The Spanish wine scene has been transformed in recent years, says world authority on the country’s wines, John Radford. As part of the process of updating his award-winning book The New Spain, he oversaw our largest ever tasting of Spanish wines. Here he reflects on the highlights, and on what’s changed
When Rioja prices rocketed towards the end of the 1990s, buyers started to look elsewhere. JOHN RADFORD highlights the best affordable Spanish regions giving Rioja a run for its money
Many people buy their one bottle of sherry at Christmas each year, and it's usually bland, sweet and unmemorable. JOHN RADFORD explains that there is much more to the Andalucian favourite
The man responsible for driving the Vino de la Tierra classification is one of the Spanish wine scene's most colourful characters as JOHN RADFORD discovers
The 75th anniversary of La Rioja's Consejo Regulador provided ample excuse for a tasting. JOHN RADFORD samples the 1999 and some of the region's older and greater vintages
Once the name Rioja was synonymous with Spanish wine. These days, says JOHN RADFORD, the region is having to innovate to maintain its lead
Prominent Catalans are pressing for a blanket regional appellation, to reap the best of all zones, while the subregions continue to strengthen their reputations. John Radford reports
JOHN RADFORD looks at a region which has, on the brink of the 21st century, virtually reinvented itself within the last two decades
