Spanish wines are considered as wines with the highest quality; even Athos the Musketeer fell in love with our wine and ordered 60 bottles of that wonderful red liquid.
In Spain we have an extensive wine culture so it’s common to drink a glass of wine during lunch or dinner. There are different types of wine and there is one for each occasion.
It is quite common to drink “vino de mesa” (standard red wine) at home during lunch; some people mix it with “casera blanca“: a zero caloric water with gas. Some people opt for a better, more matured wine as the common vino de mesa isn’t always the better tasting one; being aged for just one year and usually much cheaper compared to riper wine.
In Spain we have an extensive wine culture so it’s common to drink a glass of wine during lunch or dinner. There are different types of wine and there is one for each occasion.
It is quite common to drink “vino de mesa” (standard red wine) at home during lunch; some people mix it with “casera blanca“: a zero caloric water with gas. Some people opt for a better, more matured wine as the common vino de mesa isn’t always the better tasting one; being aged for just one year and usually much cheaper compared to riper wine.
Like we said, there are many varieties of wine, so it almost impossible to write about all of them, although we will introduce some good wines here at Travel2Spain, so that you will be able to order a nice wine in a restaurant or bar.
When you are having dinner at a friend’s home, it’s nice to bring a bottle of wine. This should be a reasonably good, yet not too expensive wine (5-7 Euros). As the host might open the wine for dinner you don’t want to select a wine that isn’t good; it might ruin dinner and your reputation for being ‘too cheap’.
Most people who drink wine in Spain are 23+ years old, because when we are younger we prefer beer because it is cheaper or buy spirits because they are stronger. The adults and the elderly tend to enjoy the wine culture more and they won’t accept a bad wine.
In Spain, we enjoy drinking wine, so the quality should be good. There are restaurants with excellent food but serve a mediocre wine, and if so; it happens that people won’t go to dinner there because of that. Unless, of course, they prefer beer or another beverage. Food and drinks must have a similar quality and should ideally complement one another. I get upset when I pay €2 for a glass of wine and the price of the bottle in a supermarket is €2.50. It’s just not right.
Between red wines and white wines, the Spanish tend to choose red wine. This also depends on what kind of food you order. As a general rule you would choose white wine if you’re eating fish and red wine for meat.
Our first advice is that if you come to Spain, you shouldn’t assume that Rioja (wine from the Rioja region) is always high quality wine. Some Rioja are low in quality, so it is better to make you choice based on the price. It’s not a failsafe method, but it usually works. If the price is higher than €6 or €7 in a supermarket, you tend to deal with a reasonably decent wine. This same wine might be available for a lower price in a specialized or retail store for €4 or €5.
If you enjoy wine as much as the Spanish do, then be sure that once or twice you might go back to your hotel, apartment or owners direct much happier because of that!
When you are having dinner at a friend’s home, it’s nice to bring a bottle of wine. This should be a reasonably good, yet not too expensive wine (5-7 Euros). As the host might open the wine for dinner you don’t want to select a wine that isn’t good; it might ruin dinner and your reputation for being ‘too cheap’.
Most people who drink wine in Spain are 23+ years old, because when we are younger we prefer beer because it is cheaper or buy spirits because they are stronger. The adults and the elderly tend to enjoy the wine culture more and they won’t accept a bad wine.
In Spain, we enjoy drinking wine, so the quality should be good. There are restaurants with excellent food but serve a mediocre wine, and if so; it happens that people won’t go to dinner there because of that. Unless, of course, they prefer beer or another beverage. Food and drinks must have a similar quality and should ideally complement one another. I get upset when I pay €2 for a glass of wine and the price of the bottle in a supermarket is €2.50. It’s just not right.
Between red wines and white wines, the Spanish tend to choose red wine. This also depends on what kind of food you order. As a general rule you would choose white wine if you’re eating fish and red wine for meat.
Our first advice is that if you come to Spain, you shouldn’t assume that Rioja (wine from the Rioja region) is always high quality wine. Some Rioja are low in quality, so it is better to make you choice based on the price. It’s not a failsafe method, but it usually works. If the price is higher than €6 or €7 in a supermarket, you tend to deal with a reasonably decent wine. This same wine might be available for a lower price in a specialized or retail store for €4 or €5.
If you enjoy wine as much as the Spanish do, then be sure that once or twice you might go back to your hotel, apartment or owners direct much happier because of that!