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Step 1
Understand Spanish wine labels. Like other European countries, the Spanish government regulates wine to guarantee origin, class of grape and production methods. The system is known as Demominación de Origen, or D.O. The label will detail the region where the wine is produced, and the D.O. designation signifies superior quality and identifiable ingredients.
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Step 2
Choose a Spanish Sherry. An aged, fortified wine and a favorite in Spain, this type of wine is most often made from Palomino grapes in the southern region of the country. The varieties include light and delicate styles such as Fino and rich, sweet choices like Cream Sherry which pairs well with desserts.
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Step 3
Pick a Rioja Tinta Reserva or Gran Reserva as a red choice. Most often made from Spain's signature Tempranillo grape and aged in American oak, this full-bodied, rich variety offers complex flavors that pair well with steak and other hearty meats. The Reserva and Gran Reserva designations refer to the length of aging.
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Step 4
Select a sparkling Cava as an alternative to Champagne. Produced in the Penedés region near Barcelona, it is a white or pink sparkling wine and comes in dry to medium-sweet varieties.
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Step 5
Try a Verdejo wine if you enjoy white varieties. Though Spain is known for its reds, this white wine is crisp and similar to Sauvignon Blanc with flavors of apple, mint, fennel and often exotic fruits. It pairs well with seafood, chicken and other light dishes.
