Home > Articles > Go Tapas! The Sexiest Food to Pair with Great Wine

Go Tapas! The Sexiest Food to Pair with Great Wine

Going Tapas is a fun way to explore great wine from Spain!

by Wine Taster
published: 24 Mar 2009       | Comments

If you're looking for a fresh way to share great wine with your friends, why not throw a Tapas Wine-Tasting Party? Prepare 4 to 5 different Spanish tapas dishes, add several bottles of great wine from Spain, and BAM!! - you have a deliciously unique party.

Not only does Spain offer some really fantastic, great wine, it's known around the globe for amazing food. Spain has been influenced by many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures, and its food and wine are a tasty reflection of its heritage. Spain has many regions that produce great wine. Here are a few to get you started.

A Quick and Dirty Low-Down on Spanish Wines:

• La Rioja is a small area, but it is the richest producer of table wines in Spain and has gained a worldwide reputation in the past few years. It is divided into sub-areas: Rioja Baja, Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa.
  Rioja Examples


• Vinos de Castilla: Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Toro, El Bierzo and Cigales are the Denominaciones de Origen in this region. The area is known for its great wine - particularly reds and rosés. Some of the wines in the region have gained international acclaim.
  Castilla Examples


• La Mancha is a region located in central Spain and is the stomping ground of the famous literary figure, Don Quixote. This area is the largest producer of great wine in Spain. These popular wines are of great quality and are mild and dry.
  La Mancha Examples

Go Tapas! Some Popular Tapas to Get the Party Going:

• The Spanish Omelet: No doubt about it, the Spanish omelet is the most commonly served dish in Spain. In fact, some call it the national dish of Spain. It is made of eggs, potatoes and onions.


• Garlic Shrimp: One of the most common and most popular tapas in Spain, this dish is quick, easy and FULL of garlic flavor. Your guests will be asking for the recipe after the first bite, especially the garlic lovers!


• Stuffed Mussels: If you have ever been to Spain, you've probably tasted "tigres," mussels that have been stuffed, breaded and fried. Your guests will flip over this authentic delight.


• Ham Croquettes: Croquetas or croquettes are small, lightly breaded and fried sorts of fritters. They are a sure hit as for tapas or an afternoon snack with a glass of great wine. They are creamy, smooth and very tasty.


• Fried Calamari: Fried squid, or in Spanish "calamares fritos" or "calamares a la romana," is a simple but delicious and very popular appetizer or tapas in Spain.

A tapas party is a great way to get your friends together and to take some of the snobbery out of the wine tasting. It's a relaxing and fun way to pair food with great wine, and it's a new way to explore the great wine coming out of Spain. Relax. Enjoy. Go Tapas!