Mediterranean Wines Vs. Atlantic wines

Sometimes when we read an article about Spanish wines or participate in a wine tasting, the sommelier mentions whether the wine is an Atlantic wine or a Mediterranean wine, but then we look at the label and see nothing about it.

Then why do professionals call them that? What do we mean by Atlantic wines and Mediterranean wines, and what are the differences between them?

We classify Atlantic wines according to their geographical area and climate. For example, in Spain, there are three very different types of climate, Atlantic, Mediterranean and continental, although they never talk about continental wines, continental influence or continental climate. Spanish people refer to the rest of the wines as Atlantic wines or Mediterranean wines.

Atlantic wines are all those Spanish wines that are produced on the coast that bathes its waters, the Atlantic Ocean, such as wines from  Galicia, famous for its fresh Albariño wines, or wines from the Canary Islands, wines that are characterized by aromatic nuances, with sulfurous notes because their soils are volcanic.

There is another type of wine, such as txakolís, which, although located on the  Cantabrian coast and has no sea in common, share the same climate as the Albariño wines, which means that they are also included in this classification of Atlantic wines.

What characterizes the Atlantic wines is the marked acidity, all the wines from the areas mentioned above have a lot of acidities, although it is very well integrated with the aromas and structure, which makes them easy to drink because the alcohol content is moderate. These regions produce light wine, but especially they are very fresh and fruity.

Spain has a beautiful coast in the Mediterranean Sea. Mediterranean wines are marked by the expression of the sea, i.e they are a type of wine that stands out for their salinity in the mouth, which does not mean they are salty, but have complexity. In the mouth, they are fresh and have saline sensations, which are very pleasant notes for the palate. 

Mediterranean wines are distinguished by the fact that they have more body than Atlantic wines, are wines with more tension, with more muscle, have a  more compact structure and, especially, are distinguished by their ability to age. Another detail that we must take into account in Mediterranean wines is that the aromas of fruit, both on the nose and in the mouth, are less acidic, the fruits are much riper, and they are much warmer wines. Mediterranean wines are more gastronomic, with more volume and higher alcohol content.

The Mediterranean climate is mild, characterized by very dry and hot summers and milder winters. Catalonia, for example, has several designations of origin with access to the sea, but curiously, the Mediterranean climate is also present in inland areas, such as the Penedès region, which, due to its proximity to the sea, offers fresh and fruity white wines and base wines with good acidity, a quality essential for the production of the best Spanish cavas.

There are other types of wines, more robust, which do not necessarily comply with the personality canon of Mediterranean wines, but if they are in places where, due to the protection of the mountains or the crossing of a river nearby, they enjoy a moderate climate throughout. In this case, it would be Mediterranean wines, which can be found in the Priorat area and Conca de Barbera of Catalonia, Jumilla, Utiel-Requena or La Rioja.

In Spain several wines are famous all over the world, these are the Jerez wines, which deserve a special mention because they are an exception in this classification.

 Jerez wines, due to their geographical location, where the two seas converge, adopt the influence of both, so these wines, are a clear example of the coexistence of two very different climates, offering wines as surprising as they are interesting.

After analyzing the specific characteristics of each wine and understanding the differences between them, we will give you some examples of Atlantic wines and Mediterranean wines, these are the wines you will find in our online wine store, they are among the best Spanish wines and I am sure that when you taste them, you will discover for yourself all those details and nuances that we talked about.

Recommendation 

Atlantic wines

One of the best-rated Atlantic wines is an Albariño, Mar de Frades, whose grapes are fed by the Atlantic Ocean with its breeze, which gives it a fresh and lively character. It is a delicate wine, very aromatic and fruity, but without asperities, an elegant and very personal wine, ideal to be consumed as such or on those days with rice or pasta.

A Galician wine, Atlantic, called  La Mar, from the Terras Gauda winery. A unique wine made entirely from a grape from the Rías Baixas, that has almost completely disappeared, Caíño Blanco, and gives this wine different flavours, tropical fruits, maybe not as much acidity as an Albariño, but it is more complex. La Mar, is a glyceric and creamy wine, which can be stored and that will evolve into the glass, gaining in complexity and nuances over time.

Another wine I would recommend is the  G-22, which is found on the Cantabrian coast. G-22 is a modern txakoli, from Bizkaia, from Gorka Izaguirre winery, aged for eight months on its yeast. It is a very personal wine, with an exceptional structure and elegance, fresh, with which it is very easy to have a toast with friends, even one of those ideal wines to give as a gift and surprise.

Mediterranean wines

Parvus, from the Alta Alella winery, is a single-variety organic Chardonnay, born on a unique soil, characteristic of this area of ​​Alella, vineyards located three hundred meters above sea level. It is a Chardonnay touched by the sea breeze, aged for four months in barrels of French oak, a sincere and flawless wine that exudes a Mediterranean character on all four sides.

Perhaps a Mediterranean rosé is a good choice for autumn,  Herms from Terra Alta is a combination of modernity and elegance, which is reflected at first glance in the glass. It is a very original wine, a single variety Syrah, with a beautiful salmon pink color, clean and bright, with notes of ripe red fruits, but also notes of Mediterranean wildflowers, such as rosemary and chamomile.

Clos de Silenci 2015  is another excellent Spanish red wine, from the winery Pere Olivella Galimany, a blend of Grenache and Carignan, from organic vines, grown in a dry system, located at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level. It´s a wine with fine and ripe tannins, ideal to be matched with grilled red meats or a plate of semi-consumed cheeses. 

We hope that we have clarified the differences between one type of wine and another, and starting from the premise that Spanish wines are of high quality, the choice will depend on personal tastes. Discover all our recommendations and more in our store

Before concluding, we thank our good friend Isabel Zaro for all the information provided in this article. If you are interested in a specific topic or would like to know more details about a specific topic, do not hesitate to write to us at hello@disndis.com. 

See you next time, wine lovers

Dis&Dis Team