No Spain, No Gain

I haven’t taken a good, long look at Spanish wines in quite a while.
And I was reminded recently why that’s not too smart.

In late May, I stumbled over this red wine from Rioja, Spain, that’s been rolling around my “wines I need to taste” bin for some time. Much like the Tapeña Garnacha from a couple weeks ago (also from Spain), the non-descript bottle didn’t clamor for attention; there were no critters on the label. Needing a wine for my kitchen-sink frittata I was making, I just grabbed it.

In short, it was delicious. It paired admirably with the Asian-style frittata (I had leftover summer squash sautéed with sesame oil, pickled ginger and soy sauce from the previous night). Even my father-in-law, Erwin Reiss, uncharacteristically asked for a second glass.

So, what did we learn here? 1. Don’t overlook unassuming bottles. 2. Drink more Spanish wines because they are oh-so-food-friendly. And 3, a frittata is a great way to use leftover vegetables.

2006 Viña Zaco Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain

• $15

• Two Thumbs Up

• Aromas of dark berries and spices. Friendly flavors of black cherry, tart cranberry, clove and a touch of black licorice.