Wine and travel have long been great partners. For those of us who make their living writing and talking about wines, travel is not a luxury but an essential. When you read this column, I’ll be flying back to Shanghai from a one week trip to Spain’s historic first kingdom, the region of Castilla y Leon. This expansive region in the north of Spain produces many of Spain’s greatest wines. Rolling mountains, low flying clouds and valleys filled with vines provide visitors with a striking, somewhat wild and windswept landscape. These influences of nature also make the region perfect for making high quality red wines. Castilla y Leon is a huge place with nine major wine regions. The most famous region is D.O. Ribera del Duero, while D.O. Toro is the new “rock star” region with hoards of adoring wine drinking fans.
Spain’s Greatest Red Wines
Ribera del Duero is arguably the greatest red wine region of Spain and one of the best in the world. Only Rioja in the north of Spain with its great tradition, and Priorato in the northeast that produces superbly earthy and powerful Mediterranean-style reds, can justifiably contest this assertion. Three of the world’s most acclaimed red wines; Vega Sicilia, Pingus and Pesqura come from this region. This trio of greats commands very substantial prices, but the good news is that there are also plenty of high quality Ribera del Duero red wines at reasonable prices. Wines from this region that can be savored in Shanghai at quite reasonable prices include Altos de Tamaron Crianza and Condado de Oriza Reserva. But let’s take a look at why wines from this region are so special? The combination of excellent gravely soil, elevations between 700 and 900 meters that lead to long sunny days and cool evenings and long ripening seasons along with substantial investment in winemaking and technology has allowed winemakers to craft wines of exceptional quality. In general, wines from this region are deep colored, very aromatic and rich and concentrated. These wines are terrific with all types of red meat including roasted lamb and BBQ beef. Chinese dishes that pair beautifully are Cantonese style suckling pig and Shanxi style lamb chops.
Rising Star
If Ribera del Duero is the defending champion of Spanish red wines, then the region D.O. Toro must certainly be considered a leading contender. A mere decade ago most of the wine world had never heard of the region of Toro. Now, this new star status region boasts some of the most popular and “biggest” wines of Spain. In the wine world, the word big refers to concentrated wines with high alcohol. The wines of the more famous Ribera del Duero are certainly big, but the wines of Toro are even bigger. Purest may still side with the Ribera del Duero because of the combination of power and elegance. However, if one’s taste preference is a huge, well made red wine then Toro wines are you sumptuous solution? There are not many Toro wines available in Shanghai but a few good ones are Gago Cosecha Vino Tinto and Dehesa Gago Cosecha. If big and bigger is your thing than wines from Toro are certainly the right wines for you.
