Tesco's Wine Club

OFF THE
BEATEN
SPAINTRACK!
With more area under vine than any other
country, Spain is the perfect destination if you
like discovering delicious wines in out-of-theway
places. The ancient regions of Castilla y
León and Aragón have some outstanding wines
that are well worth searching out, as you can
see from the notes I made on a recent visit.
James Griswood, wine buyer for Spain
THE REGIONS
The regions of Castilla y León and Aragón first came to prominence over
500 years ago when King Ferdinand of Aragón married Queen Isabella
of Castilla. Their union resulted in the birth of Catherine of Aragón: King
Henry VIII’s first wife. When I visit either of these former kingdoms I can
almost imagine myself back in the 15th century. Castilla y León (as it’s
now known) is still dotted with fairytale castles and royal palaces, while
sparsely-populated Aragón is a region of rolling countryside and ancient
stone villages.
THE GRAPES
Tempranillo Spain’s best known grape is grown
throughout the country, most famously in Rioja.
It usually announces its presence with irresistible
flavours of ripe strawberries.
Garnacha Although known in almost every other country
as Grenache (its French name), Garnacha is Spanish through
and through. It adores sunshine, producing big juicy wines
that are jam-packed with wonderful red berry flavours.
Verdejo If you haven’t tried Verdejo before, just think of it
as Spain’s answer to Sauvignon Blanc. It produces some of
the country’s best whites, often intensely aromatic and full
of zingy citrus fruit.
by James Griswood
Garnacha growing in Cariñena
ARAGÓN
I’m a great fan of Aragón as I think it
produces some of the best Garnacha
based wines in the whole of Spain. On
this trip I fly into Zaragoza airport, right in
the heart of the region. As my plane
touches down I’m already getting excited
about visiting the wineries and tasting the
latest vintages.
Day 1: Cariñena
After a short drive in the Spanish sunshine,
I arrive in Aragón’s celebrated wine district of Cariñena.
With plains of gnarled old bush vines reaching out either
side of the car, I know there are going to be some
fantastic wines to try.
Today I’m going to the winery of Marques De Carano
wines. Set in the middle of immaculately maintained
vineyards, the Grandes Vinos y Vinedos is built in a
traditional Moorish style around a beautiful stone
courtyard. I first came here about six or seven
years ago and was instantly impressed by the
quality of wines made by the wine-maker,
Marcelo Morales Calderon.
I’m always given a warm welcome
by the team here. Last time I was
here they put on a ‘light lunch’ for
me. I now realise that a ‘light lunch’
in Spain can easily last for hours…so
after the 15th different dish hit our
table I had to admit defeat and
politely suggest we should really go
and start doing some work!
This time I make straight for the
blending room to taste the latest
vintages. The reds are as rich and
delicious as ever and the quality of
these wines remains phenomenal.
If you normally drink reds from Rioja,
it’s well worth giving the Reservas or
Gran Reservas a try.
After a long afternoon’s tasting,
I get dropped off at my hotel. It’s in
the centre of Zaragoza; a wonderful
city that’s a hotchpotch of modern
architecture and historical
monuments. I could easily spend
the evening walking from tapas bar
to tapas bar. However, I can’t
stay late because it’s an early
➽Page 14
start tomorrow.
Amazing value...
Storks Tower Tempranillo
Shiraz, 2007, 13.5%
Dark cherry red with notes
of spice and black fruits in
the aromas and ripe
bramble fruits in the rich,
smooth flavours.
£6.21 75cl bottle price
BUY 6 IN-STORE,
GET 5% OFF
Case of 6: £35.39
Quote ref: 060976274
One of Aragón’s many stone villages
Zaragoza old and new
Rich and delicious...
Marques De Carano
Reserva, 2004, 12.5%
A deeply flavoured,
elegant wine that
combines blackberry and
black cherry fruit with
gentle notes of toasted
oak and vanilla.
£7.99 75cl bottle price
BUY 6 IN-STORE,
GET 5% OFF
Case of 6: £45.54
Quote ref: 064412688
On the menu
Migas
(which literally
translates as ‘crumbs’)
is a dish of fried
breadcrumbs and
tasty leftovers, such
as pieces of ham,
cheese, fish or
vegetables. It is
a fashionable first
course in many
Spanish restaurants
and the ideal
accompaniment to
a rich red from
Cariñena.
12 March 2010 Tesco Wine Club Magazine Tesco Wine Club Magazine March 2010 13