"Grapes of Spain has been importing wines from Spain since 2002 and currently has a portfolio of some 36 producers and 90+ wines from all parts of the country. Located just outside Washington DC, the company is owned and operated by Aurelio Cabestrero who is originally from Madrid. Before becoming an importer, Aurelio worked as a sommelier in Spain’s Café de Oriente and in Washington DC for the Taberna del Alabardero and Marcels restaurants. We have come to know Aurelio over the years as a first-class sommelier and a highly knowledgeable and dynamic importer of Spanish wines.
We recently visited with Aurelio and his long term colleague Andrew Holod to catch up with Grapes of Spain’s top value wines. As Aurelio has often said: “I always search for wines that provide the best value for the money whether at $10 per bottle or $100.” After examining our reviews of the wines in Aurelio’s portfolio, readers will realize if they don’t already that Spanish wines offer tremendous value for money and are authentic expressions of the country’s diverse terroir. Moreover, there are many talented winemakers and Spanish cooperatives producing wines of value and quality. Of note is the unique collaborative venture between Aurelio and Isaac Fernandez, one of Spain’s most acclaimed winemakers.
The wines reviewed below by appellation are only a small portion of Aurelio’s selections, but they are a good representation of the wines currently being produced in Spain today. They are also for the most part priced at $15-$20 per bottle."
Further information about these wines click on the wine names below.
The Wines by Region:
Rias Baixas
Mar de Viñas 2018 - 90 points
Gran Vinum Selección Especial 2018 - 92 points
Nessa 2018 - 90 points
Esencia Divina 2018 - 92 points
Txakoli
Txakoli Malda 2018 - 89 points
Bierzo/Ribeira Sacra
Adras Mencia 2016 - 90 points
Luna Beberide Godello 2017 - 91 points
Finca la Cuesta 2015 - 91 points
Luna Beberide Art 2016 - 93 points
Paixar 2015 - 94 points
Campo de Borja
Legado del Moncayo Dry Muscat 2017 - 89 points
Legado del Moncayo Garnacha Blanca 2017 - 88 points
Legado del Moncayo 2018 - 89 points
Legado del Moncayo Vendimia Seleccionada "Montaña 2017 - 91 points
La Mancha
Viña Jaraba Reserva 2014 - 90 points
Viña Jaraba Cosecha 2016 - 87 points
Pago de la Jaraba 2014 - 90 points
Viña Jaraba Selección Especial 2015 - 91 points
Terra Alta
Las Colinas del Ebro Garnatxa Blanca 2017 - 88 points
Las Colinas del Ebro Garnatxa Negra 2017 - 89 points
Calatayud
Roque Colas 2013 - 90 points
Acentor Garnacha 2017 - 90 points
Priorat
Vega Escal Crianza 2015 - 91 points
Rioja
Viña Otano White Barrel Fermented 2016 - 89 points
Solarce Blanco 2016 - 89 points
Casa la Rad Blanco 2015 - 92 points
Solarce Tinto 2016 - 89 points
Casa la Rad Tinto 2015 - 90 points
Navarra
Xi'ipal Garnacha 2015 - 91 points
Xi'ipal Tempranillo 2015 - 90 points
Xi'ipal Graciano Gracia Vid 2015 - 92 points
Paal 01 Syrah 2015 - 89 points
Paal 01 Syrah 2014 - 92 points