacha-2019","title":"La Suerte de Arrayán Garnacha 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eGarnacha is all the rage in Spain right now, and after tasting this wine, hopefully you’ll agree.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grape’s thin skins and light colour remind some people of Burgundy Pinot, but you get more power and more alcohol. It’s ideally suited to the heat and altitude of central Spain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wine is from the Méntrida region, in the mountains just south-west of Madrid. Until recently, most Garnacha from here was shipped up to Rioja to bulk up their reds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTalented young winemakers like Maite Sánchez are driving the Garnacha revolution in Spain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Suerte de Arrayán is a single-vineyard, high-altitude Garnacha from 70 year-old vines. The nose is delicate and creamy, with lovely juicy red fruit. It leads to a palate that is balanced, juicy and elegant, with tons of minerality and complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but with extra elegance and freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSarah Jane Evans MW gave the last vintage 93 points in Decanter magazine - for a wine of this age and quality, it’s a total steal at the price.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52781821002059,"sku":"ARYSRT19","price":19.91,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0241.jpg?v=1753255669"},{"product_id":"cesar-marquez-parajes-bierzo-2023","title":"César Márquez Parajes Bierzo 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eCésar describes this as ‘Bierzo in a bottle’ - it’s a regional blend of 45 vineyard sites across 9 villages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDespite it being his entry level wine, he tells me it’s his most important one. This is the one wine that most people will ever try from him, so he needs to over-deliver.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt’s also his best value wine - lots of the grapes here, from 80-120 year-old vineyards, are declassified from some of the top sites in Bierzo, which produce bottles that sell for several times the price.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe main grape here is Mencía - but as with most vineyards in Bierzo, it’s a field blend of roughly 85% Mencía, 10% Alicante Bouschet, and 5% other grapes. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBierzo is one of those special places that draws you in - if you like reds in the style of Pinot Noir, Gamay or northern Rhone Syrah, then give this a try and you won't look back.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53518732886347,"sku":"CMPJS23","price":17.61,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0134.jpg?v=1729089169"},{"product_id":"cesar-marquez-valtuille-bierzo-2023","title":"César Márquez Valtuille Bierzo 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eBierzo is without doubt the most exciting emerging fine wine region of Spain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAnd Valtuille, a tiny village of 60 people, is regarded as the best part of it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIt’s here that César hails from, and the 9 generations that have come before him, including his famous uncle Raúl Pérez.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eCésar proudly presents this bottle as his \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eVino de Villa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e - his village wine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe 80-100 year-old vineyards are based on mostly sandy soils around Valtuille, which gives a finer, more elegant style of Mencía.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eOnce the grapes are harvested, they’re gently foot crushed and the juice ferments naturally in large wooden casks. The wine is then transferred to fine French oak barrels to age for 12 months. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThink Premier Cru Burgundy - it’s silky and textured, with plenty of structure and spice. It’s drinking well now, and will definitely reward you if you stick a few bottles away to come back to in a few years’ time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53518734623051,"sku":"CMVLTE23","price":20.71,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0133.jpg?v=1732709316"},{"product_id":"cesar-marquez-la-salvacion-godello-2023","title":"César Márquez La Salvación Godello 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve ever wondered what the fuss is all about with Godello, then do yourself a favour and try this wine. It’s one of the best examples that you’ll ever taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt comes from a high altitude, single-vineyard site in Bierzo, the most exciting emerging fine wine region of Spain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGodello is better known in neighbouring Valdeorras and Monterrei in Galicia, but the Cantabrian Mountains shelter Bierzo from the wild Atlantic weather, and as a result you get a riper and more complex style of white.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust two barrels are made here - the grapes are hand-picked and after pressing, the juice is transported straight to French oak, where fermentation starts gently and and naturally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wine stays in barrel for 12 months, where it develops beautiful flavours of white pears, juicy peaches and spring florals. It’s bottle unfined and unfiltered to keep all that character intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a region dominated by the amazing Mencía red grape, César aims to recover these special 100+ year-old Godello vines and give them ‘salvation’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith this wine he’s definitely done that! \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53518735606091,"sku":"CMGDL23","price":23.52,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0206.jpg?v=1715952445"},{"product_id":"ana-carazo-la-loba-ribera-del-duero-2020","title":"Ana Carazo La Loba Ribera Del Duero 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eAna Carazo is one of Ribera del Duero’s most exciting, up-and-coming young producers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen you meet her you can’t help but be taken in by her infectious energy and absolute passion for what she does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd where Ana makes wine, you need these qualities in spades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Loba means The Wolf in Spanish. This was Ana’s grandmother’s nickname, and on the label you’ll see her sitting outside the door of her house in the village.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAna sources the grapes from tiny vineyard plots around this village, Matanza de Soria. They are all 100+ years old, on a variety of aspects and soils, and farmed organically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAna manages 90 to 100 of these tiny plots separately - and combines them to make this wine. It’s painstaking, nonsensical work… but inspiring, especially when you taste her wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe employs a very hands-off winemaking style - she wants the fruit to do the talking. ‘La Loba always speaks’ she tells me.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s a dark Tempranillo - full of fresh black fruit, violets and an inky-graphite streak. On the palate it’s smooth, rich and lifted, with great structure and length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an intensely personal project for Ana, and she pours her heart and passion into every single bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53561864454475,"sku":"ACLOBA20","price":34.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0126.jpg?v=1729090874"},{"product_id":"vinyes-dolivardots-blanc-de-gresa-emporda-2023","title":"Vinyes d'Olivardots Blanc de Gresa Empordà 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eJust like Priorat, the Emporda wine region is best known for its big reds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd also just like Priorat, there are some absolute gems of white wines to be found, if you know where to look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis wine is one of them. It’s made from White Grenache, Grey Grenache and White Carignan vineyards planted in 1900 - yes you read that right. The vines here are 125 years old!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose is beautifully inviting and complex - I get liquorice, flint and wild herbs. The palate is layered, pure and textured, with incredible length and purity from those old vines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like your interesting whites, then give this a go - you won’t be disappointed!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56034265563467,"sku":"OLIBL23","price":24.93,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey_0264_f83742e7-c9ce-43b8-9018-f8f339c3cae4.jpg?v=1764774588"},{"product_id":"vinyes-dolivardots-gresa-emporda-2019","title":"Vinyes d'Olivardots Gresa Empordà 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Empordà wine region, in the far north-east corner of Spain right next to the French border, has all the right ingredients for making world-class big reds:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA smorgasbord of clay, slate and granite soils, which means the grapes develop amazingly varied and complex flavours\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe chilly \u003cem\u003etramuntana\u003c\/em\u003e wind, which blows in from the Pyrenees and keeps the vineyards healthy and fresh\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA patchwork of old vines going back decades, including some of the oldest Carignan in Spain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is winemaker Carlota’s flagship red, and is a typical local blend of Carignan, Grenache and Syrah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s a blend of several tiny vineyards around the region, on a mixture of slate, granite and alluvial soils. It makes for the perfect introduction to Empordà and its huge potential. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose is incredibly bright and vibrant, with blue fruit and savoury notes, while the palate is juicy, pure and spicy. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s been aged for 14 months in large French foudres and small Austrian barrels, and another 4-5 years in bottle, ensuring you get a deliciously smooth and silky experience wtih this wine. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like Priorat, you’ll love this - and at a fraction of the price! \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56034314846539,"sku":"OLIGR19","price":26.24,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey_0255_f0d9c683-5c8e-42bf-8cee-4f3f1463cee9.jpg?v=1764775018"},{"product_id":"cal-batllet-diatra-priorat-2019","title":"Cal Batllet D'Iatra Priorat 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve never tried Priorat before, this is the perfect place to start. It’s a pretty explosive blend of Carignan, Garnacha, Cab Sauv and Syrah, but it’s smooth and approachable at the same time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eMarc named this wine D’Iatra after his 11 year-old son Artai, spelt backwards. If you look at the label you’ll see Artai dreaming about touching the stars and the moon. There’s a bit of Petit Prince and Jack and the Beanstalk in there, a mix of dreams and fairytales.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePriorat is a high and hot region just two hours from Barcelona, and everything grown here is so intense in flavour. Not just grapes for the wines - but the olives, vegetables and herbs all taste insane. So the wines from here are pretty full on, but they have a lovely freshness from the altitude that makes them incredibly elegant and drinkable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ePriorat can be a bit of a beast when drunk young. But thankfully for you, Marc has aged this 7 years for you so it’s drinking perfectly right now.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56830801871179,"sku":"CBDI19","price":22.86,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/diatra_23b86cb0-b79f-48c8-a49a-2b675747958d.jpg?v=1684337634"},{"product_id":"el-hato-y-el-garabato-otro-cuento-2023","title":"El Hato y el Garabato Otro Cuento 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis wine is made from a rare grape variety called Doña Blanca, which means ‘white lady’. I’d love to know why!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts thick skins and full flavour make it ideal for making white port, where you’ll most often find it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI’ve recently tasted examples of the grape from around Galicia and northern Portugal, but none hit the mark like this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s from the tiny, far-flung region of Arribes, right on the Portuguese border in western Spain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grapes are sourced from a 100 year-old vineyard in the highest part of the region, which gives great freshness to the wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wine is made in a very traditional style, in large old French oak barrels, which gives it structure but retains the intense flavours from the precious old vines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s very pure and mineral on the nose, with lovely notes of pear and florals. On the palate it’s fresh and textured, with great length.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a delicious wine with food, and if you like Albariño or Godello, then give it a go!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WineSpark","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56879339667787,"sku":"ELHOC23","price":21.37,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0512\/0645\/5483\/files\/WS-HighKey-0213.jpg?v=1727796085"}],"url":"https:\/\/winespark.co.uk\/collections\/spains-rising-stars.oembed","provider":"WineSpark","version":"1.0","type":"link"}