snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (Albert) wrote in news:bd592ee4.0308310414.650dc187
> @posting.google.com:
>
> > When I was on vacation in Andalusia I bought in a addition to some
> > Riojas a bottle of local red wine in a wine shop in Ronda. The label
> > on the bottle identifies the wine as:
> > Seleccion Principe Alfonso, 1995,
> > Bodegas Las Monjas, Ronda.
> > Back at home I shared the bottle with a good friend and we were both
> > delighted by its taste.
> > Unfortunately I couldn't find out the kind of grape(s) the wine is > > made of.
> > Does anybody know this wine and maybe could recommend some other
> > spanish wines which are comparable?
>
>
> Hi Albert,
>
> My references don't show any insight in a winery called "Bodegas Las
> Monjas". However, I have several references about a winery called:
> Bodegas y Viñedos Principe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, S.A. which has a wine
> called "Cortijo Las Monjas" that I have tasted a couple of times in the > past.
>
> It could be that the winery changed name between 1995 (vintage of your
> bottle) and 2002 (my older reference in a book).
>
> The winery was founded in 1980 by Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe, who was
> part of the Jet Set at Marbella (and later retired to Ronda). He
> searched for good lands in the hills of Ronda to plant international
> varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Merlot,
> along with Tempranillo.
>
> Two red wines:
>
> - Cortijo las monjas (oaked red): 100% tempranillo.
> - Principe Alfonso (oaked red): coupage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit
> Verdot, Syrah, Merlot and Tempranillo, with percentages varying with > vintages.
>
> A couple of years ago, the winery released a 100% Petit Verdot wine. >
> I am not sure, but my guess is that the wine you bought was the Principe
> Alfonso from the 95 vintage.
>
> I am sorry to say that I don't feel this is a wine representative of
> Spain, and I can't really say another Spanish wine comparable.
>
> Best,
>
> Santiago
Dear Santiago,
thank you very much for the detailed information. In order to explore Spain as a wine country I am reading a lot about the different areas (Rioja, Navarra, Cigales, Penedes, etc) and the corresponding wines but of course it is much more interesting and valuable to get some first hand recommendation. From your name and email address I assume that you are from Spain and your answer implies that you have a good knowledge of Spanish wines. So may I ask you to give me a few recommendation of wines where you think they are representative of Spain?
Regards,
Albert