VERDEJO

When we think of tapas with fish, we think of Verdejo—the main local variety from the Rueda wine region. Wines made from this grape are fresh, aromatic, and spicy, and they can age very well. To preserve the freshness of the grape, the grapes are harvested at night when it’s cooler. Verdejo wines have the aroma and taste of pears, citrus, and herbs, and after a few years in the bottle, they develop honey-like notes with a distinct nutty impression. Our personal favorite to drink with fish tapas is the stylish Caballo de Oro Verdejo. It’s perfect with fish cakes or anchovies with parsley, for example!

RIOJA

Rioja is one of the most famous wine regions in Spain, known for producing very high-quality wines. Especially the traditional red wines are world-renowned. When paired with tapas, we recommend the younger Rioja Crianza. It ages for a shorter time than the Reserva and Gran Reserva, making it less intense in flavor. This makes it an excellent choice to pair with meat tapas like jamón ibérico, chorizo, empanadas, and meatballs in tomato sauce. Prefer cheese? Then slice some young Gouda or the popular Spanish Mahón cheese.

ROSADO

Rosado is the Spanish term for rosé. Most Spanish rosé wines come from Rioja and Navarra, and they are generally more intense in flavor and deeper in color than French rosé wines from Provence. For this reason, Spanish rosé wines pair beautifully with tapas that have a stronger flavor, such as chorizo and aioli. But they’re also delightful with roasted peppers.

CAVA

The popular sparkling wine Cava comes from the Penedès region and is made in the same way as Champagne, but using Spanish grape varieties. Although more care is being taken in the production of Cava wines, they remain available at an attractive price. Adding Cava to a Spanish tapas evening makes the long meal even more festive! Serve it with prawns, fried tapas, or serrano ham. Our favorite? It’s the Cava Casa Safra. It has a fine, elegant mousse and a fresh, fruity flavor. Cheers!

SHERRY

Sherry, most people have heard of it, but many aren’t familiar with it. That’s a shame because Sherry is the ‘comeback kid’ among wines. It certainly deserves to be on the list of ultimate tapas wines. Sherry comes from the Jerez de la Frontera region in the far south of Andalusia. It is a Spanish fortified wine that is aged using the solera system. The combination of a good glass of Sherry with cold tapas like almonds, olives, and serrano ham is simply sublime. But warm tapas, like chorizo and mushrooms, also pair wonderfully with Sherry.