One should not make the mistake to believe that cava is a cheap alternative to champagne. No more than that sancerre is a cheap version of white burgundy (or vice versa). No, cava is its
Now, wine producers in the Spanish region of Ribera del Duero can make white wine and call it DO Ribera del Duero. So far, this designation has been for red wines only. The whites account
Rioja is experiencing something of a renaissance right now. To some extent, it is thanks to young, dynamic producers who think it is time to refresh Rioja’s image in the world. Therefore, we have recently
Henkell Trocken is one of the world’s most famous sparkling wines. The German company Henkell & Co is also the largest producer in the world of sparkling wines since the purchase of Spanish Freixenet in
We continue to fill up with more info in the section we call “resources” on our travel site, BKWineTours.com. Here you can find tips and advice on how things work in different countries. For example,
Handy tips on tipping customs, shopping hours, restaurant etiquette, taxi and transport, and more. One should perhaps not take too seriously rules about how to behave. On the other hand, it can be dangerous to
The Swedish vineyard Fredholms Vingård has won a medal in a wine competition in Rioja, the International Wine Awards Spain 2018. And not just any medal but a Great Gold Medal. We say a big
Portugal and Spain have also been hit hard by forest fires, just like the fires in California. A dry and hot October made it easy for fires to start. When the hurricane Ophelia came, the
Traditionally, Rioja is simply Rioja. No vineyards or villages or the like on the label. But in the same way that Rioja wines are exciting and modern today, the rules also evolve. A little while
Henceforth it is allowed for Rioja to indicate the name of the vineyard from which the grapes come from on the label. Many producers have impatiently been waiting for this. Consumers want, says the Rioja
One of our favourites in Penedès is Parés Baltà, an organic and biodynamic estate (certified Demeter), run by the brothers Joan and Josep Cusiné. But the winemakers are their wives, Elena Jiménez and Marta Casas.
Eurostat has recently published a variety of interesting statistics on the EU’s vineyards and wine industry. The EU currently has more than 3 million hectares of vineyards and 80% of it is classified as quality
“Singular terroir, estate character, noble pedigree” Sometimes a winery doesn’t just surprise you – it knocks you on your palate. I discovered such a winery by happy accident while tasting wines from another country, Achaval-Ferrer
Dominio do Bibei have a super modern facility in southern Spain but only uses traditional varieties. When the producer came to visit Stockholm BKWine Magazine’s Peter Cronström was there. Ribeira Sacra, which translated means the
The Cava house Freixenet has for some time been looking east towards the Italian Prosecco competitors. And now we see the result. Freixenet is launching its on Prosecco DOC and Prosecco DOCG. The two wines
Despite being 60-90 minutes by car or rail from Madrid, compared to most of Spain’s known quality wine regions the ‘Garnacha de Gredos’ area remains unknown to the US wine pro. Its establishment as a
Gredos. It’s not a misspelling of ‘credos’ or clever mispronunciation of ’Speedos’, rather a breathtakingly scenic mountainous area 1.5 hours drive west of Madrid called Sierra de Gredos. This recently emerged trend is based on
Clàssic Penedès is a sparkling wine from Catalonia in northern Spain. Sparkling wine has been made under the appellation DO Penedès for quite some time. But in 2014 the rules for Clàssic Penedès were revised
Spain joined the EU in 1986. Large investments followed, also in the wine industry. New vineyards were planted, new wines were created, and producers began to charge higher prices for their wines. New and sometimes
At the occasion of the international sherry week (November 7 to 13) Gonzalez-Byass did a tasting over video with several European cities, including Stockholm. The tasting was led, on video, by Gonzalez-Byass’ chief winemaker Antonio
We must admit that when a blue wine was launched a few months ago we did not think it deserved a mention in the BKWine Brief. It felt too bizarre and somehow so unnecessary. However,
The style of a Rioja wine is determined by whether it is a crianza, a reserva or gran reserva. And the different levels are determined by how long the wine has been aged by the
If the Spanish winegrowers were allowed to decide, the Spanish vineyard surface would this year increase by 13 500 hectares. But Spanish authorities, after lobbying from co-operatives and other agricultural organisations, have set the limit
Last year’s harvest was the earliest anyone had ever experienced in Rioja. And the fastest. The harvest in Rioja usually takes two months. In 2015 it took the four weeks. Moreover, it was a very
France imports more wine than you might think. Last year the country imported a record amount of wine and most of it was cheap bulk wine from Spain. In total France imported 7.2 million hectolitres
Rioja is slowly but surely making a comeback on the world market. However, for the comeback to be a success certain producers think that things must change. But the mills grind slowly in Rioja. Producers
What? Disgorge? Simple. You put the bottle upside down in freezer liquid, you take of the temporary cork, you fill it up with a little bit of extra wine (if needed), bang in a new
Paella is a very Spanish dish. Usually one thinks of Paella Valenciana (from Valencia) when talking about it. But it is made in many different places in Spain. Want to discover some genuine paella? Here
Catalonia in north-east Spain produces some wonderful wine and is home to a fantastic gastronomy. On the wine side it is of course also famous for the cava, Spain’s sparkling wine. Catalonia also makes some
When you are in Spain having a few tapas can easily turn into a whole dinner. You go from bar to bar and try a few tapas (or pintxos that it is sometimes called) and
One should not make the mistake to believe that cava is a cheap alternative to champagne. No more than that sancerre is a cheap version
Now, wine producers in the Spanish region of Ribera del Duero can make white wine and call it DO Ribera del Duero. So far, this
Rioja is experiencing something of a renaissance right now. To some extent, it is thanks to young, dynamic producers who think it is time to
Henkell Trocken is one of the world’s most famous sparkling wines. The German company Henkell & Co is also the largest producer in the world
We continue to fill up with more info in the section we call “resources” on our travel site, BKWineTours.com. Here you can find tips and
Handy tips on tipping customs, shopping hours, restaurant etiquette, taxi and transport, and more. One should perhaps not take too seriously rules about how to
The Swedish vineyard Fredholms Vingård has won a medal in a wine competition in Rioja, the International Wine Awards Spain 2018. And not just any
Portugal and Spain have also been hit hard by forest fires, just like the fires in California. A dry and hot October made it easy
Traditionally, Rioja is simply Rioja. No vineyards or villages or the like on the label. But in the same way that Rioja wines are exciting
Henceforth it is allowed for Rioja to indicate the name of the vineyard from which the grapes come from on the label. Many producers have
One of our favourites in Penedès is Parés Baltà, an organic and biodynamic estate (certified Demeter), run by the brothers Joan and Josep Cusiné. But
Eurostat has recently published a variety of interesting statistics on the EU’s vineyards and wine industry. The EU currently has more than 3 million hectares
“Singular terroir, estate character, noble pedigree” Sometimes a winery doesn’t just surprise you – it knocks you on your palate. I discovered such a winery
Dominio do Bibei have a super modern facility in southern Spain but only uses traditional varieties. When the producer came to visit Stockholm BKWine Magazine’s
The Cava house Freixenet has for some time been looking east towards the Italian Prosecco competitors. And now we see the result. Freixenet is launching
Despite being 60-90 minutes by car or rail from Madrid, compared to most of Spain’s known quality wine regions the ‘Garnacha de Gredos’ area remains
Gredos. It’s not a misspelling of ‘credos’ or clever mispronunciation of ’Speedos’, rather a breathtakingly scenic mountainous area 1.5 hours drive west of Madrid called
Clàssic Penedès is a sparkling wine from Catalonia in northern Spain. Sparkling wine has been made under the appellation DO Penedès for quite some time.
Spain joined the EU in 1986. Large investments followed, also in the wine industry. New vineyards were planted, new wines were created, and producers began
At the occasion of the international sherry week (November 7 to 13) Gonzalez-Byass did a tasting over video with several European cities, including Stockholm. The
We must admit that when a blue wine was launched a few months ago we did not think it deserved a mention in the BKWine
The style of a Rioja wine is determined by whether it is a crianza, a reserva or gran reserva. And the different levels are determined
If the Spanish winegrowers were allowed to decide, the Spanish vineyard surface would this year increase by 13 500 hectares. But Spanish authorities, after lobbying
Last year’s harvest was the earliest anyone had ever experienced in Rioja. And the fastest. The harvest in Rioja usually takes two months. In 2015
France imports more wine than you might think. Last year the country imported a record amount of wine and most of it was cheap bulk
Rioja is slowly but surely making a comeback on the world market. However, for the comeback to be a success certain producers think that things
What? Disgorge? Simple. You put the bottle upside down in freezer liquid, you take of the temporary cork, you fill it up with a little
Paella is a very Spanish dish. Usually one thinks of Paella Valenciana (from Valencia) when talking about it. But it is made in many different
Catalonia in north-east Spain produces some wonderful wine and is home to a fantastic gastronomy. On the wine side it is of course also famous
When you are in Spain having a few tapas can easily turn into a whole dinner. You go from bar to bar and try a
Newsletter:
Get our free monthly newsletter, the BKWine Brief and join 25,000 other wine and travel enthusiasts.
Text and images may not be used without our permission. More info on copyright.
25,000 subscribers get wine news every month. You too?
