Hello, wine lovers! We bring back some of our regular sections this week, although we are still far from normal. The agenda of events that Yolanda Ortiz de Arri has been updating on a daily basis since the lockdown began is mostly focused on talks and virtual tastings, but as the country gradually picks up the pace, the frenzy of online activities has dropped.

There are some good news like the reopening of the terrace of La Rioja Alta in Haro's Railway District last week or the restaurant of Bodegas Bentomiz in the fabulous setting of the Axarquia region in Málaga. Recaredo, one of the leading sparkling producers in Penedès, lends its al fresco terrace this summer to some 30 restaurants operating in the Barcelona province. Let's hope to see many more synergies between wine and gastronomy.

Last week, we completed our series of lockdown wines of which we are tremendously proud. 58 wine professionals (sommeliers, PR specialists, shopkeepers, educators and more) told their own stories, somewhat bittersweet at times, but full of good vibes and good wines. We invite you to take a look at this great gallery of characters.

It's our turn to recommended now so our "wine of the week" section is back. The first one is a Rioja red which has been polishing its style and definition in recent years and is now organically certified. Grown on the foothills of Monte Yerga, La Montesa 2017 Garnacha ticks all the boxes for the summer: easy drinking, seductive Mediterranean character, neat presentation and a fantastic price. In addition, the online wine retailer Decántalo is offering a special discount for SWL readers. All you need to do is redeem the coupon below.

Finally, we have reviewed Viña Meín – Emilio Rojo after the acquisition of these two benchmark producers in Ribeiro by the group Alma de Carraovejas. We particularly enjoyed the new white cuvée and we welcome the idea of releasing the wines with some extra time in bottle. Happy week, winelovers!

Amaya Cervera

Virtual wine tastings agenda in June 2020

We have compiled some of the most interesting activities we know about on our virtual agenda of talks and tastings. Most of them are online but as restrictions are gradually eased in Spain, offline activities are likely to return.

La Montesa 2017 Tinto

This is the first organically certified vintage for La Montesa. Grapes are sourced from the eponymous vineyard on the foothills of Monte Yerga in Rioja Oriental. It shows the positive effects of altitude to offset a hot vintage and to add some punch to Garnacha. Scented nose evoking Mediterranean scrubland. This fruit-driven, lively, delicious red is widely available. A smart buy to carry on drinking well when belts have to be tightened. 16.0 points

Viña Meín - Emilio Rojo

The Meín vineyard, in the village of Leiro (Ourense), appears in Galician history books as one of the first inhabited settlements around the San Clodio Monastery. As early as 1158, its abbot mentioned the outstanding quality of the grapes grown there.

#WeStayAtHome: Spanish wine lovers get through the lockdown

We are rarely at an advantage over other workers, but this time freelancers like us who usually work from home at least have prior training to make the coronavirus confinement more bearable.

Wine selling strategies during the pandemic

A recent report about selling wine in a post-Covid-19 world published by Liv-Ex, a market place for fine wine, recommends to accelerate e-commerce strategies to meet consumer demand.

The role of wine in take aways and home deliveries

A regular meeting place for wine lovers in Madrid, Taberna Laredo launched its delivery service on Sunday 4th May. “We cook 10 flagship dishes from our menu on a daily basis plus a fixed menu on weekends and public holidays. We also have a wine list of 20 Spanish wines either made by friends or featuring styles that we particularly like; prices are midway between those of the restaurant and the wine stores,” Miguel Laredo explains. So far, only 10% of the orders have included wine.

What makes Spanish wine different?

The fifth edition of André Jullien’s Topographie de tous les vignobles connus, revised and expanded by his son and published in 1866, introduced Spain and its wines as follows: “A supplier of highly valued wines to Rome in the times of Pliny, Spain has figured prominently among Europe’s wine regions and still retains its dominance for some of its products. Mountain ranges traverse the extensive coastline and border its main rivers offering the most fortunate exposures and the best land to grow vines; finally, the warm climate helps fruit to ripen fast and thoroughly. As a result, in those regions where wines are properly looked after, they distinguish themselves for their complexity, bouquet, strength and longevity; but the bad methods employed routinely ruin these advantages in many vineyards.”

Exploring Muga’s vineyards in Rioja

"In almost 500 years of family history, the Oja-Tirón valley has always been our home," explained Jorge Muga on a windy mid-January morning. Back then, Covid-19 was a distant problem confined to the other side of the world.

Viña Meín 2018 Blanco

Viña Meín 2018 Tinto