Why do the wines seem light by comparison to typical California Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot?
Generally speaking, wines from Spain do tend to be lighter than California style wines. For the most part they are medium-bodied and this is due mainly to the grape varieties used, which are typically not as heavy as Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, as well as the Spaniards preference for wines which do not over power their style cuisine. In fact, Spanish cooking is also known for its scant use of heavy sauces or seasoning as well. They prefer not to cover up the freshness of the countries wonderful foods.
