Spain is one of the main wine exporting countries in the world, recognized for its quality and the enormous variety it offers. But the best thing is that it is also possible to taste some of these bottles at a good price without giving up quality.
Wineries in Álava, Ourense or La Rioja, among other autonomous communities, make wines with grape varieties such as Tempranillo or Garnacha, which demonstrate that quality and affordable prices are compatible.
The set of selected wines, for less than 13 euros and above 90 rating points, are collected, along with many more, in 'The La Vanguardia Wine Guide 2024', directed by Lluís Tolosa with the collaboration of Ferran Centelles, Meritxell Falgueras, María José Huertas, Alicia Estrada and Zoltan Nagy.
Las Laderas is a wine that could be in other categories of this guide. It sets a trend, it is a great wine and it comes from spectacular estates. However, what makes it even more amazing is its price. It is difficult to find so much quality and flavor for less than €10.
La Rioja Alavesa is a unique enclave within the most famous appellation in Spain. There are no large extensions of vineyards, they are slopes with capricious reliefs, caressed by the winds of the Cantabrian, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It is impossible to apply extensive viticulture.
This landscape fascinated Andreas Kubach, a talented Spanish-German Master of Wine. He was joined by Sam Harrop, another Master of Wine, of New Zealand origin, who would be the closest thing to a wine encyclopedia on legs. And finally, Tao Plato, an erudite winemaker-vinegrower-chemist, another of the great winegrowing personalities we have. They remind me of a Big Three, which in basketball slang is a team that has three star players. They are the Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs.
Las Laderas is their entry-level wine, named in memory of this characteristic landscape of Rioja Alavesa. A regional wine that is made in the same way as its village or vineyard wines. A jewel of juicy flavor, a river of fresh fruit, sweet and maximum pleasure. It is an irresistible wine that is usually the first to be finished in any tasting. Nobody offers more for less. As some NBA broadcaster would say: "What a spectacular move!"
Author: Ferran Centelles
The Pazo de Casanova has played an important role in the marketing of wine in the region since the 18th century. The original owners tended the vines for more than 250 years, until they fell into disuse. Now the ancient disappeared vineyard of the historic Avia River valley is being recovered.
Great discovery, this wine made with treixadura, from a winery with great quality in its small productions, within a DO Ribeiro that is increasingly in vogue, which has been climbing little by little, but with a firm step. This specific wine has always been highly praised by critics and praised by consumers.
We can add that its quality-pleasure relationship is surprising. In favor of this denomination, we will also add that it increasingly offers us very fresh and elegant red wines.
This wine represents very well the philosophy and style of this winery. It takes its name from the A Viñoa estate, on the slopes of the Avia valley, with vineyards on steep terraces contained with granite walls, today called heroic viticulture. The soil is mainly made up of granite and schist, which gives the wine that sharp character.
Straw yellow color, clean and bright. On the nose it combines elegance, playfulness and fruitiness, highlighting white fruits such as apple, yellow plum and citrus touches. It is accompanied by herbal notes, field flowers, moss and subtle mineral touches. In the mouth I highlight the volume in the palate, with vibrant acidity. It is very tasty, fruity and at the end you can see saline nuances.
Author: María José Huertas
The best seller is the Marqués del Atrio Crianza (€8.50), but the great discovery is the Marqués del Atrio Reserva (€10.00). They are two wines that represent two typical Rioja maturation concepts. Both with Tempranillo and Graciano blend. But the first with 12 months of aging and the second with 24 months of aging. Together they form an unbeatable couple in terms of quality and price.
The Reserva is a classic Rioja style, from the Mendavia area, in the heart of Navarra's Rioja, with the vineyards between 300 and 600 meters of altitude. The Tempranillo provides the fruitiness and the typical notes of black licorice, the Graciano provides the freshness and the notes of aromatic herbs. Aging for 24 months in French and American oak barrels envelops the fruit in spicy, toasted and smoky notes. The 12-month aging in the bottle gives it roundness and ripe, silky tannins. Everything is in place.
The Marqués del Atrio Group has its origins in Bodegas Faustino Rivero Ulecia, which began its winemaking activity in 1899 in Arnedo, in Rioja Baja, now called Rioja Oriental. Five generations later they produce wines in Rioja, Navarra, Rías Baixas and Utiel-Requena.
My direct contact with this winery has become much closer this last year. Following my interest in the wine and wine tourism boom in China, I came to Marqués del Atrio, because it has been the winery chosen for Changyu's investment in Spain. Changyu (1892) is the largest and oldest winery in China and one of the largest wineries in the world. You can read this and other fascinating stories in our book Adventures on the China Wine Route.
Author: Lluís Tolosa
Working in different high-level restaurants in Barcelona, I am always lucky enough to try many wines. One day this wine arrived and I was dazzled. It came from a small producer who in the 1930s started a family project in the Ribera del Duero, where the definitive push came in the 1980s, with the creation of the Designation of Origin.
I'm talking about Mr. Santiago López. Then his son, also Santiago, after a few years as a winegrower, made his own wine, creating what is known today as Bodegas López Cristóbal. The name is the result of the union of two surnames: López, from Santiago, and Cristóbal, from Lola, his wife. Galo López Cristóbal, third generation, was key in the definitive consolidation of the winery, providing a more personal character to the wines.
La Linde is a young, fresh and fruity wine that reflects the character of Ribera del Duero. These virtues have led it to win the Great Baco de Oro, Luis Hidalgo Award, as Best Young Wine in the Baco awards organized by the Spanish Union of Tasters, where I was lucky enough to participate for a few years. Without a doubt, an excellent option for wine lovers looking for new experiences and new flavors. In terms of quality-price ratio, there are very few banks like this one. The key is to give maximum prominence to the vineyard, with care in viticulture. If this is their entry-level red wine, imagine their other four red wines. But, to start, don't forget this name: La Linde!
Author: Zoltan Nagy
A decade of Prunomania. This is how Finca Villacreces has presented the Pruno 2021. This vintage celebrates a decade of one of the most important international recognitions in the history of Spanish wine. 10 years ago, Robert Parker said it was the best wine in the world in terms of quality and price. Since then, Pruno is one of the best-known brands in Ribera del Duero and its sales reach more than 50 countries.
A true phenomenon in the Spanish market, often sold out in stores and restaurants, distributed by installments, receiving each bottle with a dropper at the points of sale. Easy, direct and effective. It makes the most of the argument that it comes from the vineyards adjacent to Vega Sicilia, but with a style and price that is totally affordable for all audiences.
Lalo Antón, owner of the winery, says that this 2021 vintage is “perhaps among the five best of the century for Finca Villacreces.” Tempranillo with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels.
Also in magnum size (1.5 liters) with special and sustainable packaging for prunolovers. For this 2021 vintage, three different cases have been designed that show the aromas and colors that can be found in this wine. They do everything well. Ideal as a gift. Excellent quality-price-prestige ratio.
Author: Lluís Tolosa
The Bodegas Puente del Ea team brought together the specialized press of Barcelona to present their wines, in an event organized jointly by Criteria (Logroño) and Pcats Comunicació (Barcelona), two marketing, communication and events agencies with which we regularly collaborate. both under the direction of two highly professional women, Raquel Azagra and Sole Ga. Insua, respectively.
The surprise was huge when seeing the quality of these wines, especially their magnificent quality-price ratio. Leading the presentation was Julien Viaud, agronomist, viticulturist, oenologist and international consultant, known for his more than 15 years in the team of Michel Rolland, the most famous winemaker advisor in the world. Julien embodies the new generation of winegrowers who are involved in both oenology and viticulture. The Riojan Ana Gonzalo works with him as main winemaker, with Rodrigo Madrid in the direction of the project.
Puente del Ea is a boutique winery located on the banks of the Ea River, in the beautiful town of Sajazarra, in the Haro region. Its vineyards represent the westernmost and highest end of the Rioja Alta, at 520 meters above sea level, in the surroundings of the Obarenes Mountains.
Saiaz is a tribute to the town of Sajazarra, with a great winemaking tradition. Single-varietal 100% Tempranillo with 12 months of aging in French oak barrels and 12 months of refining in the bottle. Lots of red, fresh fruit, spicy, lactic and creamy tones. The native hare on its label represents its lively, energetic and vibrant character.
Author: Alicia Estrada
The latest novelty from Laus, a single-varietal red Grenache that stands out for its excellent quality-price ratio. In fact, it can boast of being the most economical wine among the 100 wines selected this year for this guide.
It also represents Laus' clearest commitment to native varieties, since its classic range is structured around international varieties, as is usual in the Somontano DO. In this case, they are Grenache from their own vineyards made at mild temperatures in stainless steel tanks to extract all the typical fruit and floral expression of Grenache, with only 4 months of aging in mixed oak barrels to soften the tannins and obtain a wine. soft, round and sweet.
For those of us who spent the winter in the Aragonese Pyrenees, 2021 was marked by the storm Filomena, which left significant snowfalls. Luckily, Somontano did not suffer very low temperatures, thanks to its climatologically strategic location at the foot of the Pyrenees. Then, although the spring started out quite warm, it quickly cooled down, slowing down the vegetative cycle of the vines. If we add a mild and cool summer, the ripening was truly ideal, slow, progressive and complete, without a trace of overripeness.
This is how this soft, fruity and sweet Grenache is born, with the typical ruby red color with a violet rim from its youth. The short aging simply gives it a touch of complexity, soft smoky nuances, vanilla and spices, with soft and sweet tannins. Very easy to drink, for any occasion.
Author: Lluís Tolosa
