Over in western Spain, just north of Portugal, Rias Baixas and its white Albarino grape get most of the wine world's attention. But a little further inland is the Bierzo appellation where the red grape Mencia prospers. This version from famed winemaker Alvaro Palacios is made from very old vineyards on rocky hillsides that bring to mind the Piedmont in northern Italy. Elegant and delineated on the palate with a medium body, where you find a fine wrap of chalky tannins to the nimble, elegant red berry fruit. Bright, harmonious, and beautifully polished.

The 2023 Terras Gauda O Rosal is an exemplary bottling of a truly stellar Spanish white wine. Full-bodied with soft acidity, this wine is lively on the palate, with predominant flavors of ripe peaches, tangerines and orange peel, coupled with delicate earthy notes and floral undertones.

Granbazan planted a winery in the heart of Rias Baixas wine country in 1981. At the time, the region was hardly known outside of the local community and pilgrims who reached the end of the Camino de Santiago on Spain’s Atlantic shore. The founders of Granbazan saw an opportunity to bring Albarino to a wider audience. Their list of firsts in the region is long. The first to use temperature controlled fermentation. The first to employ an enologist. The first to make wine from free-run juice, and for many people outside of Spain, it was their first taste of Albariño. We recommend this wine for your next taste of Albariño, a citrusy, spicy and salty joy with aromas of lime, green apple, pineapple, fresh ginger root and salt. The palate walks a tightrope between electric acidity and lightly creamy, full body. Flavors of apple and lemon and lime lead to a finish of lemongrass, beach roses and sea salt. A brilliant match for scallops, paella, or octopus dishes.

With a straw-yellow hue and steely highlights, its brilliant appearance invites you to delve into its exuberant aroma. Bringing it to the nose, it unfolds a spectrum of fruity notes such as apple and peach, accompanied by a hint of baked brioche and buttery bread that evokes the warmth of a home. On the palate, it begins with a creamy entry and unfolds with a refreshing acidity that brings to mind juicy tart apples and pears, sprinkled with subtle floral and herbaceous notes. This wine stands out for its enveloping structure and an intense, lingering finish, ideal for those who appreciate whites of great expressiveness and freshness.

The blends 85% Mencía, 8% Brancellao and 7% other grapes from Val do Bibei, Ribeira Sacra. Aged up to 14 months in barrels and foudres, it displays a deep purple hue with blue tones. It's expressive, with herbal and red fruit notes, hints of blood orange, pomegranate, violet and a subtle barrel influence. Fine tannins, slight freshness and a touch of wet earth balance its ripeness.