Laura S. Lara

Updated Sunday, March 24, 2024-9:00 p.m.

Spain has 70 designations of origin (two of which are qualified), seven quality wines and 20 premium wines. A total of 97 wine regions that have a guarantee seal that certifies that the wine has been produced entirely in that place and that the entire process has been carried out in accordance with officially regulated quality criteria.

Rioja is the oldest denomination

. It was officially recognized in 1925, ratified in the Wine Statute of 1932 and elevated to the category of qualified designation of origin (DOCa) in 1991, a mention that it only shares with Priorat.

Although Rioja is the most prestigious denomination internationally,

in terms of historical value and uniqueness, Jerez takes the cake

. In red wines, Ribera del Duero is close behind, and in white wines, Rueda and Rías Baixas stand out, without forgetting Penedès, the birthplace of cava. Among so much diversity, we are left with the three favorite R's of the Spaniards to discover six great wines for less than 10 euros.

The Lake of Bodegas Riojanas

Made by

carbonic maceration

, with whole bunches of grapes without pressing, with only light treading, El Lago boasts of being the result of minimal oenological intervention. A

tempranillo

linked to the Rioja landscape, cheerful and fruity, that conquers with those

memories of strawberry yogurt

that this type of production provides. A fresh and round red, a delicacy, that maintains a wild, herbaceous, undomesticated tone, which takes us back to the artisanal tradition of the region. Bottled art that is reflected in its label, inspired by Matisse's work

The Dance

(1910).

Price: 8.50 euros

El Coto Crianza Ecological

Eco-friendly, organic and sustainable, inside and out. This Rioja is

respectful of the environment from its production

, based on ancestral practices, without synthetic chemicals, to its design, since all materials used seek to produce the minimum impact on the environment.

The labels are made with citrus pulp and recycled paper

, the cardboard in the boxes promotes conscious management of the forest and the bottles are lighter to reduce the energy expenditure of their production and the carbon footprint of their transportation. But the best thing is that it is delicious and has an unbeatable price.

Price: 8.75 euros

Alacer Crianza

In Ribera del Duero we find this deep and harmonious Tempranillo that reflects the essence of the idyllic vineyard in which it is born, where the vines are surrounded by juniper, holm oak and thyme, projecting the wine a fresh aromatic landscape and a unique balsamic character. Its aging for

12 months in French oak barrels

balances its edges and develops a whole universe of nuances and sensations: ripe red fruits, spicy aromas, hints of licorice...

Price: 10 euros

Lopez Cristobal La Linde

The freshest and fruitiest wine from the López Cristóbal winery in Burgos is one of the standard bearers of the character of that Ribera without makeup. With a

small contribution of Merlot grape

, this tempranillo from Roa is rounded thanks to a subtle aging of three months in French oak barrels, to which are added three more months in the bottle. The result is a light and versatile red wine, which gives all the prominence to the fruit so that it stands out above the wood.

Price: 9.85 euros

Albina Verdejo Vineyard

It has only been on the market for a short time, but

it continues to receive awards

. Voted Best Wine of Rueda and Gold Medal for Mundus Vini, Viña Albina Verdejo

is the favorite white for lovers of the queen variety of Rueda

. A fresh and aromatic Verdejo, which combines intensity and joy, body and complexity, whose benefits transcend borders: especially significant are the 90 points with which the influential American critic James Suckling (Wine Spectator) awarded several consecutive vintages of this extraordinary Verdejo.

Price: 7 euros

Valdecuevas Sauvignon Blanc

In the land of white wines there is not only Verdejo. The

sauvignon blanc

variety

, originally from France, has been perfectly adapted to Rueda for decades. Proof of this is this wine in which

tropical aromas are intertwined with citrus and herbaceous touches

typical of this grape, and subtle mineral notes. A combination that gives it remarkable freshness, persistence and elegance. A white with personality that reflects Valdecuevas' desire to show the richness and diversity of the region

Price: 7.99 euros