RED WINE may not be the first drink that comes to mind during a scorching Spanish summer, but the right bottle can be every bit as refreshing as a white or rosé.
Light-bodied reds with plenty of fruit and freshness can benefit from a short spell in the fridge, making them ideal for warm evenings, relaxed dinners and long lunches on the terrace.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo has selected seven bottles from wine regions across the country that are particularly well suited to being served slightly chilled.
Most also cost less than €15, proving summer drinking does not have to break the bank.
From volcanic wines made in the Canary Islands to fresh mencia from Bierzo and easy-drinking garnacha from Rioja and Navarra, here are the seven bottles that made the list.
Viñatigo Negramoll – €15.10
The selection begins in Tenerife, where Viñatigo produces this delicate red using the native negramoll grape.
Grown in small vineyards on the island’s volcanic soils, it has a light and fresh character that makes it an easy match for a summer dinner or a drink on the terrace.
Sara Peña – €16.95
Sara Peña is the most expensive bottle on the list, although it remains an accessible introduction to the fresher side of Galician red wine.
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It is the more relaxed offering from winemaker Eduardo Peña, with an Atlantic freshness designed for tapas, conversation and informal dinners rather than serious wine-tasting rituals.
Losada El Pajaro Rojo – €9.30
For something fruity and affordable, El Pajaro Rojo offers a youthful expression of Bierzo’s mencia grape.
Made with fruit grown in cooler parts of the region, it is juicy and approachable enough to serve alongside a plate of cured meats, a barbecue or a simple evening meal.
Rioja Vega 1882 Garnacha – €8.70
Rioja is often associated with fuller-bodied wines and long periods of ageing, but this bottle takes a lighter approach.
Its garnacha grapes produce a softer, fruitier and more easy-going red, showing that the famous wine region also has plenty to offer during the warmer months.
Le Naturel Tinto – €9.95
Produced by Aroa Bodegas in Navarra, Le Naturel Tinto is an organic garnacha made with minimal intervention.
Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, it is the type of bottle that can be opened without ceremony and shared as casually as a white or rosé.
Carravalseca Maceracion Carbonica – €8.70
This young Rioja Alavesa red gets its lively and fruit-forward character from carbonic maceration, a traditional winemaking method commonly used for fresh wines intended to be enjoyed young.
Made by Casa Primicia, it is a versatile choice for an aperitif, a summer barbecue or an evening of tapas.
Dominio de Berzal Recient – €6.50
At €6.50, Dominio de Berzal Recient is the cheapest bottle in the selection.
Its simple and informal style draws on the traditional young wines of Rioja Alavesa, making it a good choice for anyone looking for an affordable red that does not take itself too seriously.
The aim is not to serve these wines ice-cold.
Around 20 to 30 minutes in the fridge should be enough to soften the effect of Spain’s summer heat while preserving the fruit and character of the wine.
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