Iberia, Iberia!—Thursday, December 19th

 

Our last importer spotlight of the year is a good'un, and features a lineup that might just be the most electrifying one we've poured in recent memory: 6 Spanish and Portuguese winemakers from importer Ted Vance, who are without a doubt producing some of the most exciting wine from anywhere in the world.

 

The diversity of wine in Spain and Portugal - of terroir, varietals, approaches in the cellar, and more - is, perhaps, not as recognized as it is in other counties in Western Europe. But both countries are capable of remarkable range and variety. Spain is more than just modern, polished Rioja; it's salty, sea sprayed Albariño from the coast; elegant field blends from Galicia, from vineyards that trace the border of Portugal; lithe, high elevation Treixadura that expresses the dense mineral character of the Miño River Valley. And Portugal is equally as diverse: fresh and aromatic co-ferments of red and white grapes, made by a Paris-born daughter of Portuguese immigrants who returned to her familial, countryside village in the northeast to rebuild the old vineyards there; dark-fruited, balanced Douro from a young, 4th generation winegrower at the helm of his family's high elevation estate (and head enologist/wine director of Dirk Niepoort’s still Douro program!); and a leading contender for the best white wine we've tasted all year, a textured, compelling blend of native varieties from 120+ year-old vines from a legendary producer on a unique granite massif on the side of Serra de São Mamade in Alentejo.

 

Come kick off the holiday with us on Thursday to taste through the lineup; once you do, you'll understand exactly why we're so excited about these wines and the producers behind them!