You can usually taste the difference between a good bottle of wine and a not-so-good one. However, a good wine does not have to cost the earth. Would you be able to differentiate between a cheap wine and an expensive one?
The ABC Spanish newspaper has selected the 10 best Spanish red and white wines available that cost less than 10 euro. The prices offered have been given by the wine merchants themselves, although they may vary depending on where you buy them from.
Best Spanish Red Wines
Out of these ten red wines, three originate from Cataluña, two are from Castilla y León, two from Valencia and one each are from Aragón, Castilla-La Mancha and Madrid.
Castell de les Pinyeres
This wine has been voted the best out of all the less expensive wines. It’s fresh, balsamic with a hint of red fruit. It keeps its taste when you drink it, although the alcoholic flavour disappears if taken with food. It’s a great wine.
- Points: 93
- Price: 8,50 €
- Year: 2011
- Origin: Montsant
- Grapes: Garnacha (50%), mazuelo (40%) and cabernet sauvignon
- Producer: El Masroig (Tarragona)
- Website: www.cellermasroig.com
Orto Tinto
This looks like a cheap wine, yet it has been voted the second favourite out of all Spanish red wines for under 10 euro. It is extremely good value for money and maintains its flavour. It is balanced, flavoursome and has combined the choice of grapes well.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9-10 €
- Year: 2012
- Origin: D.O. Montsant
- Grapes: Samsó (55%), garnacha, cabernet sauvignon and ull de lebre
- Producer: Ortovins. El Masroig (Tarragona)
- Website: www.ortovins.com
Castrillo de Duero
A highly rated wine last year, this year’s vintage may have lost a touch of its taste, kick and attractiveness. Nevertheless, it has still been voted the third best Spanish red wine for under 10 euro. It has maintained its structure and flavour, just not as in the same quantities as in previous years. It’s still a great wine, though.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9 €
- Year: 2012
- Origin: Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
- Grapes: Tempranillo
- Producer: Alfredo Maestro. Peñafiel (Valladolid)
- Website: www.alfredomaestro.com
Rebels de Batea
This is a great young wine. You can taste the fruit in every mouthful and its flavour is apparent, persistent and strong. This is a pleasant wine and one to watch in the future.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: D.O. Terra Alta
- Grapes: Garnacha negra
- Producer: 7 Magnifics. Batea (Tarragona)
- Website: www.7magnifics.com
Las Retamas
What you really want out of a good wine is the quality of its fruit and for that to come through with each mouthful. This is exactly what you get with this wine. It’s balanced and boasts a certain amount of playful freshness and youth, with a hint of maturity at the same time. Great value for money.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9,50 €
- Year: 2012
- Origin: D.O. Vinos de Madrid
- Grapes: Tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah
- Producer: El Regajal. Aranjuez (Madrid)
- Website: www.elregajal.es
Celler la Muntanya
This is a great wine that is very rich in flavour. It has been praised for its excellent quality-price ratio, and for the intriguing blend of different grapes.
- Points: 92
- Price: 10 €
- Year: 2010
- Origin: Vino de la Tierra de Alicante
- Producer: Celler La Muntanya. Muro de Alcoy
- Website: www.cellerlamuntanya.com
Patio
This is a strange one and not to everyone’s taste, but it is a good wine. The alcohol content is not very apparent and there’s even the doubt that it could be slightly acidic. Nevertheless, it has a deep flavour and is definitely one to try.
- Points: 92
- Price: 10 €
- Year: 2010
- Origin: La Mancha
- Grapes: Syrah (70%), petit verdot, graciano and tempranillo
- Producer: Samuel Cano. Mota del Cuervo (Cuenca)
Juan de Juanes
This is an aromatic wine whose smell lingers daintily in the air. The taste is fantastic and it has exactly the right blend of fruit, volume, finesse and time mellowing in the barrel. A very elegant and flavoursome wine that appears to be more expensive than it really is.
- Points: 92
- Price: 6 €
- Year: 2010
- Origin: D.O. Valencia
- Grapes: Merlot, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc
- Producer: Vinos de la Viña. Font de la Figuera (Valencia)
- Website: www.ventadelpuerto.com
Fuentespina Selección
This is a masterful wine that has found the balance between the amount of fruit and the scent of the barrel. It is an extremely flavoursome, fruity specimen with a toasty and mature character.
- Points: 92
- Price: 10 €
- Year: 2010
- Origin: D.O. Ribera del Duero
- Grapes: Tempranillo
- Producer: Avelino Vegas. Santiuste (Segovia)
- Website: www.avelinovegas.com
Cotos de Hayas Garnacha Centenaria
This is a great, reliable wine, one that you can really trust. It has everything that it should have, and in all the right places and quantities. It’s fruity, flavoursome and with a touch of heartiness from the barrel.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9,90 €
- Year: 2013
- Origen: D.O. Campo de Borja
- Grapes: Garnacha
- Producer: Aragoneses. Fuendejalon (Zaragoza)
- Website: www.bodegasaragonesas.com
White wines
Spanish red wines are probably more popular and well known than their white counterparts. In saying that, there are just as many excellent white wines that have been produced in Spain as there are red ones. And the consumption of Spanish white wine is continuously rising as more and more people are opting for the paler grape instead, or as well!
All the wines that appear below are the best within the 10 euro or less price range allowed. Surprisingly, none of them originate from the region of Galicia, which is the possibly the region that produces the best white wines in the country. The reason being is that they are priced above 10 euro.
Four of the white wines listed below were produced in Castilla y León, three are from Cataluña and one each originate from the Balearic Islands, Castilla-La Mancha and the Basque Country.
Sumarroca Xarel.lo
This is a high-quality, delicate, fresh wine that is peppered with twists of citrus fruit here and there. It’s a very balanced and dignified specimen.
- Points: 92
- Price: 7 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: D.O. Penedés
- Producer: Sumarroca. Subirats (Barcelona)
- Website: www.sumarroca.es
Capricho Val de Paxariñas
This is a fresh and sweet wine made predominantly from one excellent variety of grape. It’s a young wine, but a delightful one at that.
- Points: 92
- Price: 8-10 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: D.O. Bierzo
- Grapes: Godello (85%) and doña blanca
- Producer: Gancedo. Quilós (León)
- Website: www.bodegasgancedo.com
Sa Rota Blanco Barrica
This wine is different. It brings out the best of the grapes used and has resulted in a fresh, fine, balanced wine. If wines had personalities, this one would be joyful and happy.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: D.O. Pla i Levant
- Producer: Bordoy. Lluchmajor (Balearics)
- Website: www.bodegasbordoy.es
Blanco Nieva Pie Franco
This is an intensely aromatic fresh and young wine with hints of mature fruit, fennel, smokiness and minerals. It is bold, flavoursome and a very popular choice.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9,40 €
- Year: 2013
- Grapes: Verdejo
- Origin: D.O. Rueda
- Producer: Viñedos de Nieva. Nieva (Segovia)
- Website: www.vinedosdenieva.com
Aire en el Patio
This is a special white wine. It’s almost like a cider with its strong apple flavour, but it’s not for everyone’s palette. It’s lively, voluminous and big. Definitely one to try.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: Vino de la Tierra de Castilla-La Mancha
- Grapes: Airén
- Producer: Samuel Cano. Mota del Cuervo (Cuenca)
Quintaluna
Presented in a nice bottle, this white wine is bold. It is very flavoursome but is perhaps less fresh and light than the others.
- Points: 92
- Price: 6,70 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
- Grapes: Verdejo
- Producer: Ossian. Nieva (Segovia)
- Website: www.ossian.es
Ácrata Albillo
This is a fantastic white wine made from some of the best varieties of white grape. It’s very aromatic and the smell gives off hints of green apple, pear and mandarin perfume. Despite being a white wine, it’s deep and unique. One to enjoy.
- Points: 92
- Price: 8 €
- Year: 2011
- Origin: Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
- Grapes: Albillo blanco (45%), garnacha blanca, moscatel and airén
- Producer: Kirios de Adrada. Adrada de Haza (Burgos)
- Website: www.kiriosdeadrada.com
Gessamí
Many overlook this wine due to its sweetness, but the flavour of Gessamí is deceiving. It’s playful, fresh and delightful.
- Points: 92
- Price: 9 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: D.O. Penedés
- Producer: Gramona. San Sadurní de Noya (Barcelona)
- Website: www.gramona.com
Marqués de Alella
The strong character of this wine hits you before you’ve even taken a sip from the glass. It’s got personality, fruitiness and volume, but is another one that will only draw a select audience.
- Points: 92
- Price: 8 €
- Year: 2011
- Origin: D.O. Alella
- Grapes: Pansa blanca
- Producer: Marqués de Alella. Tiana (Barcelona)
- Website: www.marquesdealella.com
Upaingoa
A very lively and rich wine and a good one to end the list with. It has hints of citrus, flowers and perfume, yet it is balanced and lively.
- Points: 92
- Price: 7,50 €
- Year: 2013
- Origin: D.O. Getariako Txakolina
- Grapes: Hondarribi zuri, petit courbu and riesling
- Producer: Naparralde. Oñate (Guipúzcoa)
- Website: www.upain.es
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