Tempranillo

Aged Manchego's firm texture, nutty profile, and sheepy undertones demand beverages with sufficient structure and complexity. Spanish wines like Tempranillo and Sherry have evolved alongside this classic cheese, while the suggested beers offer complementary malt sweetness or palate-cleansing qualities that enhance the cheese's rich, crystalline character.

Aged sheep's milk cheeses like Manchego, Pecorino, or Ossau-Iraty typically develop complex flavors ranging from nutty and caramel to lanolin and savory umami, with a pronounced tanginess that can vary from mild to sharp. The right pairing should either complement the cheese's richness while cutting through its fattiness (like acidic wines) or harmonize with its nutty, caramelized qualities (like oxidative wines or malt-forward beers).

Beef empanadas feature savory ground beef typically seasoned with aromatics like onions, garlic, and spices, enclosed in a flaky pastry crust. The rich, umami qualities of the beef call for medium to full-bodied red wines with moderate tannins and complementary spice notes, while beers with malty sweetness and moderate body provide refreshing contrast to the savory filling and fried pastry.

Beef stew features slow-cooked tender meat in a rich, savory gravy with root vegetables, creating deep umami flavors and a hearty texture. The dish's robust profile requires beverages with sufficient body and complexity to stand up to the concentrated flavors while offering complementary notes that enhance the stew's depth.

Chili con carne features hearty beef in a rich, spiced tomato-based sauce with chiles, creating a bold dish with moderate to high heat and deep savory notes. The fruity intensity of Zinfandel or Malbec stands up to the spice while offering complementary dark fruit notes, while medium-bodied beers with caramel notes like Vienna Lager or Brown Ale provide refreshing contrast and help temper the heat.

Chorizo and bean stew features smoky, paprika-forward pork sausage with earthy beans in a rich, savory broth. This hearty Spanish-influenced dish requires beverages that can complement its bold flavors while cutting through the richness with either tannins or carbonation.

Empanadas are versatile Latin American pastries that can be filled with various proteins, vegetables, or cheeses, offering a balance of savory pastry exterior with flavorful fillings. The recommended beverages complement the baked, savory qualities while providing enough acidity or carbonation to cut through the richness of the pastry.

Game meats typically offer rich, complex flavors with earthy undertones and varying degrees of gaminess. The recommended wines provide complementary tannin structure, dark fruit notes, and earthy characteristics to match the robust nature of game meats while providing palate-cleansing acidity. The selected beer styles offer malt richness, dark fruit notes, and complementary caramel or spice notes to enhance rather than overwhelm the meat's natural flavors.

Game meats typically offer rich, earthy flavors with varying intensity depending on the specific animal (venison, boar, rabbit, etc.). The recommended pairings balance the meat's robust character with complementary earthy notes while offering enough structure to stand up to the protein without overwhelming it.

Grilled lamb chops offer a rich, slightly gamey flavor with smoky char notes that call for wines with sufficient tannin structure and concentrated fruit profiles. The caramelized exterior and savory fat of the lamb pairs beautifully with red wines that have earthy undertones and robust structure, while medium to full-bodied beers with caramel and toasted malt notes complement the meat's richness.

Grilled meats develop rich, smoky flavors and caramelized exteriors that pair beautifully with robust red wines offering tannins that cut through fat and complement the charred notes. Medium to full-bodied beers with toasty malt profiles create harmony with the smoky flavors while providing enough structure to stand up to the protein's richness.

Grilled steak develops complex flavors through the Maillard reaction, creating caramelized notes and a rich, savory profile that pairs exceptionally well with full-bodied red wines and malt-forward beers. The tannins in wines like Cabernet Sauvignon cut through the fat while complementing the protein, while the roasted malt character of darker beers enhances the charred, smoky qualities of the meat.

This Crianza represents the perfect middle ground in Rioja's aging hierarchy – enough time in oak and bottle to develop complexity but still showcasing vibrant fruit character. It's the Goldilocks of Spanish reds – not too young, not too old, just right. CUNE (pronounced 'COO-nay') has been crafting exceptional Rioja wines since 1879, making them one of the region's historic producers. Their Crianza spends one year in American oak barrels, giving it those classic vanilla and coconut notes that complement Tempranillo's fruit so beautifully. This wine offers an authentic taste of traditional Rioja at an everyday price point – perfect for tapas night, Sunday roasts, or whenever you want a wine with a bit more sophistication without breaking the bank.

Rioja is Spain's most famous wine region, and Bodegas Eguiluz crafts a classic expression that showcases why these wines have captivated drinkers for centuries. This traditional blend is dominated by Tempranillo (Spain's noble grape) with supporting roles from Graciano and Garnacha to add complexity and structure. What makes this Rioja special is its perfect balance between tradition and drinkability. It's aged in American oak barrels following regional tradition, but not so long that the wine becomes a vanilla bomb – the fruit remains the star of the show. The Eguiluz family has been growing grapes in Rioja for generations, focusing on sustainable farming practices that allow their terroir to shine through. This wine offers a taste of Spanish heritage at a price that won't require a second mortgage. It's the vinous equivalent of that neighborhood restaurant where the food is consistently excellent, the atmosphere is welcoming, and you always leave wondering why you don't visit more often.

This is the kind of red wine that laughs in the face of stuffy wine conventions. Gulp/Hablo Red comes in a full liter bottle (that's 33% more wine than standard bottles, for those keeping score) and delivers pure, unadulterated drinking pleasure without any pretension. Made from organically grown Tempranillo in Spain's Castilla-La Mancha region, this is a low-intervention, minimal sulfite wine that focuses on freshness and drinkability rather than power or complexity. It's the perfect weeknight red – the wine equivalent of your favorite well-worn t-shirt that always feels just right. Serve it with a slight chill for maximum enjoyment, especially when the mercury rises. And yes, the name is a serving suggestion you should absolutely follow.

The third installment in the Kiki & Juan trilogy (still waiting for the Netflix adaptation), this Spanish red blend brings together the country's star grape Tempranillo with its supporting actor Garnacha. The result is a wine with the structure and depth of a good Ribera del Duero but without the hefty price tag that often comes with the region's bigger names. Unlike some of Spain's more oak-dominated styles, this Tinto keeps things fresh and fruit-forward while still maintaining enough complexity to keep it interesting. It's made with minimal intervention and a focus on expressing the character of the vineyards rather than the winemaker's barrel collection. The kind of honest, unpretentious red that makes you wonder why you'd ever need to spend more – until you inevitably do, because wine enthusiasm is a slippery slope that ends with a second refrigerator dedicated to wine storage.

Luzador's Los Andreses comes from Spain's prestigious Ribera del Duero region – an area that produces some of the country's most compelling reds. This is serious Tempranillo that showcases why this region has earned its stellar reputation among wine enthusiasts. Produced from old vines growing in high-altitude vineyards, this wine benefits from the dramatic temperature swings that help develop both intensity and elegance. The winemaking balances traditional methods with modern precision, creating a wine that honors its heritage while remaining accessible to contemporary palates. It's like the Spanish countryside bottled – rugged, authentic, and with a depth of character that reveals itself slowly over time. Perfect for when you want a wine with a story to tell and the substance to back it up.

Marques de Riscal has been producing exceptional Rioja since 1858 – they're practically part of the furniture in Spanish wine history. Their Reserva represents the classic style that put Rioja on the map, with traditional winemaking methods and extended aging creating a wine of remarkable complexity and finesse. This bottle strikes that perfect balance between fruit and savory development that makes aged Rioja so compelling. After spending about two years in American oak barrels and additional time in bottle before release, it arrives ready to impress but will continue to evolve gracefully. The winery's iconic gold wire netting (originally designed to prevent counterfeiting) makes it instantly recognizable, but it's what's inside that keeps wine lovers coming back decade after decade. It's like the comfortable leather jacket of the wine world – timeless, reliable, and always in style.

Mary Taylor's 'MT2' series represents her mission to bring exceptional, regionally authentic wines to market at accessible prices. This Manchuela blend showcases the underappreciated potential of this Spanish region, where old vines produce fruit of remarkable character and concentration. The blend of Tempranillo and Bobal (a native Spanish variety) creates a wine that's both familiar and distinctive – offering the structure and fruit profile that Spanish wine lovers seek while expressing the unique terroir of Manchuela. Taylor works directly with small producers committed to traditional methods and sustainable practices, ensuring that each bottle authentically represents its origin. It's the kind of honest, unpretentious wine that overdelivers on quality without the marketing markup – perfect for everyday enjoyment that doesn't sacrifice character or sense of place.

Mary Taylor's Castilla y León bottling showcases the exceptional quality coming from this historic Spanish wine region – home to some of the country's most prestigious appellations including Ribera del Duero and Toro. This Tempranillo (known locally as Tinta del País or Tinta de Toro) expresses the region's continental climate and diverse soils with remarkable clarity. Taylor partners with small, family-owned estates committed to traditional methods and sustainable practices, ensuring an authentic regional expression rather than a manufactured international style. The high-altitude vineyards experience dramatic temperature swings between day and night, developing intense flavor while maintaining freshness and balance. This bottle delivers the kind of structure and character that has made the region famous, but without the premium pricing of better-known producers. It's the vinous equivalent of discovering a fantastic neighborhood restaurant that only locals know about – authentic, satisfying, and remarkable value.

The Michelini brothers have made a name for themselves with boundary-pushing wines across South America, and this Spanish project shows they're just as talented in the Old World. 'Balsa de Piedra' translates to 'stone raft' – an apt metaphor for a wine that feels both solidly grounded and somehow capable of floating above expectations. Coming from Ribera del Duero's high-altitude vineyards, this Tempranillo captures the region's signature combination of power and elegance. The extreme continental climate – blazing hot days and frigid nights – creates wines with intense concentration while preserving crucial acidity. What makes this bottling special is how it honors traditional Spanish winemaking while incorporating the Michelini brothers' innovative spirit. It's like a classic rock song that's been remixed just enough to sound fresh without losing what made it great in the first place.

The Eguren family knows a thing or two about making great wine – they're behind some of Spain's most prestigious estates – but their Protocolo line proves they're equally skilled at crafting delicious everyday bottles. Their Rosado (Spanish for rosé) delivers remarkable quality at a price that makes it perfect for casual enjoyment. Made primarily from Tempranillo with a touch of Bobal, this rosé captures the sunny essence of Spain's La Mancha region. The brief skin contact gives it that beautiful pink hue and just enough structure to make it food-friendly while maintaining the refreshing character we all want in a rosé. It's the kind of wine that disappears quickly on warm evenings – unpretentious, utterly drinkable, and with enough character to keep you coming back for another glass. Perfect for those times when you need a crowd-pleasing pink that won't break the bank.

The term 'Joven' (meaning 'young' in Spanish) tells you everything you need to know about this wine's personality – it's fresh, energetic, and doesn't need years in the cellar to show its charm. Valderiz crafts this Tempranillo with minimal oak influence, letting the pure fruit character of Ribera del Duero shine. While many Ribera wines demand patience (and a second mortgage), Valdehermoso Joven delivers immediate pleasure at a price that won't cause heart palpitations. The high-altitude vineyards provide the intensity and structure this region is known for, but without the stern tannins that make you wait a decade. It's like getting all the depth of Ribera del Duero without the waiting game – instant gratification in the best possible way.

From the sun-baked plains of La Mancha (yes, where Don Quixote tilted at windmills) comes this impressively concentrated Tempranillo that punches well above its weight class. Bodegas Volver sources this wine from a single vineyard of old vines that struggle in poor, rocky soils – creating naturally low yields and intense flavors. While La Mancha is better known for quantity than quality, this wine proves that exceptional wines can come from unexpected places when old vines and thoughtful winemaking align. Winemaker Jorge Ordoñez has created a modern Spanish red that delivers impressive power and richness without losing its Spanish soul. It's the kind of wine that makes you reconsider everything you thought you knew about La Mancha – except maybe the windmills.