Spanish varietals in Spain and Australia

Spain Meets Australia

I am a fan of most Spanish wines and when a tasting crossed my radar comparing Spanish wines with the same grape varietal grown in Australia, I had to go along.

Segura Viudas Vintage Brut Cava

I am normally not the biggest fan of Cava as I do not like the signature eraser flavour.  This one did not have that flavour.  Flavours of red apple, yellow grapefruit, a touch of lemon and a slight hint of thyme.  Dry and refreshing, and a perfect way to start the evening.

Rating:  Delish          Price: AUD 30

Pazo das Bruxas Albariño 2023 vs Margan Breaking Ground Albariño 2025

The first of the varietal comparisons.  The first impression of the Spanish wine was dried thyme followed by red apple with touches of green and yellow apple, pineapple, yellow grapefruit, white blossom and saline.  The hint of butterscotch, combined with the mouthfeel being rounder than normal for an Albariño and the smooth finish suggested that it had some lees ageing.  The acidic backbone was there but disguised.  Not the normal linear acidic wine with a touch of floral that I normally associate with Albariño from Rias Baixis.

The Australian wine did not have nearly the same level of fruit concentration despite being fruitier.  There was more obvious residual sugar but was actually more savoury on the palate than the Spanish wine.  Skin texture compensated for the reduced acidic profile.  Flavours of sweet lemon, fennel, a touch of mandarin and dried herbs

I preferred the Spanish Albariño, although the room was split 50/50.

Pazo das Bruxas Albariño 2023: Rating:  Delish        Price: AUD 38

Margan Breaking Ground Albariño 2025:  Rating:  Okay          Price: AUD 34

Roberto Flammini Almanova Mencia 2023 vs Olivers Taranga Mencia 2025

I love a good Mencia – a grape variety that is reminiscent of Pinot Noir and goes brilliantly with Turkey.  From Ribeira Sacra, this Spanish wine was light-bodied and with beautiful cherry flavours, dried cranberry, mace and a touch of liquorice.  Flint and granite were lurking in the background before coming out to play on a mineral finish.  Silky tannins.

The Australian wine was quite a contrast.  It was more tannic, chewier and heavier-bodied than the Spanish wine.  It had round juicy red fruit and tasted like a blend of Mencia, Gamay and Grenache - I would not have picked it as a Mencia in a blind tasting but really enjoyed drinking it.  A quaffer!

Stylistically, I preferred the Spanish wine but it did not stop me enjoying the Australian version.  Slightly more people at the tasting preferred the Australian to the Spanish wine.

Roberto Flammini Almanova Mencia 2023:     Rating: Delish    Price: AUD 30

Olivers Taranga Mencia 2025: Rating: Delish   Price: AUD 36