Beat the Heat With Cool Spanish Wines This Labor Day With Wines from Spain

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Aug 9, 2012) - Summers always fly by, and with Labor Day weekend right around the corner, why not enjoy every last sip of the season? Wines from Spain offers a suggestion to top off the summer: enjoying a glass of chilled Spanish white -- or red! -- wine. Popping a bottle of Spanish wine in the fridge or on ice for before enjoying with friends or serving at a Labor Day barbeque provides a refined and delicious option to toast the end of the summer season. 

"Wine is a vital part of Spanish life, and is enjoyed consistently at occasions throughout the year," said Katrin Naelapaa, executive director of Wines from Spain. "The country's well-balanced white wines and lighter reds offer a scrumptious reprieve from the summer heat when chilled to the right temperature."

Serving Spanish whites at a temperature of 45°F to 50°F and cooling Spanish reds for up to about 30 minutes in the refrigerator to drop the temperature to between 50°F and 60°F provides the ideal refresher at Labor Day festivities. A wide range of Spanish varietals are conducive to Labor Day feasts, including Albariño, Godello, Tempranillo, and Garnacha.

Albariño
Depending on the vintage and subregion of Rías Baixas, this indigenous variety of Galicia in northwest Spain can be rich and expressive, with peach and apricot notes, or tart and bracing, like green apples and lemon peels. Albariño pairs well with many food items, including chilled summer soups, ceviche and fresh fruit.

Godello
Godello is a native white wine grape found in northwestern Spain, particularly Galicia. It is typically a full-bodied, silky, medium-acidity wine, with pear, apple, floral and light citrus aromas and flavors, and an intense mineral character. The traditional food match is seafood, especially local Galician shellfish specialties like scallops, mussels, clams, lobster, crab and oysters. Additionally, Godello is a great match with cheeses and grilled poultry.

Tempranillo
Tempranillo is the king of Spanish grapes and produces ruby-red wines bursting with flavors of berries, plum, tobacco, vanilla, leather and herb. Younger, lightly oaked bottlings work well when slightly chilled in barbecue season, pairing particularly nicely with roasted and grilled meats. Tempranillo also produces excellent Rosado wines, perfect for late summer settings.

Garnacha
Garnacha -- also known as Grenache -- is cultivated primarily in Spain's north central region and is the third most planted variety in the country. Garnacha tends to produce lovely Rosado wines and soft red wines with spice and berry flavors, which blossom with a slight chill and marry well with summertime dishes from the grill.

About Wines from Spain
Wines from Spain is a promotional division of the Trade Commission of Spain based in New York. For more than 25 years, Wines from Spain has been committed to increasing the awareness of Spanish wines throughout the United States through education, informational materials, special events and promotions. For further information on specific wine regions and producers, please contact: Wines from Spain, Trade Commission of Spain, 405 Lexington Avenue, 44th Floor, New York, NY 10174-0331 or visit www.WinesfromSpainUSA.com.