{"id":44478,"date":"2021-09-07T10:29:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-07T14:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/?p=44478"},"modified":"2022-10-21T10:58:26","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T14:58:26","slug":"the-ultimate-spanish-food-and-cheese-pairing-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/sponsored\/the-ultimate-spanish-food-and-cheese-pairing-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Spanish Food and Cheese Pairing Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In Ribera del Duero, the native grape called Tempranillo has been evolving in this unique growing region for 1,000 years. Across the valley and over the river, Verdejo, the signature grape of Rueda, thrives as Spain\u2019s number one white wine.&nbsp;Collectively, the two areas are known as Spain\u2019s most prestigious wine regions. Understanding what makes the wines so special is also key to finding their perfect food pairings. Luckily for wine and food lovers, the winemaking teams in Ribera and Rueda make it easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The King of Entertaining<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A sip of a Ribera Tempranillo \u2013 the king of grapes in Spain \u2013 calls to mind a place where castles dot the land much like the grapevines. These castles represent Spain\u2019s history and an intrinsic power that travels all the way to the glass. It is why the roasted meats of the region \u2013&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.riberaruedawine.com\/talking-tapas-and-spains-most-prestigious-wine-regions\/\">in particular, the baby lamb known as lechazo and the suckling pig called cochinillo<\/a>&nbsp;\u2013 or the ones we make in our own backyards call for this wine. The connection doesn\u2019t stop there. Gathered around a table, we are doing more than drinking this exceptional wine \u2013 we are also taking a taste of history while soaking in the joys of community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When pairing dishes with Tempranillo, consider richer, heartier foods that are complex and layered, complemented by notes of black pepper, rosemary, sage, mushroom, dark chocolate, anise, and smoke. The tasting profile for Tempranillo usually includes ripe, muscular fruit flavors including dark cherry, blackberry bramble, and dried fig, along with vanilla, and cassis. All are structured with lively acidity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> Youthful Tempranillos pair with the widest range of dishes like boldly seasoned fish, roasted birds, and lightly smoked and charred proteins.&nbsp;As the wines take on bottle and oak aging, they develop complexity &#8211; medium tannins become more elegant, and forest, damp earth, baking spices, and leather characteristics become more prominent. The aged wines can handle heat-induced meat sugars on lamb, beef, and pork, crusted with herbs or not, as well as umami-rich sauces. Basically, any dish layered with flavor and compelling textures is Tempranillo\u2019s friend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also Tempranillo\u2019s friend are the perfect meat and cheese board: wedges of Manchego, roasted Marcona almonds, thin slices of Ib\u00e9rico ham, and maybe some dried figs from your local specialty food shop. The fact is that Ribera Tempranillo loves most foods and vice-versa. For this reason, it is an ideal pairing wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637646_eee98c6694_o.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637646_eee98c6694_o.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637646_eee98c6694_o.jpg 600w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637646_eee98c6694_o-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637646_eee98c6694_o-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637646_eee98c6694_o-500x500.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Cool Cat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes called the lioness of grapes for its understated power and silkiness as well as its geographical home in Castilla y Le\u00f3n (\u201clion\u201d), Rueda Verdejo is nearly inseparable from the Spanish table.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.riberaruedawine.com\/laura-werlin-explains-why-verdejo-is-the-next-great-white-and-how-tempranillo-thrive-in-ten-months-of-winter-two-months-of-hell\/\">In fact, it\u2019s no accident that it\u2019s Spain\u2019s number-one selling white wine.<\/a>&nbsp;Bonus: it goes with a wide variety of foods no matter where it\u2019s being poured.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that you don\u2019t have to be in Spain to enjoy Verdejo. Think of it as the United Nations of white wines. Citrus and stone fruits fill out the aromatic profile while lively acidity and white peach jump to the fore on the palate. With a bit of bottle aging, Verdejo develops body and texture. So too as the lees (spent yeast cells) and oak are integrated into the process. The <s>end <\/s>result is more creaminess and depth. The spice box complementing Verdejo includes highly aromatic herbs as well as perfumed, sharp, and citrus-like spices. A vinaigrette with Thai basil, turmeric, dill, and coriander or punchy sauces spooned over soft proteins and smooth fats will bring out the best in almost any style of Verdejo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to go with Verdejo is to serve it with grilled fish. Lap that with a buttery sauce and put a rustic loaf of herby bread on the table, and the pairing is complete \u2013 and memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or take Spanish <em>conservas,<\/em> commonly referred to as tinned fish. This may not be the first thing you think of when you think of wine pairings, but categorically these will likely be the best versions of fish in a can you\u2019ll ever taste \u2013 particularly the tuna. Packed in buttery Spanish olive oil, the meaty tuna takes on a richness and just-right tuna taste that makes it impossible not to eat directly from the can. Besides, who\u2019s looking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same is true with meaty olives. An acid-driven wine like Verdejo will cut the richness of the olives and leave you wanting more \u2014 all the more reason to also grab Spanish picos \u2013 breadstick-like crackers (or breadsticks themselves if you\u2019d like) \u2013 and paper-thin slices of Jamon Serrano, prosciutto, locally-made ham, and salami. Because you may be sharing these very sharable provisions, the context is one of togetherness and connection \u2013 connection to wine, to region, and to one another. In the end, perfect food and wine pairings don\u2019t get better than this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bottom line is that a Rueda Verdejo with bottle age and sophisticated winemaking techniques is a world-class wine that can go head-to-head with Sancerre, other Loire white wines, and Bordeaux Blanc, and do them one better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629491685_bdf5e6378f_o-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629491685_bdf5e6378f_o-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629491685_bdf5e6378f_o-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629491685_bdf5e6378f_o-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629491685_bdf5e6378f_o-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629491685_bdf5e6378f_o-1-500x500.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PERFECT CHEESE PAIRINGS WITH VERDEJO AND TEMPRANILLO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Red, white, Spain \u2014 and blue too. That\u2019s almost all you need to remember when it comes to pairing cheese with its perfect Spanish wine partners. The \u201calmost\u201d part is the fact the wines are not just any Spanish red and white wines. Instead, we\u2019re talking Ribera Tempranillo and Rueda Verdejo. Both wines say cheese every time. Part of this has to do with the many styles of Verdejo and Tempranillo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expressions of Verdejo:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Verdejo is made in three main styles. Understanding each is key to finding the perfect pairings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Joven<\/strong>&nbsp;means young in Spanish and in the case of Verdejo, translates to approachable, light, bright patio-style wines with hints of grapefruit, lemon, and lime. Think pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc with a Spanish accent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Lees-aged<\/strong>&nbsp;means the wine spends time on the spent yeast cells called lees. In turn, this takes the wine in a creamy direction giving it more body and textures. The acidity of the grape remains, and in concert with the rich mouthfeel, inches into Chablis-like territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Oak-aged&nbsp;<\/strong>is just that. The wines spend some amount of time in neutral or sometimes new oak barrels or casks, and while not oaky, the grape takes on a subtle weight on the palate, more developed textures, and creaminess that only oak can create. This oak aging is also a testament to the versatility of Verdejo. Very few white grapes can be released both young and aged \u2014 usually, it\u2019s one or the other. Not Verdejo, which excels at all ages and stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287324_9874793309_o-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287324_9874793309_o-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287324_9874793309_o-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287324_9874793309_o-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287324_9874793309_o-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287324_9874793309_o-1-500x500.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to being a super sippable wine, Verdejo sidles up to cheese like a cowboy to a saddle. It\u2019s a natural pair. Whether from Spain or the United States, cheeses of all kinds find comradeship with the many styles of Verdejo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VERDEJO, meet goat cheese<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of those is Humboldt Fog. Made by Cypress Grove in Arcata, California, this iconic American goat cheese is possibly the most wine-friendly cheese of any made in the world. It\u2019s somewhat lemony but not too much. It\u2019s earthy but not goaty. It\u2019s creamy and mouth-filling yet light and bright. In other words, the characteristics of this cheese are the same as many of those you find in Verdejo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same is true for MitiCa\u00f1a\u00ae Ca\u00f1a de Cabra and Leonora\u00ae, two of Spain\u2019s excellent goat cheeses. Like Humboldt Fog, these cheeses fall in the soft-ripened cheese category, meaning that the cheese gets softer just under the white bloomy rind as it ages. These too have lemony flavors and creaminess on the palate. Because of their bright flavors yet lingering mouthfeel, this style of cheese takes to the joven and lees-aged styles of Verdejo particularly well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just to button up the Spanish goat cheese category, the relatively rare Monte Enebro finds harmony with all styles of Verdejo and \u2013 bonus \u2013 some Tempranillos too. Its earthiness and thin blue mold on the exterior ensure this. In other words, try both!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cream and the crop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of Verdejo\u2019s flavor and textural range, goat cheeses aren\u2019t its only cheese pals. Triple-creams take to Verdejo too. Take Cowgirl Creamery\u2019s Mt. Tam. A little firmer than most triple-cream cheeses, this cheese tastes like butter in cheese form with an ever-so- slight tang on the finish. It\u2019s almost as if the cheese knows it\u2019s so rich it had better tame itself by ending with a high note.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best wines are the same \u2013 proper acidity to balance the richness and fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Verdejo-speak, a lees- and oak-aged version loves the butteriness in a cheese like Mt. Tam. It also has the proper acidity to balance the cheese\u2019s richness. Call it anything you want \u2014 yin-yang, cream-to-my-coffee, salt-in-my-stew \u2013 but what\u2019s clear is that a richer style Verdejo together with a cheese like this one is, well, like two peas in a pod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51535017597_1383e323de_4k-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51535017597_1383e323de_4k-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51535017597_1383e323de_4k-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51535017597_1383e323de_4k-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51535017597_1383e323de_4k-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51535017597_1383e323de_4k-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51535017597_1383e323de_4k-1-scaled.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Firmly in the Verdejo camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soft, creamy, and buttery cheeses aren\u2019t Verdejo\u2019s only friends. The lees- and oak-aged versions also pair with 6-month aged Manchego (Spain\u2019s unofficial national cheese) and Wisconsin\u2019s Roth Cheese Grand Cru Reserve \u2013 a close cousin of Swiss Gruy\u00e9re. While Manchego is made with sheep\u2019s milk and Grand Cru Reserve with cow\u2019s milk, they both share a nuttiness and long finish. They\u2019re also rich. Bring on the lees and oak-aged Verdejo, whose acidity will refresh the palate and whose medium-bodied texture will hold its own in the presence of the sturdy cheeses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Happy Marriage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If white wine and cheese isn\u2019t your thing, then Ribera del Duero Tempranillo and cheese will be. As we\u2019ve learned by now, Tempranillo runs the gamut from immediately approachable with dominant red fruits to herbaceous and dark fruits with complex, balanced tannins and acidity. This range of flavors and textures, ranging from medium to full-bodied, ensures there\u2019s a cheese for pretty much every style and age of Ribera Tempranillo. Once you discover the wines, selecting its best cheese partners becomes a whole lot easier. Did we say fun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287389_1a520f2426_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287389_1a520f2426_o.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287389_1a520f2426_o.jpg 600w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287389_1a520f2426_o-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287389_1a520f2426_o-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51629287389_1a520f2426_o-500x500.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Opposites Attract<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the many styles of Tempranillo, it comes as no surprise that it has a lot of friends in cheeses. When it comes to one of the grape\u2019s better cheese companions, look no further than Spanish Mah\u00f3n Reserva. Made in a part of Spain diagonally opposite from Ribera del Duero with a body of water in between, this cow\u2019s milk cheese hails from the scenic island of Menorca off the southwest coast of Spain. The cheese, distinctive because of its square shape with slightly rounded corners and bright orange piment\u00f3n-rubbed rind, is aged for about a year. In that time, it develops nutty, piquant, and even sweet flavors.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With cheese-age comes wisdom, and because of that, Mah\u00f3n has enough personality to stand up to the earth and fruit in Tempranillo but not so much that it dominates. The semi-hard texture of the cheese takes the pairing a step further by providing a textural contrast with the smooth, almost silky, body of the wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also opposite, in this case flavor, not geography, is the matching of Tempranillo and blue cheese. This can be tricky because you don\u2019t want too powerful a version of the wine \u2013 one that\u2019s high on the oaky side or particularly acidic. In both cases, most blue cheeses will exaggerate those characteristics \u2013 ones that are essential to great wine but best when in balance. But when you find the right blue \u2013 one that\u2019s a little earthy, low on the pungent scale, has balanced salt, and a medium-creamy texture, well, that\u2019s a whole other story.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company in Point Reyes, California, churns out the exceptional Bay Blue \u2013 a Stilton-like cheese that\u2019s not only delicious on its own but also happens to go perfectly with a medium-bodied, fruit-forward Tempranillo. Its earthy, fudgy, toasted nut flavors, and sweet finish ensure this. Stronger, more pungent, and in some cases, gamy blue cheeses are best paired with dessert wines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637661_2bf150c1a0_o.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637661_2bf150c1a0_o.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637661_2bf150c1a0_o.jpg 600w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637661_2bf150c1a0_o-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637661_2bf150c1a0_o-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/51628637661_2bf150c1a0_o-500x500.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Counting Sheep<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe some of the most natural cheese pairings for Tempranillo are sheep\u2019s milk cheeses. Like Tempranillo, most sheep\u2019s milk cheeses have a pronounced tang primarily on the finish. In addition, they are often rich, have just-right salt, are a bit grainy (in a good way), and balanced.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take Idiazabal. Hailing from the Basque country, this semi-hard sheep cheese with a hint of smokiness loves red wine, red fruit \u2013 basically anything called Tempranillo from the Ribera del Duero. It makes for a great after-dinner\/before-dessert cheese course, but really \u2013 it\u2019s good anytime, anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And then there\u2019s Zamorano. Ribera del Duero and Rueda are part of Spain\u2019s largest so-called autonomous region \u2013 Castilla y Le\u00f3n. So too is Zamora, home of its namesake cheese. This raw sheep\u2019s milk beauty is often compared to Manchego but it is made with the milk of different sheep breeds than Manchego. This is one of its main points of distinction. The result is a cheese with nutty, fruity, buttery, and sweet tones. It\u2019s one of the most delicious, balanced sheep\u2019s milk cheese made anywhere in the world, not just Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given Zamorano\u2019s regional provenance, it should come as no surprise that Tempranillo is its natural wine partner. But it isn\u2019t just that it follows the axiom, \u201cWhat grows together, goes together.\u201d It\u2019s also that Tempranillo\u2019s darker fruit and bright acidity are the perfect foil for the uber-rich, buttery, and tangy cheese. Think sweet-savory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cross Cultures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tempranillo that\u2019s grown along the banks of the Duero River is as natural as the cheddar that comes from Vermont. While that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the wine and cheese should go together, it so happens that in this case, they do. Really well, in fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In particular, the cheese called Cabot Clothbound, made by Cabot Creamery in Cabot, Vermont, and aged at the Cellars at Jasper Hill in Greensboro, Vermont, is the perfect mate for Tempranillo. The cheese\u2019s earthy notes find the same element in the Tempranillo, particularly the Reserva and Gran Reserva classifications, and the sweet protein crystals in the cheese love the fruit in the wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same could be said about Beecher\u2019s Flagship cheese. Never mind the fact it\u2019s made in New York and Seattle, not Vermont. The result is a cheese that\u2019s often described as a cross between cheddar and Gruy\u00e9re, which is kind of hard to imagine until you taste it. The Gruy\u00e8re-like flavors lend a sweet nuttiness to the 15-month aged cheese and the cheddar element is savory, slightly brothy, but also sweet. Enter Tempranillo \u2013 the Reserva and Gran Reserva. Just as with the Cabot Clothbound, their fuller-bodied, complex layers love the sweet-savory characteristics of the cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Putting it all together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you didn\u2019t guess this already, Ribera del Duero Tempranillo and Rueda Verdejo love cheese. Luckily, cheese loves them back. Here\u2019s how you match them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/RiberayRueda_LeadMagnet_FINAL-3.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"791\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/RiberayRueda_LeadMagnet_FINAL-3-pdf-791x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44822\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Click to Download<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Ribera del Duero, the native grape called Tempranillo has been evolving in this unique growing region for 1,000 years. Across the valley and over the river, Verdejo, the signature grape of Rueda, thrives as Spain\u2019s number one white wine.&nbsp;Collectively, the two areas are known as Spain\u2019s most prestigious wine regions. Understanding what makes the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":44483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3334],"tags":[2087,14336,14768,935,382,28005,1028,2398,3863,4212,3335,149,1083,3658,2302],"coauthors":[84,33823],"class_list":["post-44478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sponsored","tag-cheese","tag-cheese-and-wine-pairings","tag-laura-werlin","tag-pairings","tag-perfect-pairings","tag-ribera-y-rueda","tag-spain","tag-spanish-cheese","tag-spanish-food","tag-spanish-wine","tag-sponsored","tag-wine","tag-wine-and-cheese","tag-wine-pairing","tag-wine-pairings"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.4 (Yoast SEO v24.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Ultimate Spanish Food and Cheese Pairing Guide | culture: the word on cheese<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In Ribera del Duero, the native grape called Tempranillo has been evolving in this unique growing region for 1,000 years. 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