Beat the Heat With Cool Spanish Reds

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jul 26, 2011) - For those who adore red wine but are hesitant about quaffing a glass in the heat of summer, Wines from Spain offers a simple suggestion: chill. Popping the right bottle of red wine in the fridge or on ice for a short period of time can provide some much-needed summertime refreshment while bringing a wine's unique nuances to the forefront.

"In Spain, hot summers and signature red wines go hand-in-hand, but the trick is to offer the reds with just a slight chill," said Katrin Naelapaa, executive director of Wines from Spain. "Dropping the serving temperature of select Spanish red wines can help the wines open up and exhibit even greater complexity on the palate."

Naelapaa recommends cooling Spanish reds for up to about 30 minutes in the refrigerator to drop the temperature to between 50°F and 60°F. She also suggests being careful about which wines to serve chilled. "Gravitate toward lighter reds, which tend to flourish under cooler temperatures," said Naelapaa, "Save the big, heavy, dense wines for later in the year, as you'll find that these wines simply shut down when chilled, and you won't be able to experience their full depth and complexity."

According to Naelapaa, several Spanish varietals are conducive to chilling for a summertime feast, including Tempranillo, Garnacha and Monastrell.

Tempranillo
Tempranillo is the king of Spanish grapes and produces ruby-red wines bursting with flavors of berries, plum, tobacco, vanilla, leather and herb. It works well in barbecue season, pairing particularly nicely with roasted and grilled meats.

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 soft wines with spice and berry flavors, which blossom with a slight chill and marry well with summertime dishes from the grill.

Monastrell
Monastrell, commonly known as Mourvèdre, is a very sweet grape that produces deep red wines. Depending on the terroir, Monastrell wines can exhibit an array of tastes, ranging from wild, gamey and earthy notes to soft red fruit flavors

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.