When many people think of Spanish red wines they think of the most popular grapes, tempranillo and garnacha, however there is much more to Spanish wine than these two. In Baggot Street Wines over the past number of years we have increased the number of other varieties in our portfolio. Two grape varieties that we have seen become increasingly popular are Mencia and Bobal. 

Mencia is a red grape variety native to the Iberian Peninsula in north west Spain and Portugal and is not widely popular outside of the region. The wine it produced is medium bodied with floral and red fruit flavours and fresh acidity. Many of the grapes come from old vines which produce wines with better concentration and in many cases are quite age worthy. If you are a fan of pinot noir and are looking for something that is better value then Mencia may be the grape for you. Due to the fact that the grape is pretty unknown, prices are still very reasonable and punch well above their weight in quality. Here in Baggot Street Wines our range starts from €16.95 for the El Castro de Valtuille Joven. 

Despite being the third most planted grape in Spain, Bobal is still largely unknown outside of the country and offers exceptional value. Like Mencia Bobal is medium bodied with nice fresh acidity but with slightly higher tannins making it an excellent food wine with ageing capability. Bobal is also known for its slightly rustic characteristics which add complexity and make the wine perfect for grilled meat or tomato based dishes. Bobals lack of popularity outside of Spain means prices have remained relatively low and our selection starts at €17.95 for the Bodegas Ponce Clos Lojen.