There's no
doubt about it, Spain is the most exciting country in Europe when it comes to
wine. As Europe's second most mountainous country, with exposure to seas and
oceans on every side, it's very diverse in terroir, culture, language and
lifestyle.
In
northern Spain there are four main wine producing areas: Rioja, Galicia,
Catalonia and Ribera del Duera in Castilla y Leon. Each is unique and produces
fine wines with its own Denomination of Origin guarantee. The heart of
wine-producing northern Spain is Rioja, which has produced high quality wines
for centuries. (In the 1800s Rioja benefited from its alliance with Bordeaux,
conferring technological advantages unknown to other Spanish regions.) But
quality doesn't stop in Rioja. Navarra is home to many of the most modern and
cutting edge producers. Calatayud and Campo de Borja are home to some of the
greatest Grenache vineyards in the world outside of the Southern Rhone, and
Priorat and the surrounding area of Montsant in Catalonia produce some of the
renowned Spanish wines.


Sarah Jane
Evans, the world's leading authority on the wines of Spain, begins with a
history of the region: from phylloxera, the replanting of different, and
international, varieties through the aftermath of the Civil War and the effects
on the wine industry, to recovery and innovation in late 20th century, the
promise of the 21st century and the rediscovery of indigenous varieties, as
well as a quick detour through the recent effects of the economic crisis. She
then takes the sub-regions in turn, starting with a profile before opening out
into discussion of the key producers and their top wines.


Evans' surefooted
guide to the wines of northern Spain is an essential companion for anyone
interested in Spanish wine, from students and professionals to interested wine
tourists.