Spanish wine countries
Lanzarote of the Canary Islands and Galicia of the Iberian Peninsula
A collection of cooperative vineyards in the northwestern province of Galicia, Spain
29 August 2020
The New York Times published an article recently profiling the vineyards of the unique volcanic island of Lanzarote, one of Spain's Canary Islands. It's worth a review just for the photographs alone, as they give an authentic feel of the landscape one would encounter during a visit to the island; inclusion of the history of the island as a wine-making region of Spain an added bonus to those interested in Iberian culture.
I'll leave the professional news site to describe Lanzarote. Below is a short personal experience of another equally delicious Spanish offering: Galicia.
While visiting the province of Galicia, situated in the geographic northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, just above Portugal, I had the opportunity of discovering a vineyard that produces grapes as part of a collective: multiple private landowners pool their harvest together to produce a distinct "microwine" that few may have the chance to sample.
A private landowner looking over the bountiful hills of Galicia
Godello is the main grape common to this area of the country - a crisp yet fruity wine gallegos take pride in it being distinctly Galician. If you've never had a taste of this wine it's worth inquiring about next you find yourself at a local wine store. Paired with fish or delightful on its own, it's a refreshing taste of Spain beyond the more popular Rueda or Albariño white varietals one may be familiar with.
A wine from Valdeorras
White Galician wine with a tapa of octopus