The Marbella Wine List

Welcome to the Marbella Wine List. The wines of Spain are featured on our lists and they are a perfect compliment to our cuisine. You will also find an outstanding selection of white, red and sparkling wines from California, Italy, France, Argentina, Australia and Chile. Please feel free to ask one of our staff members for a suggestion if you want to try a new wine. We are always delighted to suggest a bottle of "Old World" wine and can help you choose the perfect bottle to enhance the flavors of your meal.

Click on the following links to view the various lists:

• Wines By The Glass
• White Wines
• Red Wines
• Sparkling Wines

Spain is a world class producer of wines, both in quality and quantity. Better known are the quality reds from Rioja and Ribera del Duero, reds and whites from Penedés, fine whites from Rueda, "sherries" from Jerez, and a fine sparkling wine known as cava.

Spanish Wine:

Spain has always been proud of its national traditions, and its wineries have staunchly resisted the international style of oaky Chardonnays and tannic Cabernets. This Mediterranean country's top wines continue to be made with native grape varieties in traditional styles. They reward exploration by adventurous wine drinkers. From spicy Tempranillos to powerful Prioratos, from luscious barrel-aged white Riojas to lively, fruity cavas, Spain can offer intriguing wines to match any food and every occasion.

When it comes to wine, Spain is an intriguing mix of old and new. Whether you treasure traditional and regional character or are seeking the latest innovations, you'll find distinctive, food-friendly wines from this rapidly evolving country. The wine industry in Spain is as old and established as that of France. Despite this similarity, the wines produced by these two countries are vastly different. Spain produces a large amount of red wine, sparkling wines, and Sherry. Demanded throughout the world, Spain's products are very much a part of the international wine market.

The Rioja: This is one of the best known wine regions of Spain. When the Phylloxera epidemic struck France many of its wine makers moved to northern Spain in order to continue their trade. The French taught the local Spaniards how to make wine from their local red Tempranillo grapes. The result was a series of red wines that are very flavourful and strong. Enjoyed globally today, many of the Rioja reds are aged for ten years in large wooden barrels. This process gives these wines a distinct woody taste that many people find appealing.

Catalonia: Even though this region does not share the same world recognition as Rioja, it is where most Spanish wines are produced. Recently, more standard wines like Merlot and Cabernet are made in Catalonia, yet this region also has its own traditional wines. Catalonia also specializes in the production of Cavas, or sparkling wines. This sparkling wine presents a good alternative to French champagne and is very high quality. Currently consumers around the world are starting to drink more and more Cava, and it is becoming quite popular.

Jerez: This city is one of the most famous of the Spanish wine regions. Its Sherry is perhaps what has made Spain's wine industry famous. However, it was the British who made Sherry known worldwide in the 19th century. In fact, the name "Sherry" comes from an English form of Jerez. Sherry is still shipped to different parts of the globe from this city and is found in markets everywhere.

The Wines of Marques de Caceres:

This bodega was established in 1970 by Henri Fornier and is located at Cenicero in Rioja Alta. Guru oenologist Michel Rolland is a consultant, and this is one of the most progressive producers in the region. Both the reds and whites are very judiciously oaked with the emphasis being on fresh, fruit-dominated wines that are delicious in youth. The exceptions are the Reserva and the Gran Reserva, which are more traditionally made and can be cellared for up to 10 years following the vintage.

Click here to listen how to pronounce Marques de Caceres:

Spain's Wine Regions: Decades of wine making

Rioja, after the area with the small River Oja, is the richest wine-growing region of Spain for table wines. According to its wines the area is divided into three parts: Rioja Baja (the Lower Rioja) which produces heavy fruity wines with a high alcohol content; Rioja Alta (the Upper Rioja) which is the area of the great aged and mature quality wines, with a moderate alcohol content. They are very fragrant, of different shades of red and have a balanced, unmistakable flavor.

These wines lend themselves to being aged in oak vats. Young white wines are also produced. Rioja Alavesa produces red wines, which are usually drunk young and have a pleasant trace of acidity. The wines of this Dominación are famous and develop their best as mature quality wines. The following varieties can be distinguished according to their age: Vino de crianza is the one aged for at least one year in vats and another year in bottles. It is usually a three-four- and five-year old wine. Vino de reserve is the one aged for at least two years in vats and another in bottles. Vino de gran reserve is aged in oak barrels for at least three years and another in bottles in the famous Rioja underground calaos (cellars). These wines are of the best years. All these wines are a real treasure of the Spanish cuisine and occupy a place of honor among the most famous table wines in the world because of the environment from which they come and because of the skill and technique that goes into their production.

CASTILE
Denominaciones de Origin are Rueda, Ribera del Duero and Toro. They produce reds and light reds with between 13 and 17% alcohol. Some of them are universally famous: those produced between Valbuena, Quintanilia de Arriba and Quintanilia de 0nésimo. They mature exceptionally, well for which Bordeaux barrels and underground wine cellars are used. These wines have a limited production and sell at very high prices. Around Rueda very pale and transparent whites of excellent quality and 11.5-14% are produced. Dry, sherry-type wines are also made there.

GALICIA
Its Denominación de Origin includes Rias Baixas, Ribeiro and Valdeorras. They are light, agreeably acid white and red wines with low alcohol content, excellent companions of the typical Galician cuisine.

NAVARRE
Denominación de Origen: Navarra. The area basically produces red wines, which at times reach 14.5% alcohol and are perfectly in tune with the heavy cuisine of the region.

ARAGON
Denominaciones de Origin exists for Campo de Borja, Cariñena and Somontano. In this area, the wines are very red with high alcohol content. Their aroma is very concentrated and their taste is powerful, ideal for very spicy meat and heavy dishes

CATALONIA
Here the regions with a Denominación de Origin are Ampurdán-Costa Brava, Alella, Costers del Segre, Penedés, Priorato, Tarragona and Terra Alta. There are magnificent reds, whites and light reds in the area, all of which have a long tradition. The most sought after are the Penedés and Priorato wines. The former are famous because of their whites and have an alcohol content of between 10 and 13%. The Priorato wines are probably the ones receiving most skilled attention in the entire country, especially the dark reds which have a velvety flavor and complex aroma. They are fairly heavy and have high alcohol content. In Tarragona, the most typical ones are white wines, which are appropriate for fish and as aperitifs. The cavas or sparkling wines from Saint Sadurní d'Anoia (Barcelona) have developed great quality and are widely found inside and outside Spain.

LA MANCHA
Denominaciones de Origin includes Mancha, Méntrida, Vaidepeñas and Almansa. This is the great Spanish wine reservoir, which includes the Provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Albacete. In general the wines are very widely drunk and are of good quality: mild, dry, with almost no acidity. The most commonly known are the ones from Valdepeñas, i.e., light reds and whites. All of them tend to be drunk young, not more than one or a maximum of two years old, while the alcohol content lies between 11 and 13%.

ANDALUSIA
Has the following Denominaciones de Origin: Jerez-Xèrés-Sherry, Manzanilia-Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Málaga, Montilla-Moriles and Condado de Huelva. Its wines are the most characteristic of the country and internationally the most famous. They are produced by a unique method, which has something of a miracle about it, since it is not a wine from one particular harvest, as is the rule, but the result of different mixtures made over the years.

They are aged in oak vats and have subtle differences, which are classified into ten groups, Fino: straw colored and transparent, dry, light and very fragrant; 15 to 17% alcohol. Amontillado: amber colored; 16 to 18% alcohol. Oloroso: dark gold, powerful to the taste, yet light; 18 to 20% alcohol. Palo Cortado: halfway between amontillado and oloroso. Raya: of the oloroso family, but less fragrant and less strong to the taste. Pedro Ximenez: sweet and very fragrant. Moscatel: sweet raisin wine. Cream: wine produced by adding alcohol to grape juice which has not really begun to ferment. Color: a wine produced by mixing fresh and concentrated grape juice.

Manzanilla: A wine produced in the township of Sanlúcar de Barrameda; very pale, very dry, with an alcohol content of 15-17%. The Montilla-Moriles wines come from the Province of Córdoba and, like their neighbors of Jerez, are unmistakable, dry, very fragrant and have high alcohol content. Finally, there are the Moscatels from Málaga, which are warm to the taste and very dark coloured. They are sold under different names: Málaga, Málaga Virgen, Lácrima Christi, Pedro Ximenez and Moscatel.

THE EAST COAST
This region includes the following Denominaciones de Origin: Alicante, Valencia, Jumilia, Utiel-Requena and Yecla, which cover quite different wines. Those from Alicante are reds and rosés with a high alcohol content of between 12 and 16%. Those from Valencia are usually white, dry and very fresh. The Jumilia wines from this Murcia area are easy to distinguish because they are aged in oak barrels, although there are also young wines. In both cases the alcohol content is very high, and they are dark red and thick. Yecla has reds, rosés and light reds with between 13 and 15% alcohol and a very pleasant mild taste.