Spain Divided: THE NORTH

THURSDAYS 15th & 22nd OCTOBER

Please note that the wines for this tasting, and November’s THE SOUTH tasting can be ordered together, meaning our supplier can offer free delivery saving £9.95 on each tasting. See below.

For October and November we are focusing on the world’s third biggest wine producing nation: Spain. Spain’s main wine regions fall neatly either side of an imaginary north-south divide, and we will look at the geographical, climatic and cultural influences that have shaped the wines from each.

Wines of Northern Spain

The most obvious geographical difference between north and south is the coastline. While the wine regions from Rias Baixas round to Txakoli face the wet and windy Atlantic, those in the south bask in the milder embrace of the Mediterranean. That has a huge influence, and the lush and green vegetation of the far northwest is in stark contrast to the arid, desert-like conditions of south.

Altitude plays its part too, with much of the north defined by rugged mountain ranges, while the south sees vast plains and gentler, rolling hills.

In general, the north favours crisp whites and sparkling wines, plus structured classical reds made from Tempranillo. In the South, the great fortified wines are emblematic, but so too are the generous reds made from varieties such as Mourvèdre and Grenache. Over the two tastings of North and South we’ll encounter wines that are exceptions to this broad definition too.

What We’ll Taste Week One

We begin in Rueda, which has burst onto the scene thanks to its most celebrated variety, Verdejo. Our example comes from 25-year-old vineyards on rocky soils 800 metres above sea level. First of week one’s reds is from the cool slate and granite soils of the Ribeira Sacra region in Galicia. Albariño might take the spotlight, but Mencia is tipped by many as Galicia’s star variety. We’ll finish up with a classic Tempranillo from the high quality Ribera del Duero. The 90-year-old vines here produce concentrated fruit, the wine matured in French and American oak barrels.

What We’ll Taste Week Two

A pair of fascinating white wines kick things off in week two. From Campo de Borja, Borsao’s Macabeo is our least expensive wine, but it is beautifully made, this distinctive local variety grown on the foothills of the Moncayo mountain. White wine number two is made by El Escoces Volante, the flying Scotsman, AKA Norrel Robertson MW. Norrel has been making his own wines in Spain for decades, and this is made in Calayatud with Burgundian techniques, including wild yeast fermentation and ageing in barrels. Finally we’ll discover a red wine from Catalunya, close to Barcelona. Mostly Grenache, it is barrel aged and comes again from slate soils.

The Wines

The six wines would normally cost £86 plus £9.95 delivery, but exclusively for this tasting they are offered for just £77 plus delivery, saving £9. Note that delivery is free if spending £150 in total, so if also attending the THE SOUTH tasting in November, take the second option below to purchase tickets for both tastings and you will receive a link to buy all 12 wines with no delivery charge.

The Tasting

This tasting runs over two sessions, from 7pm – 8:15pm each evening. The ticket price of £27.50 covers both sessions and is per household, not per person. We’ll open three wines each night, but they’ll drink just as well over the next couple of days so nothing is wasted. And of course, if you miss a live tasting session we’ll send you the video recording to taste along in your own time.