The Top Spanish And Portuguese Wines
Iberian Peninsula neighbors Spain and Portugal, combined, are the largest producers of wine in Europe. Among the multitude of wines vying for recognition from the two countries, only five dry wines, four from Spain and one from Portugal, earned prestigious Gold medals at the 2024 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) judging.
The top-rated wine, scoring a standout 97/100 points, was:
Finca Sobreño, Ildefonso 2018, Castilla y Leon, Toro DO, 14.4% ABV, 750 ml.
The sole Portuguese Gold medalist was:
Quinta do Pégo, Vinhas Velhas 2016, Doura, DOC, 15% ABV, 750 ml.
Quinta do Pégo Vinhas Velhas 2016 is a distinguished dry red wine hailing from the Douro DOC (Denominação de Origem Controlada) region of Portugal.
This wine is made from a blend of indigenous grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), sourced from old vines (vinhas velhas) in the estate’s finest vineyards. These old vines contribute to the wine’s complexity and depth of flavor, showcasing the unique characteristics of the Douro’s rugged terrain and the steep terraces of schist soils.
These are the same grape varietals used to craft the region’s world-famous Port wines. In recent years, partially due to the weakness in the Port market, the region has increasingly shifted to producing dry red wines. These wines are concentrated and robust, intensely colored and flavorful, and exceptionally well-priced.
