SPANISH TREATS

Nov 21 2008 by Jane Hall, The Journal

RIOJA is such a success that you might be forgiven for imagining that it’s Spain’s only quality wine region.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and even relatively unsung parts of the country can turn out some remarkable bottles. One of the most delicious to have come my way recently is a delectably sweet, pink wine from Valencia. It’s called Estrella di Mourviedro and costs a mere £4.50 from Morrisons. It’s a blend of Muscat with (red) Grenache and combines grapey sweetness with a hint of ripe cherry.

Another oddity of Spain is the rules for Cava – fizz made in the same way as champagne – which allow for the grapes to come from vineyards widely dispersed around the country, although most are in Catalonia.

The unusual thing about Campo Viejo’s Gran Cava Brut Rosé, however, is it’s made entirely from a little-known Catalan black grape called Trepat. The bubbly itself is very good, with plenty of creamy, though slightly earthy, strawberry and raspberry-scented fruit. It’s good value at £6.99 from Sainsbury’s or Thresher.