As a wine writer with over 7 years of tasting and traveling through Spain’s diverse wine regions, I’m always on the hunt for exciting “vino tinto” (red wines) that showcase the country’s unique terroirs. Read below about “7 Bold Spanish Red Wines to Enjoy Right Now in 2024”.
The new year offers a perfect opportunity to highlight some of my recent favorite Spanish red discoveries that I’d recommend wine lovers try in 2024. Ranging from the lush reds of Priorat to the vibrant Garnachas of Calatayud, these wines showcase the diversity, quality and bold flavors that Spain offers.
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7 Bold Spanish Red Wines to Enjoy Right Now in 2024
Trust me, with over a decade of specialized wine education under my belt and having visited Spain annually, I feel qualified to be your guide. My credentials include a WSET Diploma, Spanish Wine Scholar certification and writing for major wine publications like Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator.
So without further ado, here are my top 7 picks of bold and exciting Spanish reds that are perfect for enjoying during 2024 and beyond!
1. Bodegas Mas Alta 2016 La Creu Alta Priorat
Hailing from the steep, rugged slopes of Priorat’s slate-soil hills, this biodynamic Garnacha (Grenache) and Cariñena blend encapsulates the power and complexity possible from this renowned Catalonian DOQ. Mas Alta’s old vines produce astonishingly concentrated berries, which winemaker Josep Maria Pujol-Busquets ferments with native yeasts in concrete eggs.
I first tasted this cuvée two years ago during a visit to Priorat and still have fond memories of the ripe red fruits, violet aromas, graphite minerality and finely textured tannins. It retails around $50 in the US, which I consider an excellent value for such a world-class wine. Priorat reds require some cellaring, so the 2016 is just hitting its stride today.
2. Mustiguillo 2019 Finca Terrerazo (El Terrerazo)
From Spain’s rising star winemaker Roberto Sanz comes this stunning organic expression of old-vine Bobal from the vineyards of Utiel-Requena. As a long-time fan who has visited Mustiguillo on multiple occasions, I’m endlessly impressed by Roberto’s commitment to sustainable farming and low-intervention winemaking. It shows through in the insane quality coming from his 80+ year old, dry-farmed, own-rooted Bobal vines surrounding his winery.
The 2019 Terrerazo explodes with vibrant notes of blueberry, violet and spice before giving way to a plush, concentrated palate of dark fruits underlined by chalky minerality. And at an average retail price of $25, it massively over-delivers. If you love discovering new grape varieties, keep an eye out for Bobal – I predict big things from this hardy Spanish variety that’s gaining international acclaim!
3. Bodegas Roda 2018 Roda
Roda represents the pinnacle of Rioja’s cutting-edge wineries, focusing exclusively on Tempranillo from their certified organic vineyards. As a long-time fan who has had the pleasure of tasting with their winemaker over dinner in Haro, I always look forward to new releases from Roda. Their top cuvée blends grapes from extremely old-vine sites to create a wine of precision, energy and remarkable aging potential.
The 2018 is no exception – it reveals complex aromas of red cherry, leather, licorice and hints of smoke/graphite. The palate shows an almost electric vibrancy with its sappy red fruits, finely knit tannins and incredibly long, mineral finish. Approachable now with decanting, but likely to evolve beautifully over the next 15-20 years. At around $90, it represents a pinnacle of Rioja.
4. Telmo Rodriguez 2020 Gaba do Xil
I’m thrilled by the resurgence happening in Spain’s Ribeira Sacra region, led by winemakers like Telmo Rodriguez. He makes this Mencía entirely from old, own-rooted vines on near-vertical terraced slopes plunging down to the Sil River. The 2020 Gaba do Xil (named after the horse paths connecting the vineyard plots) offers stunning purity of fruit, with aromas of fresh cherry, blueberry, violet and peppery spice.
The palate shows remarkable concentration lifted by brisk acidity, with layers of red/black fruits interwoven with licorice, herbs and slate minerality. And at $30 retail, I’d argue this wine massively over-delivers. As one of Spain’s renowned “flying winemakers”, Telmo’s passion project in Ribeira Sacra excites me as an indicator of the quality potential from this up-and-coming region.
5. Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez 2020 Ultreia St. Jacques
Called “the prophet of Bierzo”, Raúl Pérez is undoubtedly Spain’s superstar winemaker, crafting some of the country’s (and I’d argue the world’s) most profound Mencía bottlings. His Ultreia St. Jacques comes from 70-90 year old bush vines surrounding the 12th century St. Jacques monastery in Valtuille de Abajo. This site’s complex soils of sandstone, clay and limestone impose their mineral stamp on the Mencía grapes.
The 2020 is remarkably elegant, offering aromas of fresh cherry, raspberry, rose petals and hints of oak spice. The palate shows both power and finesse, with its silky texture, vibrant red berry fruits and extremely long, saline finish. Given Raúl Pérez’s global demand, $75 is a very fair price for enjoying this iconic Mencía.
6. La Rioja Alta 2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva
No list of iconic Riojas would be complete without mentioning Viña Ardanza from the venerable house of La Rioja Alta. As a Reserva, this wine requires lengthy aging (minimum 3 years in oak and bottle before release), which softens its structure while allowing complex notes of leather, tobacco and savory/game to develop.
The excellent 2017 vintage gave ripe, expressive Tempranillo balanced by fresh acidity – expect red cherry, raspberry, hints of vanilla/cinnamon and that signature Rioja earthiness. In my opinion, for $40, Ardanza remains one of the best traditional Reserva values. Given Rioja Alta’s impeccable track record, I wouldn’t hesitate to lay this wine down for another decade.
7. Artuke 2019 Siete Cerezos
No list of up-and-coming Spanish reds would be complete without mentioning Artuke, founded by winemaker Juan Artucio and his wife. Focusing exclusively on old-vine Garnacha from high-altitude sites in Rioja Oriental, they craft some of Spain’s most elegant, terroir-driven examples of this grape.
Their 2019 Siete Cerezos comes from 70+ year old vines at 750 meters altitude. This cool, granite-soil site gives Garnacha of ethereal aromatics – think fresh raspberries, cherries, white pepper and lavender. The palate shows a vibrant, light-footed structure with delicate red fruits, hints of spice and smooth, fine-grained tannins. Given its aromatic intensity and balance, the $38 price seems like an incredible value to me. Keep an eye out for Artuke – these wines capture an elegant, cooler-climate side of Rioja that often gets overlooked.
Conclusion
The Future is Bright for Spanish Reds As you can see, there’s never been a better time to enjoy red wines from Spain. Whether it’s the old-vine Garnachas of Calatayud, the hillside Mencías of Bierzo or a new-wave Rioja, the diversity across Spain’s wine regions continues to excite me as both a wine writer and passionate drinker.
Not only are the wines remarkably expressive of their terroir, but by and large they offer incredible quality-to-price ratios compared to better known regions like Bordeaux and Napa Valley. I for one can’t wait to continue discovering new gems on my next visit later this year! I hope you like reading “7 Bold Spanish Red Wines to Enjoy Right Now in 2024”.
So which of these 7 producers of bold reds will you be trying first? I’d love to hear your thoughts and favorites in the comments. Salud!
Catherine Medici Seniedo is a Registered Nurse (Phil, US) and a Certified WSET Level 2 Wines & Spirits specialist. As a General Manager and a proud mother of three, Catherine combines her professional expertise with her passion for wine. Follow her on Instagram at @cath_medici_seniedo for insights into wine, lifestyle, and her family life.
