The kind of wine that doesn't make it to Ireland

One of the best things about WineSpark is being directly connected to the people behind the wines. 

It’s something you just don’t get buying from other places.

And few wines show that personality, quality and character better than La Loba Ribera del Duero.

The name says it all

I love Spain (if you haven’t gathered by now) - the food, the wine, the people, the history.

One nugget I’ve learned along the way is that lots of old people in Spain have nicknames. Some are flattering… others less so. 

For example, I’ve heard of 'El Ratón' (the rat) and 'El Conejo' (the rabbit).

My favourite came when I was with Bárbara Requejo, walking through the vineyard behind Pelito Lindo Garnacha. 

I asked why it was called that - it turns out the wine was named after the vineyard’s previous owner, an old guy from nearby Villanueva de Ávila. 

Pelito Lindo means ‘beautiful little hair’ - apparently he was bald with a fringe.

And then there’s 'La Loba' - The Wolf

Originally from Alicante, Ana Carazo cut her teeth at some bigger wineries before settling in a tiny, remote village called Matanza de Soria.

Her grandmother lived there her whole life - and her nickname was La Loba. On Ana’s wine label, you’ll see her sitting outside the green door of her house in the village.

(Whatever The Wolf meant, I’m guessing you didn’t want to mess with her).

One of Ribera's rising stars

Ana has made it her life’s mission to restore the abandoned, 100+ year-old Tempranillo plots dotted all around the village, and let them shine through her wine.

These gnarly old plants produce piddly yields, but what fruit does come out is inky-dark, concentrated and complex in flavour.

Ana manages over 100 of these tiny plots separately - and combines them in luxurious French oak barrels to make La Loba. 

It’s painstaking, almost nonsensical work… but inspiring, especially when you taste the result.

And it’s starting to turn heads - Ana has already won two prestigious Winemaker of the Year awards in Spain this year!

My favourite 6-pack has had a shake-up - including two brand new wines

‘Tis the season for new wines and vintages - so I’ve refreshed my This Is WineSpark case with my latest favourites.

Inside you’ll find:

• La Loba Ribera del Duero 2020 - a powerful, dark and brooding Tempranillo, with lovely florals and meaty flavours. On the palate it’s silky-smooth and rich, with great structure and length
• Terre des Dames La Diva Blanche 2024 - a brand new white from Lidewij van Wilgen, the Dutch Doyenne of the Languedoc. This is 100% White Grenache, made in a white Burgundy style in big oak barrels. It’s creamy, soft and complex, with a lovely limey-tropical opulence
• Nomades Campania Aglianico 2022 - if you haven’t heard of Aglianico, Italians call it ‘the Barolo of the South’. This is bursting with juicy blackberries, fresh herbs and violets, with beautiful structure and power from 20 months of oak ageing. If you like big Spanish reds like Ribera and Priorat, then dive in
• Chiara Condello Predappio Sangiovese 2022 - Chiara is one of the rising stars of Italian wine - this is a powerful, elegant Sangiovese from the Emilia-Romagna region near Bologna. Jancis Robinson called the previous vintage 'absolutely electric' and 'a superb find'
• Domaine des Berthiers Pouilly Fumé 2024 - from my favourite Loire region, the vineyards here are based on silex (flint), which is the most coveted soil in Pouilly Fumé. This brings out a piercing, mineral and pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc - you don’t get this anywhere else in the world!
• César Márquez Valtuille Mencía 2023 - the grapes here are from César’s home village of Valtuille - it’s soft, silky and savoury, like a good northern Rhône Syrah. ‘A lovely, elegant wine with real style – and at a great price too’ wrote John Wilson in The Irish Times of the 2020 vintage.
  

You wouldn’t get this collection of wines anywhere else

These wines are what I love about this business - full of stories, personalities and uncompromising quality. 

It's unlikely that they'd have ever made it to Ireland without WineSpark. 

Humble and passionate winemakers like Ana, who wear their hearts on their sleeves, easily get overlooked in traditional wine channels.

I’ve travelled to every corner of Spain and beyond, to search out people like these for you.

So if you're a member reading this - thank you for helping me to make this all possible!