The Festival will feature 151 wineries from 15 countries at the International Festival Tasting, held Thursday, April 5, to Saturday, April 7, 2001.

Spain is the Festival's fourth annual theme country and 31 wineries from Spain will be present at the 2001 Festival.

About the Wine

Spain has its own inimitable grape varieties, which give Spanish wines their special character and style. Nine hundred years of know how, plus the unique combination of Spanish soil and climate produces some of the world's finest wines. From the whites of Rueda and Rias Baxas, to "Cava" sparkling wine, to the noble reds from Rioja, Navarra and Ribera del Duero. All of them are examples of native Spanish grapes at their very best.

Grapes Albarino - from Rias Baixas in Galicia, an aromatic white variety, related to Riesling.

Verdejo - native to the Rueda region, makes characterful dry white wines, with vat or barrel fermented.

Tempranillo - the noble red grape, produces elegant and structured red wines throughout the country, most famously in Rioja, and Riberia de Duero.

Viura - best known as the white grape of Rioja, and as Macabeo, one of the main varieties in Cava sparkling wine.

Xarel - lo - with Macabeo and Parellada, one of the trio which makes Cava sparkling wine so distinctive.

Garnacha - vibrant, robust, full of red fruit flavors. Also used to make Spain's finest Ros ado wines.