The Best Wine in Spain According to OCU: It Costs $12 and You Can Buy It at Any Supermarket
Spain is a country filled with vineyards, wineries, and good grapes from which wine is produced. In fact, the peninsula boasts some of the best wines in the world. In this regard, you don't have to travel too far to enjoy this drink. There are routes, like this one that goes from the Magical Towns of Borja to Peñafiel, where you can discover the secrets of the designations of origin that define this land.
It is common to think that the more money invested in something, the higher its quality. But that's not always the case. It tends to be believed that a good wine is expensive, old, and crafted in a very meticulous way. However, the OCU (Organization of Consumers and Users) does not agree. After analyzing 31 aging red wines with 13 designations of origin, the OCU has determined which is the best wine in Spain.
An aging wine is described as a wine that "undergoes a maturation process in oak barrels for a period that can range from 6 to 12 months". It's important to note that Spain is known for its red grapes, with the Tempranillo grape reigning supreme, also known as Cencibel, Tinta fino, Tinta del país, or Ull de lebre.
The Best Wines in Spain
Taking into account "visual, olfactory, and taste characteristics" and a tasting with experts in the field, the OCU has highlighted that the highest-rated wine by tasters was Abadía San Quirce crianza 2019, a wine from the D.O. Ribera del Duero made with Tempranillo grapes. A bottle of this type of wine can be found for a price of $13.50.
In addition to this, there are three other 'good wines' that cost less than $10, suitable for any budget. Thus, "this shows that it's easy to acquire a good aging red wine at an interesting price". Although they don't reach the score of Abadía San Quirce with 93 out of 100, they come close with over 80 points each.
- Prado Rey Origen 2021: this wine scored 81 points out of 100 and has a designation of origin from Ribera de Duero. It is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and the bottle price ranges from $7.25 to $8.90.
- Marqués de Cáceres, crianza 2019: this is a 'monovarietal' Rioja, scoring 84 out of 100 with a price of about $8.11.
- Viñas del Vero, crianza 2019: this last one is priced at only $7.50. It is made with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and has achieved a score of 81 out of 100.
To complete the analysis, experts have focused on other characteristics such as alcohol content, residual sugar, acidity, or additives. Additionally, when tasting, they consider the color that is between garnet and ruby or tile tones, the aroma, and the taste in the mouth. From the OCU, they recommend keeping an eye on offers and storing the bottle in an appropriate place to maximize its qualities.
Because we already know that miracles are not easy to accomplish, and wine is considered a delicacy of the gods by many. Although there are sources in Europe from which alcohol flows like water, for now, the best wines are purchased in bottles.