Articles written by
Laura Werlin is a James Beard Award-winning author of six books on cheese. Learn more about her at laurawerlin.com
Ribera del Duero and Rueda: Your Next Wine Country Destination
It is often said that wine is life, but in Ribera del Duero and Rueda, it is more. Wine represents the roots in the soil and the root of the soul. Each glass made here represents the area’s ancient past and its slow, steady march toward modern winemaking. Castles dominate the landscape in these regions, […]
Food and Wine Pairings: The Secret Ingredient
When we think of food and wine pairings, we think about the foods we want to eat, the wines we want to drink, and ideally, a resulting connection between the two that is so perfect that we are launched into a reverie that may no longer have do with what’s in our mouths. Integral to […]
Say Cheese! Perfect Pairings with Verdejo and Tempranillo
Red, white, Spain — and blue too. That’s almost all you need to remember when it comes to pairing cheese with its perfect Spanish wine partners. The “almost” part is the fact the wines are not just any Spanish red and white wines. Instead, we’re talking Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero and Rueda’s premier white […]
Ribera, Rueda, and Micro Tapas
Our palates are ever-evolving, which means that food trends are too. Prognosticators abound, but often what’s old is new again, meaning that certain foods stand the test of time no matter what else may be on the table. And sometimes traditional foodways meet modern palates to become the next new thing even when they’re based […]
Grilling the Tempranillo Way
Where there’s a grill, there’s a way – Maude Frédérique Lavoie/Unsplash Grilling is the bridge between get-togethers and conversation. It is a spectator sport that thrills us with its sizzle, its transformation of food from light to dark, soft to crisp. Sweet vegetables become sweeter, and raw proteins explode with flavor after the kiss of fire. […]
Winter Whites, Late Summer Reds
Put a chill on it: The cool weather wines! When the summer season breathes its last symbolic gasp on Labor Day and the colors at the farmers’ markets begin to transition from bright yellows and ruby reds to dark greens, purples, and oranges, the wines in our glasses begin to change too. Summertime is all […]
The Ultimate Spanish Food and Cheese Pairing Guide
In Ribera del Duero, the native grape called Tempranillo has been evolving in this unique growing region for 1,000 years. Across the valley and over the river, Verdejo, the signature grape of Rueda, thrives as Spain’s number one white wine. Collectively, the two areas are known as Spain’s most prestigious wine regions. Understanding what makes the […]
Tempranillo: King of Grapes
In most places, an axiom like “ten months of winter, two months of hell” would more likely be the snicker of a competitive region than it would a statement by its own. But winemakers in Spain’s Ribera del Duero, located in Castilla y León in the north-central part of the country, are happy to own […]
Ribera: Land of Extremes, Home to the King
“Diligence is the mother of good fortune” – Chapter XLIII, Part II, Miguel de Cervantes This quote from Castilla y León’s most famous author could be applied to many things, but perhaps no more so than to the wine region of Ribera del Duero, an area two hours north of Madrid. Located within Castilla y […]
Verdejo: The World’s Next Great White Wine
Verdejo’s Potential is Endless Ask any Spaniard to tell you their favorite Spanish white wine, and it’s a good bet they’ll answer Verdejo. As Spain’s number one selling white wine, Verdejo’s popularity is undeniable. Ask some of the world’s most famous winemakers inside and outside Spain to name their favorite Spanish white wine, and the […]
