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Rías Baixas & Ribeiro: The Beating Heart of White Wine in Galicia

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Mar 2025

Located in Northwest Spain, Galicia is home to wines with an Atlantic soul. Among the region’s white wine DOs, Rías Baixas and Ribeiro present contrasting yet equally intriguing styles. From Albariño to Treixadura, the 300 wines reviewed in this report offer a journey through Galicia's diverse terroirs.

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The Vivacious Reds of Ribeira Sacra and El Bierzo

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Feb 2025

Ribeira Sacra and Bierzo share a climate and dominant red grape variety, and yet they produce two very different versions of Mencía. In this report, I survey over 300 wines to provide a comprehensive overview of the wine country that spans the mountains between Galicia and León.

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From Revolution to Evolution: The Garnatxas and Cariñenas of Priorat & Montsant

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Nov 2024

Priorat and Montsant are the two main red-wine-producing DOs in Catalunya, but they are quite different from one another. In the 1990s, Priorat enjoyed a resurgence that led to a golden era before its regional style began to shift, while Montsant was only formally established in 2002. I visited the two regions in the spring of 2024, thoroughly touring most of the towns and vineyards and tasting a range of wines that reflect the past, present and future of an area of great character.

Montserrat is a mountain range as distinctive as it is omnipresent in catalonia. this view is from the sabat%c3%a9 i coca vineyards  near the bitlles river  on the outskirts of vilafranca del pened%c3%a8s.

The Rambunctious Catalan Mediterranean and Beyond

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Sep 2024

Within a surface area that only accounts for 6% of Spain, Catalonia bottles a wide range of Mediterranean and continental wines in two distinct styles. White and sparkling wines rule the roost on the coast–which is the main focus of this report–where the ethereal Xarel·lo fills glasses with sun and energy. In a land rich in native varieties, this dispatch takes readers on a tour of Mediterranean flavors and attempts to offer a lucid guide to the tangled mess of categories and classifications that hold sway in the region.

Rose may2024

Rosé New Releases: All Over the Map

Spain, featured, France, Austria, Italy, United States: California

Vinous, May 2024

Rosé remains in full swing. Ever the popular quaff as the weather warms and the dog days of summer approach, there’s more pink wine on store shelves than ever. However, new releases, mostly from the 2023 vintage, are a bit more variable than usual.

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The Many Riojas of Rioja: A Tale of Forking Paths

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Apr 2024

Rioja finds itself at a crossroads. Like many a great story, Rioja is being challenged by small and mid-size producers over its identity. A dynamic and fascinating scenario is unfolding as a result, reflected in the almost 800 bottles that make up this report. Certain producers' enthusiasm and stylistic exploration are inspiring amidst a general decline in sales, defining a wine landscape as diverse as it is attractive. Rioja is currently an adventure of contrasts and discoveries.

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The Whites of Rueda Get Serious

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Feb 2024

A region famous for simple, fruity whites that are ideal for casual summer drinking, Rueda is increasingly producing wines of greater depth and sophistication. The effort put in by producers is beginning to pay off, although it is still early days. In this report, I review some of the bottlings that offer a glimpse into that promising future.

Unico 1969

Cellar Favorite: 1969 Bodegas Vega Sicilia Unico

Spain, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites

Neal Martin, Jan 2024

Unico is Spain’s most iconic and historical wine. You don’t need me to tell you that. Though Unico has been bottled for many decades, the consensus is that the 1960s is the decade during which its reputation was really consolidated through a string of outstanding vintages bookended by the brilliant 1962 and 1970.

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Reds From Toro: Old Vines and New Knowhow

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Dec 2023

Renowned for producing wines with good structure and energy since medieval times, Toro is a small but proud DO located in Castilla y León that focuses mainly on reds. With vines that date back to pre-phylloxera times and soils that temper the region’s sunny climate, several of the labels found in Toro offer breathtaking energy and flavor.

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Ribera del Duero: A Shifting Frontier for Spanish Wine

Spain, featured

Joaquín Hidalgo, Nov 2023

Forty years after its official inception, the Ribera del Duero DO is experiencing a period of change, with a wide range of new wines and styles that run the gamut from traditional to strikingly forward-thinking. Whether its producers are focused on expressing the identity of a region or looking to push the boundaries of what can be done with premium red wines in the higher areas of Castilla y León, the DO offers a diverse range of reds along with a handful of whites whose character is defining the area’s transition from the past into the present.