Total Wine Tasting Review: Wines of Spain & Portugal

This Total Wine tasting review covers my first-ever in-store tasting experience, and it exceeded my expectations. On January 17, I attended a Total Wine tasting focused on wines from Spain and Portugal. The evening featured eight wines, light bites, and guided education. Everything felt well-paced and approachable.

As a Reserve member, the tasting cost just $10. For the quality and value, it felt like an easy yes.

The Total Wine Tasting Experience

This Total Wine tasting review wouldn’t be complete without mentioning how organized the event was. Our hostess, Alex, was warm, engaging, and very knowledgeable. She guided us through each wine using a PowerPoint presentation. It covered regional maps, grape varieties, and wine classifications.

The educational aspect really stood out. The information was easy to follow, even for newer wine drinkers. Nothing felt overwhelming or overly technical. We were also given a printed booklet with details on regions, grapes, and classifications. It was a great takeaway and something I’ll reference again.

Cheese and fruit platters were available throughout the tasting. There were also small sandwiches. It made the experience feel relaxed and social.

If you’re curious about upcoming themes or locations, you can learn more about Total Wine’s in-store tasting events on their website.

Wines Featured in This Total Wine Tasting Review

The tasting included one sparkling wine, two white wines, five red wines, and a dessert wine, offering a great snapshot of Spanish and Portuguese wine styles.

Sparkling

Borrasca Brut Cava – $11.99
Rating: 4/5
Crisp and refreshing, this Cava delivered excellent value and was a great way to kick off the tasting.

White Wines

Oraballo Albariño, Rías Baixas – $17.99
Rating: 4/5
Bright acidity with citrus and coastal notes—classic Albariño and a natural seafood pairing.

Flausina Vinho Verde – $8.99
Rating: 5/5 (My favorite of the night)
Light, fresh, and incredibly drinkable. This was an easy standout and an unbeatable price point.

Red Wines

Pico Cuadro Original Ribera del Duero 2023 – $19.99
Rating: 3/5
Bold and structured, though a bit heavier than my personal preference.

Latitud 42 Rioja Reserva – $22.99
Rating: 4/5
Smooth, balanced, and a very classic Rioja style.

San Gregorio El Vergal Tempranillo 2022 – $12.99
Rating: 4/5
An excellent value Tempranillo with ripe fruit and soft tannins.

Adgamae Terras de Lisboa Red 2024 – $11.99
Rating: 3/5
Easy-drinking and approachable, though not especially complex.

Dessert Wine

Quinta das Carvalhas LBV Port 2020 – $24.00
Rating: 4/5
Rich, smooth, and a great way to end the tasting—especially paired with cheese.

A Closer Look at Spanish & Portuguese Wine Grapes

One of the highlights of this Total Wine tasting review was the focus on regional context. Spain and Portugal are both home to an incredible range of indigenous grape varieties, which helps explain the diversity of styles we tasted throughout the evening.

Spanish white wines often lean bright and refreshing, especially those made from Albariño and Verdejo. Grapes like Parellada and Xarel·lo play a key role in sparkling wines such as Cava. On the red side, Tempranillo takes center stage, forming the backbone of well-known regions like Rioja and Ribera del Duero, while Garnacha, Monastrell, and Mencía add depth and regional character.

Portugal is especially fascinating due to its abundance of native grapes. Whites made from Alvarinho, Arinto, and Loureiro tend to be fresh and aromatic—perfect examples being wines from the Vinho Verde region. Portuguese red blends often feature grapes like Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, and Trincadeira, which also play a major role in Port wines, making the LBV Port we tasted a fitting finale.

Understanding how these grapes connect to regional styles made the tasting feel more intentional and helped explain why certain wines stood out as favorites.

The Final Pour

Wrapping up this Total Wine tasting review, the experience was well-organized, educational, and an excellent value—especially for Reserve members. Overall, it was a fun way to explore new regions, try a variety of wines, and walk away having actually learned something along the way.

If you enjoy guided tastings and discovering new favorites, this is a great option to add to your wine calendar. At the same time, I love mixing in local tastings when I can—like this December wine tasting at Stem Wine Bar—to keep things fresh and varied.

Ultimately, a Total Wine tasting makes wine education approachable and fun. Because of that, I’ll definitely be signing up for another one soon.n easy experience to recommend.