Spanish Alcoholic Beverages

Sangria is a fruity Spanish cocktail made with red wine and chopped fruits such as pears, peaches, berries, apples, nectarines, or pineapple. The beverage is often combined with sugar, orange juice, sparkling water, and even brandy. It is... READ MORE

Rioja was the first Spanish appellation that received protected status. This renowned Spanish region is located in the north of the country, on both sides of the river Ebro. It is best known for its red varietals and blends, and while Tem... READ MORE

This supreme Spanish sparkling wine is made with a blend of grape varieties indigenous to Spain, mainly Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarello. Rosé Cava, called rosat in Spanish, is produced by adding Trepat, Garnacha, or other red grapes, which ... READ MORE

Ribera del Duero is a Spanish appellation located in several provinces of Castilla and Leon, in north-central Spain. The region is best known for big and bold varietals made with Tempranillo, also known as Tinto Fino or Tinta del Pais. Th... READ MORE

Sherry is a fortified white wine from Andalusia. It comes in a variety of styles, from light dry wines to complex and aromatic sweet varieties. They are mostly produced from Palomino grape, though sweet sherry wines also employ Pedro Xim&... READ MORE

Tempranillo is a red grape variety whose origin is associated with the Iberian Peninsula. Although it is planted in other countries, Tempranillo is best known as the primary grape used in the classic Rioja blend. The wines produced from T... READ MORE

Similar to Sangria, Tinto de Verano is a cold wine-based cocktail that originates from Spain. It can be translated as Red Wine of Summer, so it is not a surprise that it is mainly consumed during summer as a refreshing drink that... READ MORE

This white grape variety probably originated in North Africa from where it was imported to the Iberian Peninsula, and today it is mainly known as the principal grape used in Rueda (DO), both in blends and as a varietal wine. The wines produced fro... READ MORE

Pedro Ximénez is a type of Spanish sherry, as well as the name of the grape that is used to produce it. The grapes are picked when ripe and are then traditionally laid out in the sun—which increases their sugar content. After... READ MORE

Rías Baixas is a Spanish appellation located along the Atlantic coast in Galicia. The entire region is divided into five subregions: Salnes Valley, O Rosal, Soutomaior, Ribeira do Ulla, and Condado do Tea. There are several permitt... READ MORE

Kalimotxo is a refreshing cocktail that originated in the early 1970s in Spain. The cocktail is made with a simple mixture of red wine and cola. Although some use cheaper wine in the mix, the best Kalimotxo is made with dry and tannic red... READ MORE

Monastrell, also known as Mourvèdre, is a red wine grape variety widely grown in several wine regions, particularly in Spain and France. Believed to have originated in Spain, it is most commonly known as Monastrell there, while in France it... READ MORE

Macabeo, also known as Viura in the Rioja region of Spain, is a white wine grape variety widely grown in Spain and parts of southern France. Native to Spain, Macabeo is most commonly known by this name in Catalonia and other Spanish regions, while... READ MORE

Priorat is a Spanish wine region—located in the Catalonian province of Tarragona—which has been awarded DOC status (DOQ in Catalan) - the highest category in Spanish wine regulations. Established in the 12th century, Priorat h... READ MORE

Garnacha, also known as Grenache in France, is a widely cultivated red wine grape variety known for producing wines with rich, fruity flavors and high alcohol content. It is one of the most versatile and widely p... READ MORE

Rioja Alta is a Spanish designation located in the west of the renowned Rioja wine region, with a center of production in the city of Haro. Tempranillo and Mazuelo (Carignan) are the two most prominent grapes that are used in Rioja Alta. ... READ MORE

Txakoli is a light and fresh, clean-tasting, slightly sparkling, and usually white Spanish wine that is mainly produced in the Basque Country, more precisely in the wine regions Getariako, Bizkaiko, and Alava. The wines are typically made... READ MORE

Mencía or Jaen is a grape whose origin is associated with the Iberian peninsula. In the past, it was believed that Mencía and Jaen are two separate varieties, but recent research has shown that they are genetically ... READ MORE

Albariño is a white grape variety grown in northwest Spain (Galicia) and northwest Portugal (Monção and Melgaço) where it is used to make varietal white wines. Albariño wines are very light, fresh, crisp... READ MORE

Godello is a Spanish grape variety that has recently risen in popularity after it had nearly gone extinct after the 1970s. The grape shows the best results in Valdeorras in Galicia, though it is planted in other Spanish regions, as well a... READ MORE

Orujo is an ancient Spanish pomace brandy that is enjoyed throughout the country, but it is usually associated with northern Spain—namely Galicia, León, and Asturias. In its basic form, orujo comes as a clear, strong spirit w... READ MORE

Amontillado is a rich and complex dry sherry variety. It is made from Palomino grapes, but unlike Fino and Manzanilla, this fortified wine is first aged biologically—under a layer of flor—and when the flor disappears,... READ MORE

Vermouth or vermut is a fortified and aromatized wine that has its origins in Italy and France. It was imported to Spain sometime in the 19th century, and it soon became a signature local drink, primarily in Catalonia, but the tr... READ MORE

Xarel·lo is a Spanish grape variety best known for its use in sparkling Cava, where it is used along with Macabeo and Parellada. It is a high-quality grape that provides power, body, and structure in Cava wines. It is the most planted varie... READ MORE

Bobal is a native red Spanish grape that is native to southeastern Spain. This dark-skinned grape is cultivated in several regions, but it flourishes in Utiel-Requena DO, located in the province of Valencia, where it is the undisputed kin... READ MORE

Rioja Alavesa is one of the sub-regions of the famed Rioja appellation. Situated between the River Ebro and the Cantabria mountain range, it is the smallest and the northernmost region of Rioja. Tempranillo is the primary grape variety, w... READ MORE

Carajillo is a Spanish coffee variety that is traditionally prepared with three parts of coffee and one part of liquor. The most common combination includes espresso and brandy, rum, aguardiente, or Licor 43—a sweet liqueur from Car... READ MORE

Also known as Cuarenta y Tres, which translates as forty-three, this sweet liqueur was first produced in the 1940s by Diego Zamora and other members of the Zamora family who claim that their recipe was based on an ancient liqueur... READ MORE

Sangría blanca or white sangría is a white wine version of this popular Spanish wine cocktail. It is usually sweetened and made with light, fruity, and fragrant white wines, while the selection of fruit typically includes pe... READ MORE

Sidra de Asturias or Sidra d'Asturies is an apple cider made with fresh, locally-grown apples or apple must in Asturia, a mountainous region in Spain. There are three products protected under this designation: Sparkling cider, Na... READ MORE

Originally called Rioja Baja, this is the warmest and the easternmost part of Rioja. It is also the largest and the most productive of all sub-zones. In the past, the region was often unfairly overshadowed by Alta and Alavesa appellations, due to ... READ MORE

Oloroso is a variety of fortified sherry wines that is made from Palomino grapes. Unlike other dry sherry styles, oloroso is exposed to oxidation throughout the maturation in barrels and does not include the element of biological... READ MORE

Agua de Valencia is a Spanish cocktail made with either cava or champagne, along with orange juice, gin, and vodka. The preparation of Agua de Valencia is simplicity itself – all ingredients are typically combined in a large pitcher... READ MORE

Basque cider is a naturally produced apple cider from the Basque Country. It is made from pressed apple juice that is then fermented into a cider. Basque cider does not include sugar or any other additions, and more than 100 bitter, acidi... READ MORE

Pacharán is a sloe-flavored liqueur that is mostly associated with Navarre, but it is also enjoyed in other Spanish regions. The drink is made by macerating sloes (blackthorn) in an anise-flavored spirit. Sometimes, bay leaves, roa... READ MORE

Getariako Txakolina is a Spanish appellation from Basque Country (Gipuzkoa) that produces white Txakoli wines—crisp white wines that the entire Basque region is famous for. The wines are low in alcohol and typically lightly bubbly. ... READ MORE

Made from Palomino grapes in Jerez or Puerto de Santa María, Fino is the driest and the most delicate sherry variety. This fortified wine is aged naturally, under a layer of flor—a film of yeast that appears on the surface wh... READ MORE

Toro is a Spanish wine region located in Castile and León, around the eponymous city in Zamora. The region mostly produces red wines from Tinta de Toro—the local variant of Tempranillo that is different from those cultivated ... READ MORE

Barraquito is a type of coffee that usually combines condensed milk, liqueur, coffee, and milk. Although there are several regional variations, the most common combination includes condensed milk, Licor 43 (sweet and dense liqueur with fl... READ MORE

Anisette, anisetta, or simply anis is a term that encompasses various anise-based liqueurs. These types of liqueurs don’t have a single origin, but they are mostly associated with Mediterranean countries, such as I... READ MORE

Airén is the most widely planted grape variety in Spain. This white-skinned grape is better known for its sturdiness, and though it was mainly used as a blending grape or in production of brandy and table wines, some winemakers hav... READ MORE

Palomino Fino is a Spanish grape variety that is mostly used in the production of sherry. Known as a high-yielding grape that produces mainly bland white wines that are low in acidity and sugar, the must from Palomino can oxidize quickly,... READ MORE