When we pour you a glass of Spanish wine at Socarrat, we’re not just offering a drink — we’re inviting you into a centuries-old story of landscape, culture, and craftsmanship. Spain’s wine heritage is as diverse as its geography, with each region contributing its own unique voice to the country’s vinous symphony.
From the foggy hills of Galicia to the sun-scorched plains of La Mancha, from the volcanic vineyards of the Canary Islands to the limestone-rich slopes of Ribera del Duero — every bottle we serve has a sense of place. In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the Spanish regions that define our wine list and inspire the selections in our Entre Copas Wine Club.
Rioja – Spain’s Timeless Icon
No region better defines Spain’s winemaking prestige than La Rioja. Located along the Ebro River in northern Spain, Rioja is a benchmark for traditional Spanish red wine, particularly those made with Tempranillo, the country’s flagship grape.
Rioja is divided into three subzones — Alta, Alavesa, and Oriental — each bringing subtle differences in altitude, climate, and soil. What unites them is the region’s focus on aging. Rioja wines are famously classified as Crianza, Reserva, or Gran Reserva, reflecting time spent in oak and bottle.
At Socarrat, you’ll find Rioja wines that pair beautifully with a range of dishes, from seafood paellas to juicy meats. These wines are elegant, structured, and expressive — a perfect introduction to the legacy of Spanish wine.
Galicia – Where the Atlantic Meets the Vine
In the misty, green northwest corner of Spain lies Galicia, a region known for its seafood, Celtic roots, and incredibly fresh white wines. The most celebrated area is Rías Baixas, home to Albariño — a grape that thrives in the region’s cool, maritime climate.
Albariño wines are crisp, aromatic, and vibrant, with notes of citrus, white flowers, and salinity that make them a dream pairing for shellfish, octopus, and light rice dishes. Galicia is also home to lesser-known but rising stars like Godello(from Valdeorras) and Treixadura (from Ribeiro), which offer more structure and complexity.
These are wines of the coast — refreshing, mineral-driven, and endlessly drinkable. They’ve become favorites among Socarrat’s diners, especially in warmer months or alongside our seafood-forward tapas.
Ribera del Duero – The Bold Heart of Castilla y León
Southwest of Rioja, along the Duero River, lies Ribera del Duero, a region known for bold, age-worthy reds that rival any in the world. Its high-altitude vineyards — often above 2,500 feet — help produce grapes with intense flavor and natural acidity.
Here, Tempranillo (often called Tinta del País) dominates. The wines are rich, dark, and structured — often aged in oak, with notes of black fruit, spice, and tobacco. Ribera reds are ideal companions to roasted meats, charcuterie, and strong cheeses.
Socarrat’s wine list includes Ribera producers both classic and contemporary, take a chance to explore them!
Cataluña – Innovation with Deep Roots
While best known internationally for Cava, its sparkling wine, Cataluña is a region of enormous diversity. From the rugged hills of Priorat to the Mediterranean plains of Penedès, this northeastern region is home to both tradition and avant-garde experimentation.
In Priorat, slate soils (called llicorella) and steep terraces produce Garnacha and Cariñena wines with intense concentration, minerality, and aging potential. These wines are deep, powerful, and unforgettable.
In Penedès, local grapes like Xarel·lo, Macabeo, and Parellada are used for Cava, but also for exciting still whites. Many producers are pushing organic and biodynamic practices, creating wines with purity and energy.
Cataluña brings a modern, boundary-pushing energy to Spanish wine, which is why it’s a pillar of our curated list at Socarrat.
Canary Islands – Volcanic, Wild, and Remarkable
Few regions stir as much curiosity as the Canary Islands. Located off the coast of Morocco, this volcanic archipelago produces some of the most unique wines in the world. The soils are black and porous, the vines often ungrafted and centuries old, and the winemaking deeply tied to ancestral practices.
Wines from islands like Tenerife and Lanzarote showcase local varieties such as Listán Negro. They are often smoky, saline, and intensely mineral, with textures that make sommeliers swoon.
These wines are small in production, but big in personality — and we love offering them as hidden gems on our wine list to guests who want to explore off the beaten path.
La Mancha – Spain’s Vast Vineyard
Castilla-La Mancha is Spain’s largest wine-producing area, a sprawling plateau dotted with windmills and vineyards as far as the eye can see. Long considered a bulk wine region, La Mancha has seen a quality revolution over the last two decades.
Here, local grapes like Airén and Tempranillo thrive in the dry, hot climate, but international varieties like Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay are also gaining ground. The wines are approachable, fruit-forward, and offer incredible value.
We feature select producers from La Mancha who focus on quality, often blending tradition with a fresh, modern touch.
Madrid & Navarra – Emerging Excellence
Two often-overlooked regions worth noting are Madrid and Navarra.
Madrid may surprise you: its vineyards sit at high elevations in the Sierra de Gredos, producing exciting, elegant wines — especially Garnacha grown on granite soils. These wines are light-bodied but intensely aromatic, reminiscent of top-tier Pinot Noir.
Navarra, just north of Rioja, blends tradition with experimentation. Known historically for rosados, it now produces excellent reds from Tempranillo and international grapes, with a fresher, more modern edge.
Both regions are featured selectively in our wine list and club offerings, offering a broader taste of Spain’s dynamic wine scene.
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Spanish wine is not one story — it’s a library of terroirs, grapes, and winemaking philosophies. At Socarrat, we honor this diversity by carefully selecting bottles that reflect both regional identity and exceptional craftsmanship. Whether you’re enjoying a classic Rioja Reserva, a volcanic white from Tenerife, or a high-altitude Garnacha from Madrid, each glass is an invitation to discover Spain in its purest, most expressive form.
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Because the best way to enjoy Spanish wine… is to live it.
