At Whole Foods Market, we’ve got a pretty serious crush on the wines of Spain. From the powerful, complex Reds of the Montsant region to the balanced nuance and aromatic complexity of the Yecla region’s wines, there’s not much that can improve the exceptional varieties from Spain’s diverse regions … well, except a perfectly paired bite. Ahh … that’s amor.

Spicy chorizo, hearty seafood stews, aromatic dry-cured ham, diverse olive oils and piquant Manchego are just a few of the flavors of Spain that locals and visitors alike swoon over. One taste and you’ll see why. Here are ten of our favorite Spanish-inspired dishes that are the perfect match for your next glass of Spanish wine. Warning: you too may find true love in these perfect pairings.

Perfect your pairings by learning which dish pairs with which Spanish wine here.

What’s your favorite flavor of Spain? Whether it’s a dish or an ingredient, we’d love to hear about it.

When my sister announced that she was marrying a Spaniard in a seaside city in Northern Spain, I was, of course, thrilled for her, but also secretly excited for me. I knew that the wedding celebration meant a firsthand introduction to the local culture from football (soccer) to food. Goaaaal!

While I anticipated the Spanish wines I would get to try during my travels, I hadn’t known how much I would relish the tapas, the small bites, that often accompany those glasses. Early on, I was introduced to tapas bars, the quintessential place to savor a glass (or two) of wine, socialize and enjoy a variety of these small bites. In Spain, the day’s largest meal is lunch, and since dinner is routinely eaten late in the evening, tapas bars are generally very busy with folks like me who want (nay, need) to tide themselves over until dinner.

Language Lesson

Tapas. The word is derived from “tapar”, which means “to cover”. Tapas were originally small pieces of bread topped with a slice of cured ham that bartenders offered free of charge to cover your glass of wine, reportedly to keep the fruit flies away. As clever bartenders discovered that salty ham spurred beer, wine and sherry sales, the tasty tradition of tapas was born. In some cities when you order a drink, a tapa (the singular version) may still be served for free. Beware though: it’s a gateway tapa! You will want more.

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Long under-realized, wines from Spain have been enjoying explosive growth and popularity. From low river bottoms to dry hills to cool mountaintops, topography varies greatly in Spain creating one of the world’s most diverse wine regions. As a result, if you want to get familiar with Spain wines, it’s going to take more than one or two sips.

This spring we are celebrating Spain’s wine heritage by featuring 12 exceptional wines. (All are priced under $20, so you can celebrate too!) From crisp Whites to deep, rich Reds, learn more about Spanish wines and enjoy each region’s bounty.

Here are the six more of our wines from Spain along with a recommended cheese pairing. Learn more about the other six wines  in our previous post. Then take a look at our wine page or stop by your local store for more.

Protos Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) from Ribera del Duero – this spirited tempranillo is bright, ruby red with notes of dried red berries, sweet spice, toasted oak and vanilla. Match it with savory flavors such as cured meats, artisanal sausage and bacon-wrapped scallops.

About Ribera del Duero: Winemaking in this region dates back over 2,000 years to the Roman era.

Cheese pairing: Harbison. Lush, decadent and sure to become an American classic, this soft-ripened cheese is wrapped in spruce bark.

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I recently browsed through a copy of Food and Wine magazine in awe of how many wines there are and how experts seem to know how to match any cuisine to the perfect wine. It got me thinking about how just one simple ingredient can propel a meal from good to great, from excellent to outstanding. Wine, when used as an ingredient, can do just that.

If you’d like to begin cooking with wine but don’t know where to start, here are a few pointers to help you get started:

• For cooking, be sure to use a wine that you would personally drink. Simply meaning, bottled “cooking wines” aren’t necessarily the best to choose. A reasonably priced, good quality wine from last night’s dinner will do nicely. We always have good recommendations on our wine page, too.
• Begin with well-known wines such as chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc for white, and Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon or Chianti for red.
• As a very general rule, use white wine to complement chicken, turkey and seafood and light, simple sauces such as lemon butter, herb and light-colored cream sauces. Use red wine for sauces served with beef, duck, lamb and bison, as well as many wild game meats.
• As you get more comfortable, experiment with an assortment of wines, perhaps a Riesling, Rose or Zinfandel for dessert or a Beaujolais or Merlot to deglaze your pan for the sauce to accompany the beef or lamb dish.
• Bear in mind that some wine, especially the heavier, “oak-aged” varieties may leave an unwelcomed, bitter after-taste.

While there has been a common belief that cooking dissipates the alcohol content in your dish, the USDA put this to the test. They measured the alcohol content of several foods before and after cooking, showing that alcohol content diminished the longer it was cooked, but some alcohol does remain.

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Long under-realized, wines from Spain have been enjoying explosive growth and popularity. From low river bottoms to dry hills to cool mountaintops, topography varies greatly in Spain, creating one of the world’s most diverse wine regions. As a result, if you want to get familiar with Spain wines, it’s going to take more than one or two sips.

This spring we are celebrating Spain’s wine heritage by featuring 12 exceptional wines. (All are priced under $20, so you can celebrate too!) From crisp Whites to deep, rich Reds, learn more about Spanish wines and enjoy each region’s bounty.

Let’s get started! Here are six of our wines from Spain along with a recommended cheese pairing:

Castaño Monastrell from Yecla ­– made from organic grapes from 30-year-old vines, this easy drinking red wine has a bright, fresh raspberry bouquet with dense cherry flavors on the palate. This cuvée matches hearty flavors such as beef and game.

About Yecla: Wines from this region are known for their balanced nuances and aromatic complexity.

Cheese pairing: Solé Gran Queso. This nutty cheese is modeled in the style of Spanish Manchego.

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Sparkling cocktails can add an extra touch of excitement to just about any celebration. But for some, the champagne and sparkling wine section can be one of the most daunting areas of the wine department. With that in mind, here are some cocktail ideas plus a champagne primer to help you get your bubbly supply sorted out in time to celebrate!

For the cocktails below, try putting out an assortment of mixers with drink recipe cards so your guests can create their own custom sips. That way, you can circulate and enjoy your guests while sharing the role of bartender. Or, you could simplify and choose a signature drink to feature.

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Looking for a last minute gift idea? Green wines are a perfect choice for host or hostess gifts as well as stocking stuffers (depending on the stocking, of course!). This year I’ve been gifting wines that have been made using responsible farming practices, are Fair Trade, or have been made with organically grown grapes. So along with using solar lights to decorate my house and wrapping presents with my paper bag collection, this is my way of going green this holiday season.

Here are a few worth checking out.

BENZIGER FAMILY Sauvignon Blanc

Made Using Responsible Farming Practices

Elevate a plate of sweet, briny oysters or any of your favorite seafood dishes with this bright White, ripe with floral aromas and a subtle touch of grapefruit, guava and melon. Its herbal fig quality is ideal paired with Robusto cheese, too.

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Lately I’ve been noticing slate cheeseboards are gaining in popularity. I like them because you can write the cheese name in chalk next to where the cheese is placed. This makes it easy for party guests to scope out the selection and it helps the host remember which cheese is which after a few glasses of wine. And, with the offerings below – you and your guests will have a party for your palates even if some overly enthusiastic cheese enthusiast smudges the descriptions once they’re plated up! As a bonus, each cheese has a suggested wine pairing so you can sip and savor simultaneously. All of the suggested wines are from our Top 10 Wines for the holidays and they’re all under $15. That means you can buy more cheese!

BONHOMME FRENCH BRIE

The mushroom aromas and luscious creaminess in this superbly flavored cheese, the best of Normandy from Isigny Ste. Mère, help celebrate the fresh palate of Pascual Toso Sparkling Brut.

ROBUSTO

For the ultimate party-season pair, relish the nuttiness of this sharp, Gouda-style Dutch cheese with the distinct citrus notes of Benziger Family Sauvignon Blanc.
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Looking for ways to put the “holiday” in your party this year without adding a load of stress? We can help dial down the work with suggestions for hosting a wine and small bites party that won’t break the bank. Small bites are an easy thing to ask your guests to bring, too. Before you know it, you’ll have delegated most of the cooking and will just have to figure out which wines to serve.

With just a few of our Top Ten Wines plus our great holiday appetizer recipes, you’ll have festive options to make holiday entertaining on a budget a snap. It’s like having an extra set of hands to help with the preparations. (Though, you’re still going to be on your own to clean up afterwards – sorry we can’t help you with that!)

Three essential wines will cover all of your party guests’ tastes: sparkling, red and white. Have a few of each of these on hand and the wine drinkers will be delighted.

For a holiday sparkler, we’re big fans of the Pascual Toso Sparkling Brut. It’s made from 100% Chardonnay. Soft and fresh, with a superb balance of yeast and effervescence, it’s your go-to budget party-starter. Plus, it’s versatile enough to serve with a wide range of appetizers and small bites or even dessert.

For a great sipping red, try Don & Sons Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. It’ll charm your party guests with flavors of currant and crabapples and fresh berries interwoven with zippy acidity. Plus, it’s a real bargain and goes great with just about any savory cheese you can think of.

To round out your wine offerings, try Benzinger Family Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a great conversation starter as it’s made using responsible farming practices. This white will elevate a plate of appetizers faster than you can say “under 15 dollars!” It’s bright and ripe with floral aromas and a subtle touch of grapefruit, guava and melon. Slightly herbal, it goes well with a wide variety of holiday flavors.

Still need a bit more inspiration? Watch this video tasting of our Top Ten Holiday Wines.

And make sure to pick up an extra bottle of your favorite so that long after your guests leave you can pour a glass or two, prop your feet up, and revel in this wonderful time of year.

What’s your favorite budget wine to serve your holiday guests?

Whether you’re stuffing a stocking, sending a gift across the country, handing a hostess some holiday cheer or simply putting something special in the hands of someone special, you’re sure to find a gift for everyone on your list at Whole Foods Market. Over the next three days, we’re sharing helpful ideas in our gift giving guide. Today we’ll explore over 10 gifts for under $10 that are sure to make even a Grinch smile.  Tomorrow we’ll share stocking stuffers from around our stores and gifts you make yourself. And Sunday brings tips for easy shopping from the comfort of your living room — in your PJs with a mug of hot cocoa in hand.

OVER 10 GIFTS UNDER $10

For the Wine and Cheese Lover

Isigny Ste. Mére Bonhomme Brie: A rich, creamy, crowd-pleasing cheese, exclusively ours and only available this time of year. It’s the best of Normandy, traditionally crafted by a farmer co-op. Lush grasses make for rich milk, superb flavor and a luscious mouthfeel.

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