Meanwhile, in northern Spain...

V

VS

Victor de la Serna
... we have some rain (the rest of Spain is under a scorching heat wave), and what's with these grassy and mineral whites (2011 Leirana Albariño, 2011 Guímaro Godello) and these aromatic, light reds with nary a trace of oak (2009 Corias Guilfa, 2009 Picos de Cabariezo Roble) made in such places as Asturias as Cantabria where there weren't supposed to be any grapevines? You mean there's an alternative to those oak soups and fruit bombs that we enjoy so much? And what's this with strange grapes called carrasquín and verdejo negro?

This country is definitely going to the dogs.
 
originally posted by VS:
Meanwhile, in northern Spain...... we have some rain (the rest of Spain is under a scorching heat wave), and what's with these grassy and mineral whites (2011 Leirana Albariño, 2011 Guímaro Godello) and these aromatic, light reds with nary a trace of oak (2009 Corias Guilfa, 2009 Picos de Cabariezo Roble) made in such places as Asturias as Cantabria where there weren't supposed to be any grapevines? You mean there's an alternative to those oak soups and fruit bombs that we enjoy so much? And what's this with strange grapes called carrasquín and verdejo negro?

This country is definitely going to the dogs.
Click to expand...

You think that's bad?

You should follow the Mets.
 
originally posted by VS:
Meanwhile, in northern Spain...... we have some rain (the rest of Spain is under a scorching heat wave)
Click to expand...

It doesn't fall mainly on the plain????

I'm so cornfuzzled!
Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by VS:
Meanwhile, in northern Spain...... we have some rain (the rest of Spain is under a scorching heat wave), and what's with these grassy and mineral whites (2011 Leirana Albariño, 2011 Guímaro Godello) and these aromatic, light reds with nary a trace of oak (2009 Corias Guilfa, 2009 Picos de Cabariezo Roble) made in such places as Asturias as Cantabria where there weren't supposed to be any grapevines? You mean there's an alternative to those oak soups and fruit bombs that we enjoy so much? And what's this with strange grapes called carrasquín and verdejo negro?

This country is definitely going to the dogs.
Click to expand...

While I don't doubt that there might be inland valleys, protected from the full brunt of the marine influence, where quality reds can be made, 99% of Cantrabria is too cold to grow grapes for red wine. Colder doesn't equal better after a point, it just makes things underripe.
 
originally posted by VS:
Meanwhile, in northern Spain......these aromatic, light reds with nary a trace of oak (2009 Corias Guilfa, 2009 Picos de Cabariezo Roble) made in such places as Asturias..
This country is definitely going to the dogs.
Click to expand...

Asturian Oh yes indeed. I live in that doghouse.
 
originally posted by D. Zylberberg:
originally posted by VS:
Meanwhile, in northern Spain...... we have some rain (the rest of Spain is under a scorching heat wave), and what's with these grassy and mineral whites (2011 Leirana Albariño, 2011 Guímaro Godello) and these aromatic, light reds with nary a trace of oak (2009 Corias Guilfa, 2009 Picos de Cabariezo Roble) made in such places as Asturias as Cantabria where there weren't supposed to be any grapevines? You mean there's an alternative to those oak soups and fruit bombs that we enjoy so much? And what's this with strange grapes called carrasquín and verdejo negro?

This country is definitely going to the dogs.
Click to expand...

While I don't doubt that there might be inland valleys, protected from the full brunt of the marine influence, where quality reds can be made, 99% of Cantrabria is too cold to grow grapes for red wine. Colder doesn't equal better after a point, it just makes things underripe.
Click to expand...

Here's a pic from my visit to the beautiful vineyards in Cantabria.

052.jpg


Not sure how many hectares under vine there are. That question would be for VS. I mean he wrote the book on Northern Spain for chrissakes. Either way, there are some very good wines being made there. The producer that VS mentioned, and Goyo Garcia Viadero (a natural winemaker from the Ribera del Duero) along with a friend of his from Cantabria produces two different wines under the label 'Beatum'. They are unsulfured, crystalline beauties. Mencia and Palomino on slate. Drank the Palomino recently here with a bunch of friends. Showed very well. This little slice of Cantabria could be the future. I mean there has to be more than two people making wine here. Why not?
 
originally posted by D. Zylberberg:
99% of Cantrabria is too cold to grow grapes for red wine. Colder doesn't equal better after a point, it just makes things underripe.
Click to expand...

Mmmm... I have the impression you are confusing Cantabria with Cumbria. No part of Spain, except the mountaintops, is too cold for viticulture. Some are too wet, but even that obstacle is surmountable.

As Chris' pic shows, the Liébana valley has this wonderfully Mediterranean look and old mencía vines clinging to its slopes. Lusía and Picos de Cabariezo make fine reds there. But also down by the sea, near the Asón river estuary, several wineries are making commendable whites such as Ribera del Asón, renewing the lost tradition of Santander chacolís - until the early 19th century, more light white wine was made there than in the neighboring Basque Country.

There's a modest area under vines in Cantabria indeed - about 80 hectares. Enough for a half dozen wineries to operate.

Oh! As Chris mentions, there's a little book out there, 'The Finest Wines of Rioja and Northwestern Spain' (Univ. of California Press, 2011), which considerably develops these themes...
 
originally posted by Chris Coad:
originally posted by VS:
Meanwhile, in northern Spain...... we have some rain (the rest of Spain is under a scorching heat wave), and what's with these grassy and mineral whites (2011 Leirana Albariño, 2011 Guímaro Godello) and these aromatic, light reds with nary a trace of oak (2009 Corias Guilfa, 2009 Picos de Cabariezo Roble) made in such places as Asturias as Cantabria where there weren't supposed to be any grapevines? You mean there's an alternative to those oak soups and fruit bombs that we enjoy so much? And what's this with strange grapes called carrasquín and verdejo negro?

This country is definitely going to the dogs.
Click to expand...

You think that's bad?

You should follow the Mets.
Click to expand...
Just because they lost two straight to my Dodgers doesn't mean they are a bad team, it just means they are a horrible team. Into your life a litle rain must fall. Hang in there booby, better times are around the corner.
 
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