6 Spanish and Portuguese wine regions (and wines) you need to know

Pronounced ree-oh-hah and located in the country’s north, Rioja is Spain’s most famous wine region and the spiritual home of the tempranillo grape. "Everyone who knows Spanish wine wants something from Rioja," says Eralde, "because it's something Spain is known to do so well. The north of the region is a little cooler, the south is a little warmer, but the wines tend to have a medium-bodied texture and are very easy to drink."

Any wine labelled as Rioja will be produced from the tempranillo grape, often with a blend of garnacha (AKA grenache), mazuelo or graciano as well. They may have a designation of either Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva, which refers to the amount of time the wine has spent ageing before its release. "The Altos R is a Crizana, meaning it has been aged a minimum of two years, with at least one year in oak," says Eralde. "This means it will be smoother and more approachable, with a little more complexity without being overwhelming."

Ribera del Duero is located in the middle of Spain, about a 90-minute drive north of Madrid, and though wine grapes have been growing there for at least 2000 years, it was virtually unknown as a wine region until the 1980s. The region is getting plenty of love now though, thanks to its bold, structured reds made from the tempranillo grape.

"This is the big difference between a Ribera and a Rioja," says Eralde. "Ribera wines tend to be more structured because the region is further inland and the wines are a little more alcoholic, in most cases. Riojas tend to be medium-bodied, whereas Ribera is usually drier and fuller-bodied." 

It's worth noting that tempranillo is known by the locals as tinto fino, which is responsible for 95% of total production. And when it comes to choosing a wine, it's hard to go past anything from Emilio Moro, from which you can expect dark fruits, like blackberry and blackcurrant, as well as a touch of oak and lively tannins. "Everyone in Spain associates Emilio Moro with the Ribera region," says Eralde. "It's very well known. I love the brand and try to get my hands on anything I can find. It's great with paella – a bit of pork, a bit of rice – and when shared with friends."

Though Lisboa is a relatively small wine region, its winemakers are doing impressive things. The Portuguese capital of Lisbon is smack bang in the middle of the region and the Serra de Montejunto hills shield it from the wild winds of the Atlantic Ocean, helping to moderate the climate.

The region is known for making excellent-value reds, like the Porta 6. "This is a really good introduction to Portuguese wines," says Eralde. "It has similar attributes to a red from Rioja, though it's slightly drier. Portugal is obviously known for producing port, as that's what they do best, but this means not many people have heard about the red or white wines. I love these wines and try to seek them out because you don't have to sacrifice huge amounts of money to enjoy something new and really interesting."