Podcasts about viura

Today, John and Charlie drink La Granja, a Verdejo and Viura blend Spanish wine from Trader Joe's. They begin the podcast by recapping their past weeks. Charlie re-brags about his 2021 Bananagrams victory. John talks about a funny quote from a conversation he overheard. Then, it's John's turn to do the blind tasting. Through some brave guesses, John actually tastes the correct tasting notes, which is a Fully Corked first! Later, John embarks on his latest tinfoil hat tirade and the boys share another roommate story. New episodes every Wednesday! Thanks for listening. We hope you enjoyed the episode - please follow for more! YouTube: fullycorkedpod Instagram: fully_corked Audio: https://uppbeat.io/t/moire/old-town

In this episode, Dave and Ray set out to determine if there is typicity with rosé wines in a blind tasting format selected by the podcast producer, Alanna. What were the results of the blind tasting episode? Listen to find out!2023 Rodney Strong Vineyards Rosé of Pinot Noir.2023 Bodegas Muga Rosado (Garnacha and Viura).2022 Nervi-Conterno Il Rosato (Nebbiolo).2022 Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé (65% Mourvèdre, 35% Cinsault).BONUS (5TH) POUR: 2022 @domaineguigal E. Guigal Tavel Rosé.

This week we are talking about a very important Spanish white grape, Viura aka Macabeo. Though lesser known, Viura is a principal grape in Rioja white wines, as well as an addition to traditional Rioja reds.  Or maybe you know it as Macabeo in your favorite Cava. Allie brings us a fresh liter of Viura that would be welcome at any picnic. Julie gives you all the details about why this grape has different names and the diverse ways it is used in winemaking.  We end with a discussion on wine trends and how what you drink can affect what wines are made. Listen in for all of the details. Grab a glass of your favorite Spanish white and join us! Cheers!Support the showCONNECT WITH US: You can follow and message us on Instagram @crushitwinesb You can also reach out via email - Cheers@crushitwineeducation.com If you want to help support the show and get extra content every week, sign up for our Patreon. Join the list to stay up to date on future episodes and featured wines so you can sip alongside us! Finally, we're more than just a podcast! We are a full service wine education company offering an online wine shop, a wine club membership and both virtual and in person classes. Go to www.crushitwineeducation.com to learn more and get 10% off your first order when you sign up for the mailing list! Cheers and thanks for listening!

Vinene fra afsnittet er skænket af HvadDrikkerManTil https://hvaddrikkermantil.dk/   Find smagekasser fra afsnittet her. En lille, en mellem og en mega: https://hvaddrikkermantil.dk/en-paa-kassen-temakasser/   Online smagning med Aseginolaza & Leunda & Tentenublo d. 22. feb kl. 19.00 kan findes her:https://hvaddrikkermantil.dk/vinsmagning/15232/   ....................   Et selvstændigt kongerige fra 1400-tallet i Spanien bliver senere til vinområdet Navarra. I dette afsnit skal vi smage vine derfra og blive klogere på, hvad der gør, kan og vil med deres vine i Navarra.   Efter nogle lidt hårde år er området er nu genopdaget og fortjener i den grad opmærksomhed.   Vi smager Viura og Garnacha og går i dybden med jordbundsforhold og deres betydning for smagen i vinen samt betydningen af gamle vinstokke og marker.   Vi skal også lige have genopfrisket hvad remontage, pigage og infusion er og hvad det gør ved smagen i den færdige vin.   Vi smager på:    1) Txuria, 2022, Aseginolaza & Leunda, Navarra, Spanienhttps://hvaddrikkermantil.dk/omrade/navarra/txuria-2022-aseginolaza-leunda-navarra-spanien/     2) Birak, 2022, Aseginolaza & Leunda, Navarra, Spanienhttps://hvaddrikkermantil.dk/omrade/navarra/birak-2022-aseginolaza-leunda-navarra-spanien/     3) Cuvée, 2021, Aseginolaza & Leunda, Navarra, Spanienhttps://hvaddrikkermantil.dk/omrade/navarra/cuvee-2021-aseginolaza-leunda-navarra-spanien/   .......................   Køb vores bog "Vin for begyndere og øvede" i en signeret udgave her: http://vinforbegyndere.com/   Støt Vin for begyndere podcast her https://vinforbegyndere.10er.app/   Besøg os på Facebook og Instagram, hvor man kan se billeder af vinene og få tips til vin og mad sammensætning.   https://www.facebook.com/vinforbegyndere   https://www.instagram.com/vinforbegyndere   Web: https://www.radioteket.dk/   Kontakt: radioteket@radioteket.dk   Musik: Jonas Landin   Lyt vores bog som lydbog her: Køb den her https://www.saxo.com/dk/vin-for-begyndere-og-oevede_lydbog_9788773397374

POWER STATEMENTS- Affirmations These statements are geared toward keeping you on track everyday to get closer to your goal, your BIG DREAM. Your power statement is simple.  Concise,  projects victory.  https://youtu.be/yLGfPNhtS2U Running through Hell- good examples of Power Statements One point is that you want to take a "baby" step everyday toward your goal. That means you are going to say to yourself "what can I do in the next five minutes to advance toward my goal?" This is a powerful action step.  Combine that with the power statement and you are on your way to success everyday!! What's your VALUE: https://youtu.be/XT36CRqKKmc KUNDALINI Yoga and Meditation are two tools that are a must for clarity, focus, prosperity. Even managing Social Media. Two links in the podcast details to help you manage stress and social media.  Guru jagat and Shiva Rose: https://youtu.be/wuOXYH2K1xY  Anti aging and stress management  Brain Acupuncture- managing social media. It works! https://youtu.be/lzhbueBHVg8 Meditation www.madeinmeditation.org virtual meditation classes - these are amazing classes .  Some are free and some are fee based. Far Niente is a classic buttery and toasty chardonnay  estate  produced since 1979. Rich foods are the best to pair this with. prices vary $50 - $130. Worth it One way to ensure you have a hefty white wine is to try and orange wine... a skin-contact (orange) wine. It imparts a tannic backbone from the time the juice spends on the skin. It also adds texture and weight. Tarpon Cellars in Napa offers wines that take the classic Napa expressions and add a modern twist. Spanish classis whites provide a long finish and great texture, such as Conde Valdemar Blanco from the Rioja region of Spain. This blend of 85% viura, 10% malvasia, 3% sauvignon blanc, and 2% tempranillo blanco has a lot going on. Luscious richness, fresh ripe stone fruit, grassy, lemon flavors, floral aromas. Viura, the main grape, is the same grape used in Cava, where it is called Macabeo. Go de Godello, d.o bierzo Soto $24.  This is found at 4th and Vine.  From the northern region of Spain - Bilbao, Godello is the varital.  Nice headiness, the same richness that goes with cream sauces, lobster, etc. WINE CLUBS In spirit of GIVING: Check out 4th and Vine's $60 gift card offer when you shop with them: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClkWQ4sOrZE/?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU=   My Favorite Things section  Masterclass to create your online course https://imonline.samcart.com/referral/24cclive/mP9iBKaKULc8ktmx   DREAMBUILDER Masterclass sign up http://lifemasteryinstitute.com/go/aff.php?p=vahail&w=DBP_EVG_WRK-E www.dolphinlandings.com GIFT CERTIFICATES  https://www.sootheoursouls.org. WELLNESS WEDNESDAY  My kundalini yoga teacher: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cb-xDCtFT1o/?utm_medium=copy_link vahail1956@gmail.com www.chezvalerie.us.        @valeriehail56  

Nothing is bad in our world unless we THINK it is Bad.  Our perception is what will cause us to THINK certain thoughts about a difficult, traumatic event.  It is important that we choose resiliency and build our inner strength to manage the “ bad” events. Into your genius is a magnificent program to incorporate your six innate GIFTS. BOB Proctor and Mary Morrissey teach us during this program how to use our Super Powers http://lifemasteryinstitute.com/go/aff.php?p=vahail&w=IYG_EVG_WRK-EM Kundalini yoga - why do I always talk about this specific yoga.  Kundalini Yoga relies heavily on meditation, breath and chanting. It's an inner journey that's about harnessing your own internal power. We often use the word technology to describe Kundalini Yoga, as it combines these different aspects to balance the glandular system, increase lung capacity, and strengthen the nervous system in precise and intentional ways. @HARIPRAKAASH  Spanish wines BASQUE HIGH POUR is the way the Basques pour Txakolina into a tumbler style glass . Ameztoi - inventor of Txakoli rose'. “ Rubentis” These are low alcohol happy wines HTTPS://www.demaisonselections.com Methode tradionnelle. Planted on dramatic seaside cliffs  Hondarrabi Zuri, hondarrabi beltza. WHITES Bodegas Ostatu is a family winery located in the heart of the Basque Rioja Alavesa region in the village of Samaniego.  Indigenous varietals Tempranillo, garnacha and Viura  Favorite things https://jenniferhall.towergarden.com/aeroponics TOWER GARDEN Dolphin Landings https://www.sootheoursouls.org www.chezvalerie.us vahail1956@gmail.com merci 

Esta bodega de Baños de Ebro elaboró en 2017 este tipo de vino a modo experimental en una apuesta personal de los jóvenes bodegueros Iker y Alberto Martínez Pangua...

Esta bodega de Baños de Ebro elaboró en 2017 este tipo de vino a modo experimental en una apuesta personal de los jóvenes bodegueros Iker y Alberto Martínez Pangua...

It's Monday! Let's raise a glass to the beginning of another week! It's time to unscrew, uncork, or saber a bottle and let's begin exploring the wine glass! Today on the podcast I am sharing a Master Class I virtually attended on Rioja. The class was hosted by Christian Oggenfuss, CEO of Napa Valley Wine Academy and was presented by MW Kryss Speegle and Dhane Chesson, US Trade Program Director.  Thank you to the Napa Valley Wine Academy for hosting this seminar.  We are all familiar with Tempranillo, from the Rioja region, but in this seminar, we also learned about  Graciano, Garnacha and the white grape variety, Viura. Music: WINE by Kēvens Official Video Follow me on Instagram!   Follow me on Twitter! SUBSCRIBE ON iTUNES STITCHER | iTUNES | GOOGLE PLAY | SPOTIFY | PODBEAN GIVE US A RATING AND REVIEW STAY IN THE KNOW - GET SPECIAL OFFERS Thoughts or comments? Contact Lori at exploringthewineglass@gmail.com. Please like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/exploringthewineglass Find us on Twitter, Instagram , Pinterest, and Snapchat (@dracaenawines) Want to watch some pretty cool livestream events and wine related videos. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel.  Find out more about us and our award winning Paso Robles wines on our website.  Looking for some interesting recipes and wine pairings? Then head over to our wine pairing website.  Thanks for listening and remember to always PURSUE YOUR PASSION! Sláinte! Please support our sponsor Dracaena Wines - Our Wines + Your Moments + Great Memories Use code 'Explore' at checkout to receive 10% off your first order

Vinene i dette afsnit er skænket af JAMAS Wine https://jamaswine.com/ Find den hvide smagekasse her: https://jamaswine.com/collections/smagekasser/products/spansk-hvidvin-vin-for-begyndere-podcast Find den røde smagekasse fra afsnit 23 her: https://jamaswine.com/products/mencia-vin-for-begyndere-podcast Glem ikke hvidvin! Og husk hvidvin fra Spanien. Vi skal smage meget små producenter fra det spanske nord- og nordvestlige hjørne. Vi skal til Ribera Sacra, Bierzo og Rioja. Igen. Vi var der med JAMAS Wine med rødvine, nu er det hvidvinens tur. Hvad var stilen i spanske hvidvine førhen, hvordan udtrykker de sig i nyere tid, og hvad med de helt moderne hvidvine? Hvad er co-fermentering og hvilken type vine giver metoden?  Hvordan smager Viura-hvidvin på +100 år gamle stokke? Og hvad med den ældgamle druesort Godello og Godello på 80 år gamle stokke? Vi skal høre om Godellos redningsmand og lidt spansk vinhistorie. Til slut snakker vi vinåret 2020. Besøg os på Facebook og Instagram, hvor man kan vinde vin og se billeder og andet godt. https://www.facebook.com/vinforbegyndere https://www.instagram.com/vinforbegyndere Web: https://www.radioteket.dk/ Kontakt: radioteket@radioteket.dk Musik: Jonas Landin

De hvide i de røde områder I afsnit 12 skal vi opleve hvidvin, som produceres i et typisk rødvinsområde.  Vi skal til Spanien, Frankrig og Australien. Alle vin er fra et "varmt klima" og der er både sammenstukket vin og enkeltdrue. Kan vi mon gætte rigtig på de tre vin foran os?  Afsnittets vin:  Domaine de rodylée, pris 149 Marqués del Atrio, pris 90 Thorn-Clarke Milton Park, pris 100  Dagens vin er sponsoreret af www.skjold-burne.dk og www.vinfordig.dk ! Philipsonwine er Coravin sponsor!

The StoryThe Lagranja 360 Verdejo Viura 2018 is a $4.99 Trader Joe's import exclusive sourced from vineyards in the Castilla y Leon region of northeast Spain. The Verdejo grape is indigenous to Spain and widely planted and the Viura grape is also known as Macabeo which is one of the 3 grapes traditionally used to make Cava. Trader Joe's carries a whole line of Lagranja 360 wines which are very representative of the types of wine that average Spaniards drink every day.The Castilla y Leon region wraps around the northeast corner of Portugal but does not extend to the Ocean either north or west. The wines of this region are Vino de la Tierra wines which are one step below the DO wines and are roughly the same as IGP wines of Italy and France. The grapes come local communes.A commune is a group of small farmers who band together to pool their resources and produce wine on a scale much larger than they could provide individually. Lagranja 360 seems to have tapped into these communes in different regions of Spain to produce their wines. In the ranking order of wine, a commune is seen as a step or two below wineries with their own estate vineyards. But when dealing with value-priced wine a commune is a great way to get a good wine at a good price.This is the type of wine that folks in Spain who drink wine with lunch and dinner drink. The crazy thing about this Trader Joe's import wine is that it is sold in the US for about the same price it would be in Spain. The majority of people who use wine for their daily meal never spend more than ten bucks for a wine. Wines selling for a few Euros routinely are paired with the meal.One thing you need to remember with wines that are produced particularly for food consumption is that they are designed to reach their balance when sipped with food, they may seem a little too acidic when sipping alone. The Lagranja 360 is produced for export so concessions are made for how Americans drink wine. It will probably be a little more fruit-forward than its Spanish equivalent to better appeal to the American palate.This White wine is Vegan-friendly and uses natural yeast for fermentation. Natural yeast is the yeast that floats in the air and is naturally attached to the grapes' skins. It is thought these yeasts are better suited for the grapes, though I doubt if most people could tell the difference between natural yeast and commercial yeast. Then again natural is usually the way to go when possible. The alcohol content is a mild 12.5%.The Verdejo Viura Tasting NotesThe color is barely there, just a little pale wheat yellow. The nose is ripe and fresh, sort of reminds me of California Chardonnay, there is apple, peach, apricots, pears, lemon, lime, and orange blossom honey. This is a flavorful, crisp wine with just a hint of sweetness (nectar sweet, not sugar sweet). It tastes of grapefruit, peach, green apple, soft spice, and dried apricot. The mid-palate offers lime, the tasting notes mentioned banana and I don't know if it the power of suggestion, but I tasted banana cream. The acidity is solid, this $4.99 wine will make a very good food wine. The finish is strong and sticks around.The Summary * Four ninety-nine never tasted so good. * In a blind tasting with regular ten bucks White wines you would never pick out the Lagranja 360 as the five buck wine. * Cheap and delicious is a very good thing. 

Pick of the Week: Fantini Sangiovese Puglia 2017, from Italy

Pick of the Week: Fantini Sangiovese Puglia 2017, from Italy

Programa Mensual num88. Más información en http://geocastaway.com/88

Saludos geonáufragos del mundo. Debido al paso de la tormenta tropical Selma por El Salvador, nos hemos retrasado un poco en la emisión del programa mensual. Pero aquí estamos de nuevo. Una simple tormenta no puede detener a unos geólogos. A continuación os ponemos todos los links de los que hablamos en la introducción:   Tsunamis in the geological record: Making waves with a cautionary tale from the Mediterranean Presencia de bloques de tsunamis en las costas rocosas del sudeste de Menorca Proyecto Viura: Exploración y producción de gas natural convencional Video de Youtube donde Jack Schmitt lanza el martillo Where on the Moon is Jack Schmitt's Hammer? Podcast Radio Skylab y Señal y Ruido donde hablan de la detección de las ondas gravitacionales  En las demás secciones, África nos habla de Hipatia de Alejandría. Fernanda sobre Lovecraft. Nahum nos actualiza la investigación en Marte y otros lugares del Sistema Solar y Pedro nos pone al día en Geoparques. Algunos links para complementar la sección de Pedro son: Geoparques España Geoparks UNESCO Entradas Hombre Geológico Asociación VaLoJa Página de Crisdeber mencionada en el cierre. También en el dominio Crisdever. Espero que te guste el programa. Deja un comentario y nos vemos el mes que viene.

Named from the stone cellars (cavas) in which the wine is matured, Cava is Spain's premier sparkling wine but it has a lot of quirks and variations, all of which we discuss in the podcast. From unique grapes to diverse sourcing areas to a new top tier classification, we cover it all. Hopefully the show will give you insight into why this wine is so special and why it holds so much potential for becoming even better!  Here are the show notes: Overview of regions and grapes: Cava is from Catalonia and other regions – 95% in Penedes, Sant Sadurni d’Anoia – home of the largest producers like Codorníu and Freixenet, Seguras Viudas Other areas – Rioja, Navarra, Valencia, Aragon, Basque Country, Castilla y Leon, and a few more Most have Mediterranean climate, moderate rain and vienyards are at altitude The wine is made as white or rosado White grapes: Macabeo (most used, also called Viura), Parellada, Xarel-lo, Chardonnay Red grapes: Garnacha, Monastrell, Pinot Noir Because the grapes are mainly native ones, you can’t compare the flavors to Champagne except in production methods Made like Champagne Same sweetness levels of Champagne in order of driest to sweetest: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Seco, Seco, Semiseco, Dulce  History: First made in 1851 Josep Raventos traveled through Europe in 1860s – shilling Cordorniu’s wines (married into the family) but thought Spain could make its own Champagne.Made his own in 1872.   For the first century of their existence, the wines were called Champaña. 1970s -- international laws,enforced and the wine became Cava. Top brands: Raventós i Blanc Gramona (organic) Recaredo (biodynamic) Mestres Bohigas Castellroig New top classification for the category, the Cava de Paraje Calificado. Only vintage dated, only single vineyard – like a burgundy climat Other specifications around acidification, aging levels The first 12 Cava de Parade sites and their owners: Vinyes de Can Martí – Torelló Turó d’en Mota – Recaredo Serral del Vell – Recaredo Vallcirera – Alta Alella La Capella – Juvé i Camps Can Sala – Freixenet La Pleta – Codorníu El Tros Nou – Codorníu La Fideuera – Codorníu Can Prats – Vins el Cep Font de Jui – Gramona Terroja – Castellroig  

Macabeo, or Viura if ya nasty, is a handy little white grape from the North of Spain and the South of France.  Mostly.  One-third of the 'Cava Girls Trio' (a Motown band made up of three wine grapes, they can't sing but man, what a concept, eh?!), this grape felt like it deserved its own stand-alone episode (we'll see).    On this new dose of audio adrenaline (the experience you get from listening to W4SH, not the Christian band), Jason takes you into a dreamscape you didn't even know your psyche was developing all surrounding the Macabeo grape.  Enjoy this with ya homeboys.  Enjoy this with ya shady ladies.  Enjoy this with ya shnozzchompers (you know who they are).  

Navarra is in northern Spain and although a prolific, historic region, it's not well-known. Traditionally it's been associated with making fruit-driven rosé, but its reds are starting to come on strong and it's emerging as an excellent, high quality, high value region. Fast facts on Navarra: Capital: Pamplona, home of the running of the bulls (Fiesta de San Fermin)! DO is south of the city Vineyards are around the foothills of the Pyrenees to the Ebro River in Northern Spain Navarra is part of the historic Basque country – but the Ebro River has the most impact on winemaking here (river valleys are essential to vine growing) We review the storied history of Navarra: From Romans to Moors to Catholics, we discuss the winemaking legacy We talk about the importance of El Camino a Santiago de Compostela -- a 400 mile walk to visit the remains of St. James (Santiago) in Galicia on the western coast 12th c – wine recommended in a guide book to pilgrims Reputation for wine formed through El Camino We discuss the French influence from the 14th century through the 19th c – (1892) when Navarra wines were in high demand post-phylloxera We talk about the modern efforts of the DO, and EVENA, the Estación de Viticulture y Enología de Navarra (Navarra Viticulture and Oenological Research Station), in the Ribera Alta sub-region and how that added legitimacy AND created some issues for Navarra.    We talk geography and terroir: Navarra is large and the climate includes areas with Atlantic-influenced, continental, and Mediterranean climates In the south-east is the Bardenas Reales National Park The Pyrenees mountains in the northeast w/other mtns in north, just below France Atlantic is an hour northwest, Ebro Valley in Southern Part Near Bay of Biscayne in Northwest/Atlantic Ocean   We discuss grapes and wines: Navarra was known only for Garnacha-based rosados EVENA allowed and encouraged French varieties in the 1980s to compete with Rioja (add diversity and it's own identity) — Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon 90% red varieties, 10% white grape varieties 70% of the grapes are native varietals Tempranillo – 33% Garnacha – 24% Graciano – 1.5% Mazuelo/Cariñena .5% (WHITE) Viura – 2.25% 30% of vineyards are planted to international varieties Cabernet Sauvignon – 15% Merlot – 14% Chardonnay – 5.4%   The Sub regions  Tierra Estella: Northwest, borders Basque Country and La Rioja. Highest average altitude and notable Atlantic influence. Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay. Valdizarbe:  Northern area with continental and Atlantic climate. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Cabernet and Merlot all occupy similar surface areas, with Chardonnay and Malvasía. Baja Montaña: In the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains. Continental climate. Garnacha, Tempranillo, with little else grown. Known for rosados. Ribera Alta: Continental climate transitioning from Atlantic to Mediterranean climate.Cereal plantings here (fertile soils!). Tempranillo, Graciano, Chardonnay, Moscatel de Grano Menudo   Ribera Baja: Mediterranean climate. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura, Moscatel.    Finally we hit on identity issues: Too much diversity We decide that Garnacha expresses place and should be the horse they bet on in Navarra! We mention the DO de Pago producers: Señorio de Arínzano and Prado Irache in Tierra Estella and Bodegas Otazu in Valdizarbe.   Go get some Navarra! It rocks!!         

Verdejo from Rueda, Spain: An Original   I love wines from Spain. For many reasons. They’re often inexpensive yet high quality. When they’re good, they’re fresh, layered, and delicious. And maybe best of all, they’re originals – you don’t see every country growing Spanish grapes. These are one of a kind.     The reds are fabulous and what the country is best known for, but the whites are compelling and outstanding too. Albariño from Rias Baixas and the rare white blends of Priorat are particular standouts, but maybe the best white grape of all is Verdejo, a full, creamy, pear and herbal tasting wine with nut and honey notes and enough acid to keep it fresh and lively.  This grape -- possibly native to this area, possibly brought by predecessors of the Moors from North Africa --has settled in well and Rueda, located on a 2,300 foot high plain just northeast of Madrid, is where it shines.     In this dry, boring looking plain of north-central Spain, soils are rocky and well-drained. The vines struggle and if they weren’t so drought resistant they wouldn’t survive. Rueda’s climate is like that of any mid-western area — continental with hot summers and cold winters. The day to night temperature swings (diurnals) are extreme, and that means that the grapes can gather acidity in the cool nights to offset the ripeness they get from sitting in the hot sun all day.     Given the location, weather is erratic. Storms whipping over the Iberian peninsula smack the area and frost, wind, hail, and any number of other natural maladies can maim or kill the crops unexpectedly. And one of those maladies, the killer of all European grapevines in the late 1800s through the early 1900s, the phylloxera root bug, kicked the area in the teeth and put Verdejo at risk of falling into obscurity, if not extinction.     After ripping through the area and killing 2/3 of the vines, growers replanted on American grapevine roots (which are resistant to phylloxera, can anchor the plant, and can take a graft from a different grape species with no noticeable flavor difference). But they picked grapes that produced quantity over quality, and Verdejo, a slower grower, got bumped by Sauvignon Blanc and Viura (also used in Cava and white Rioja).  Most of the stuff produced from 1922 through the 1970s was Sherry-like wine of variable quality often sold in bulk.     Help came from an unlikely source in the 1970s: Marquis de Riscal, a Rioja producer, who decided to bring Verdejo into the spotlight and make dry whites from the grape. The Bodega’s dedication to reviving the grape transformed it. Part of the problem for Verdejo-based wines was that they did seem to oxidize (turn into that sherry-like concoction) quickly. With investment and research, Riscal and other producers found that night harvest, cooler fermentations, and a good dose of sulfur dioxide helps preserve the aromas and freshness of the wines and makes them shine.   My opinion: Good call!   Named for the green color of its berries (verde), Verdejo is the 5th most planted white grape in Spain and is popular in its mother country. And it’s clear why: The grape is unlike any other. It’s aromatic with its citrus notes and usually a distinctive earthy, underbrush/shrubby smell. It tastes like bay leaves, almonds, and has a slight bitterness and great mouth-cleansing acidity. Despite its crispness, wines of Verdejo have a full, smooth, silky texture that I love. It’s a complex, food friendly white -- great with everything from sheep’s milk cheese to pasta or fish in lemon or lemon cream sauces. The grape’s acidity makes it refreshing for warm weather but the full nature of the wine makes it a great fall and winter white too.   Through this praise of the grape, I’ve failed to mention one of the coolest things about Verdejo: you can get great stuff for around US $15. That said, not all Rueda or Verdejo is created equal so let me give you some tips for buying before I sign off.   Wines labeled “Rueda” are only required to be 50% Verdejo — the rest is normally Sauvignon Blanc and Viura, a grape usually used for blending in white Rioja and in Cava, as I already mentioned.   Wines labeled “Rueda Verdejo” or Rueda Superior are required to be 85% Verdejo, but many are 100% and usually indicate so on the bottle. Rueda Verdejo are the best wines, in my opinion. Look before you buy – the label will usually indicate if the wine is 100% Verdejo and that’s what you need to seek out.   Have you had Rueda Verdejo? What do you think? Please go to winefornormalpeople.com/blog and drop a comment and get a full transcript of this audio blog.

Vicente Dalmau Cebrián-Sagarriga is the proprietor of Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta in Rioja and Pazo de Barrantes in Galicia, Spain. Also in this episode, Erin Scala explores the relationship of oak barrels and Rioja wine.

María José López de Heredia manages the López de Heredia winery in Rioja, Spain.   Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks Rioja.