Category: notes

Photo © Ryan Opaz

A few questions popped into my head recently about Rioja wines, about their predominance in the Spanish market amongst other things. Who better to clear up my doubts, I thought, than my good friend Ryan, at Catavino.net. Read on, and do check out his great site on Spanish wines.

Q: Why have a majority of people outside Spain only ever heard of La Rioja wines?

A: Marketing, that’s it really, and money. Rioja has invested early and well. Today the name Rioja stands apart from Spanish wine. In fact a recent survey by the Wine Academy of Spain found that 2 out of 10 wine drinkers recognized Tempranillo (primary grape used in Rioja) as a variety and 68% of wine drinkers thought Rioja was in Italy.

Q: Do they actually make some of the best wines in Spain?

A: Yes, and like any region in Spain they also make some of the worst. Wine is in most cases subjective, and therefore if you don’t like wine from Rioja don’t drink it, and if you do like it, well then do drink it. I would say that 80% or more of the Rioja on my supermarket shelf here in Terrassa, Cataluña, is pure rubbish. But the name sells so people buy it. Sad really.

Q: What Rioja wines should people look out for in Spain or abroad?

A: Really I think that most Rioja wines become interesting at the 10 euro price point. Sure there are cheaper ones worth considering, but in the end you get to 10 euros and most times you get a wine worth the money. Names I have always had luck with include: Muga, LAN, Lopez de Heredia, and RODA, none of which should surprise anyone, though I would look to new names such as Bodegas Tobia, a winery that is really tryinig to do new things, while at the same time respecting traditon.

Q: Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva – Does it really matter?

A: Yes and no. The best value you can get is from a Crianza. Usually they are not overpriced and are still full of fruit and vigor. Whereas Reservas and Gran Reservas can be over-priced and unless you know where to reach you can find yourself with a glass of tired grape juice.

Q: I want to do a bit of wine tourism in La Rioja, where should I head for?

A: Head to www.LaRiojaTurismo.com and check out what they have to offer. Rioja right now is working hard to show itself as a complete package. You can ride horses, take a balloon ride, see dinosaur tracks, visit ancient cities, and eat some amazing foods, all this and you’ll never be far from a great glass of wine.

Q: Any final La Rioja thoughts?

A: Follow us next week as we spend a week in Rioja tasting wines, visitng bodegas and doing a few things off the beaten track. I am a Rioja skeptic. I know Rioja makes great wines, but lately I’ve had trouble finding them. This next week is my chance to explore and search for some of the hidden treasures in Rioja. I’m really looking forward to what we find.

Thanks Ryan! Head over to catavino.net to follow Ryan as he spends a great week in La Rioja, and do let us know, do you drink it? Or do you venture into other wine regions of Spain?

We recently asked people what they wanted us to talk about on our Notes in Spanish podcasts, and we got lots of great ideas. So, I’d like to ask the same here at Notes from Spain. After all, one of my favourite podcasts of recent months, on Ramirez Guitars, came from a reader suggestion sent in by email.

What would you like to see on this blog? What would you like me or others to write or podcast about from here in Spain? Please (please!) write suggestions in the comments below, or send them in by email if you prefer.

Thanks, I can’t wait to hear your suggestions. Ben

First of all, Happy New Year to everyone!

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to start learning, or to learn more Spanish this year, then Marina and I have written a free report to really help boost your Spanish learning in 2008.

It’s packed full of tips and pointers on how to really motivate yourself to learn more, and on how to enjoy learning Spanish to the full. Click here for full details over at NotesinSpanish.com

Happy New Year Again!

OK, I promised I would eventually tell you what I most love about my country of origin. Marina and I have just spent a week in the UK, coming up with the following list (in no particular order!):

1. Help for people in wheelchairs. We were very impressed by how British Rail helped people in wheelchairs on and off trains, and by the number of ‘push here to open’ buttons set up for people in wheelchairs outside shops and offices. I think the UK does very well at helping people with disabilities, though no doubt there is still a long way to go.

2. Marmite, and bangers and mash.

3. International food in supermarkets. Herbs, spices, sauces and ingredients from a huge range of the world’s cuisine can be picked up in a decent-sized supermarket. Not the same in Spain.

4. The British countryside. The rural landscapes in Britain are as majestic, stunning and alluring as any you might find in the rest of the world, all year round. Even in winter, when leafless trees rise out of back-lit, mist-covered hillsides, Britain is astoundingly beautiful.

5. BBC Television and Radio. So what if you have to pay for it, I’m pretty sure it’s worth it.

6. The general standard of living is very high these days. Most people have comfortable houses, big TVs, decent food on the table, and long holidays.

7. The social security/benefits system seems to work. Single mothers with several kids and no work seem to get by one way or another. The NHS may be short of hospital beds but at least all healthcare is free.

8. Loo paper is softer and longer (than that found in Spain).

9. The police are approachable and seem like a decent bunch. One policeman we talked to while waiting for a crashed car to be pulled off an icy road was a thoroughly nice chap. (Spanish police often seem a touch arrogant and uninterested by comparison, but that is a vast generalisation of course).

10. What would you put for number 10?

Hi everyone,

Marina and I want to wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year, and to thank you enormously for reading, commenting on, listening to, and participating in Notes from Spain this year. We look forward to more in 2008!

The blog will be a bit quiet over the next week as we attend to the rigors of the Spanish Christmas schedule. In the meantime, do join in the discussions in our incredibly friendly forum.

Happy Christmas!

Ben and Marina

Bear with us while I try and bring the front page design into a new phase… a few errors need ironing out, but I’ll get there soon! I’ll be reorganising the explore spain links on the left as well so that they go to sub pages highlighting the best content from the past, useful subcategories etc… should all be sorted in a day or two!

…does it matter?

And other questions for the future-now:

Is a blog only a blog if someone reads it? Is a musician only a musician if he has a Myspace (substitute any other social network) page? And here’s the real question: Is a word only a word if it’s indexed by Google?

From: The possibility of unperceived off-line existence.

Points for the most philosophical answer – and I’ve got a philosophy degree you know, so I’ll know if you’re faking it 😉

…for podcasts, photos, and things!

Back in a couple of days, and in the meantime, we highly recommend you dive into the wonderful Notes from Spain forums!

Photo – fish shop in Lavapies

In April 2007, 30 intrepid Notes from Spain forum members came over to Madrid for a wonderful weekend of great food, drink, and general Spain-loving fun. It was such a success that we decided that we just had to organise another ‘Great Madrid Escape’ in 2008. Are you up for it?

Full details in the forum!

“I’ve seen a couple of stories in the last week which demonstrate just how vital it is for us to have more people playing golf.”