Why Drinking Spanish (Wine) is FLY

AS THE WORLD’S SECOND-LARGEST wine producer and a country with a winemaking history dating back to before 1100 BC, Spain has always held a place as one of the globe’s most important wine regions. But more exciting for those who want to skip the schooling and buy wine with confidence is this simple fact: the ever-growing competitive landscape for Spanish wine means you’re going to get a good bottle at a great price no matter which brand you grab off the shelf. Spanish wine imports have seen such a dramatic increase in recent years (11 percent in 2013 alone, according to the Spanish trade commission) that it’s become a buyer’s market. Andy Booth, once a stagiaire at San Sebastian’s Michelin- ranked Arzak restaurant and owner of the four-city specialty shop and online store The Spanish Table, explains: “Ten years ago I had to search for wines. I’d have to track down importers. At this point there are so many available, I have to say no just because of space issues.”

Getting shelf space from retailers like Booth is just one of the hurdles a bottle of Spanish wine has to clear. Long before it hits our shores it has to undergo a wine classification system nearly as strict as that of France. Once a wine ranks, it has to be impressive enough for an importer to champion it, and for a wine distributor—the conduit between the importer and the wine shop—to choose it over its competitors. Only then will it have a chance to be at the mercy of the wine shop’s buyer. In other words, American Idol audition goers have a better chance of getting to the semifinals than a Spanish wine does of having its starring moment at your dinner table.

Ironically, Spanish varietals are one of the wine world’s best mealtime partners because their subtle flavors make them incredibly food-friendly. Whites tend to be bright, crisp, and lower in alcohol content—a boon for those of us who don’t want to start slurring before the main course is served. A red such as Tempranillo (the early-ripening and leading grape in used in wines from the highly celebrated Rioja region) is the easy-drinking stuff often paired with tapas in bars across Spain. Garnacha or Garnatxa, Spanish for Grenache and another grape popular in the Rioja region, produces big, juicy wines fit for hearty meals; and it usually has a paltry price tag of around $11 a bottle. Even Spain’s bubbly, cava, has a lot going for it—usually for fistfuls less than you’ll pay for French or domestic options.

In fact, one of the most delicious things about Spanish wine is its price. Spain’s low labor costs, larger-than-average vineyards, and long history of strict aging classifications make its offerings some of the best values in the wine world. If you ask us, that’s enough incentive to blindly grab a bottle tonight, perhaps to go with the paella on the previous page.