Overview: With Spain crowned world champions, a curated selection of wines was recommended for each of their eight matches during the tournament. The editorial team identified 16 teams representing major wine-producing countries, with eight editors covering two teams each to recommend a total of 77 wines throughout the competition. This specific squad highlights the breadth of contemporary Spanish winemaking across multiple regions.
The Full Story
Rupert Millar and regional editor Ines Salpico led the selection process for Spain’s route to the final. The recommendations spanned classics such as CVNE’s Imperial Gran Reserva and newer expressions like Artuke’s La Condenada. The list also included Navarra’s under-appreciated rosés, Txakoli from the Basque Country, and white wine from Jumilla.
To create a compelling mixed case, the selection drew upon Catalonia, Andalusia, and Galicia alongside these primary regions. Game 1 (vs Cape Verde) featured Viña Zorzal, Garnacha Rosado, Navarra. Game 2 (vs Saudi Arabia) selected CVNE, Imperial Gran Reserva, Rioja. Game 3 (vs Uruguay) chose Telmo Rodriguez, Gaba Mencía, Valdeorras. Round of 32 (vs Austria) picked Stratum Wines, El Cerrico, Jumilla. Round of 16 (vs Portugal) used Soca-Rel, Escursac, Mallorca. Quarter-final (vs Belgium) recommended Rezabal, Txakoli Rosé, Basque Country. Semi-final (vs France) selected Francisco Barona, Finca las Dueñas Reserva, Ribera del Duero. Final (vs Argentina) chose Artuke, La Condenada, Rioja.
Production & Profile
Technical specifications vary across the squad, ranging from old-vine Airén grown in the north of Jumilla at nearly 1,000m to blends in Rioja Alavesa. One bottle features 80% Tempranillo combined with co-planted Garnacha Tinta, Graciano and other varieties on sandy soils in Baños de Ebro. Another offering highlights a single parcel of old-vine Airén at nearly 1,000m altitude. The Escursac variety is indigenous to Mallorca, while Txakoli Rosé offers a trademark hint of fizz. Tasting notes describe the CVNE Imperial as having definition, tension and poise tasted 16 years after harvest.
Brand & Industry History
The selection reflects significant shifts in regional production and varietal availability. Rioja is noted for its new face in wines such as Artuke’s La Condenada, while Navarra is recognized for under-appreciated rosés. Jumilla features old-vine Airén grown at high altitude, and Mallorca showcases the quasi-extinct red variety indigenous to the Balearic Islands. These details underscore the wealth and breadth of tremendous winemaking in Spain today.
What This Means
The initiative demonstrates a mix of ingenuity, out-of-the-box thinking and good old-fashioned brute force applied to pairing unlikely match-ups. Through this process, everyone found a way to link wines with specific games, such as Swiss Syrah with Qatar or Uruguayan Dolcetto with Cape Verde. For Spain’s matches, the focus remained on intimate knowledge of the country’s wines alongside the breadth of contemporary production.
Consumer Takeaway
The result is a small snapshot of contemporary Spain in eight wines suitable for the tournament. With these wines as your base, throw in some wines from Catalonia, perhaps something from Andalusia and just one more from Galicia and you’d have a rather compelling mixed case to enjoy.
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