Take Home the Queen of Spain
This July, Spec's is putting D.O. Rueda Verdejo — Spain's most-loved white wine — front and center across Texas. Crisp, herbal, and made for the heat. Find it on the shelf at your local Spec's and pour yourself a glass of Spanish summer.
Make a Trip of It
Verdejo at Spec's isn't just a bottle on a shelf — it's an invitation. Free tastings run all month, and the team genuinely loves walking people through Spain's most exciting whites. Here's how to dive in:
Call Ahead
Ring your local Spec's and ask if they're pouring Verdejo this week — free tastings rotate store to store all month long.
Ask the Team
Stop in and ask anyone on the floor to walk you through the Rueda Verdejos. They love this stuff — and they'll find your bottle.
Or Shop Online
Short on time? The full Rueda selection is a click away — ready for pickup or delivery across Texas.
The world's leading wine authority is talking about Rueda
Decanter's 2026 Rueda Report digs into why Verdejo from D.O. Rueda is one of the most exciting white wines in the world right now — the history, the grape, and the bottles worth knowing.
Read the Decanter Rueda Report →Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods
Spec's is Texas' iconic family-run wine, spirits, and gourmet retailer — more than 200 locations from Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. Their wine teams are among the most respected in the state, and their depth in Spanish wine is exactly why this partnership exists.
All July, Spec's is spotlighting D.O. Rueda Verdejo across its store network — expanded shelf presence, in-store recommendations, and free Verdejo tastings rotating through stores all month long.
Why Verdejo, Why Now
Verdejo is the ancient white grape that survived phylloxera on Rueda's sandy soils — and it has made D.O. Rueda Spain's #1 white wine region. Bright citrus, fresh fennel, white flowers, and a long mineral finish that's tailor-made for a Texas summer. Crisp enough for the patio, serious enough for the table.
Discover Verdejo at Spec's →Taste It Before You Take It Home
Free Verdejo tastings rotate through Spec's stores all month — a different Rueda lineup every week. Call your local store and ask if they're pouring this week, then stop in and let a team member walk you through the Verdejos. No reservations, no pressure — just good people who know their wine. 21+ with valid ID.
Rueda Verdejo to Know
A sampling of leading D.O. Rueda producers to look for at Spec's — from crisp everyday pours to single-vineyard and barrel-influenced expressions.
Backed by the González Byass family (of Tío Pepe fame), Beronia brings precision and consistency to Rueda. Grapefruit, fresh-cut herbs, and a clean saline snap — the dependable crowd-pleaser that disappears fast on a hot Texas patio.
"Blume" means flower — and it lives up to the name: floral, aromatic, and bright with citrus blossom and stone fruit over a crisp mineral spine. The textbook, friendly introduction that converts Pinot Grigio drinkers on the first sip.
A classic Rueda blend — Verdejo for aromatics and bite, Viura for roundness and texture. Green apple, white flowers, and an easy, refreshing finish. Built for the patio and friendly with everything from ceviche to chips and queso.
A storied Spanish house dating to 1896 — once the wine of choice for Hemingway and Picasso — bringing old-world pedigree to Rueda's signature grape. Expressive and herbal: citrus, fennel, and a whisper of white pepper, all in classic balance.
The house that put modern Rueda on the map. In the 1970s Riscal came here to rescue Verdejo and effectively founded the modern D.O. This is the benchmark — grapefruit, wild herbs, and a long saline-mineral finish. If you only try one, make it this.
From the old-vine heart of Rueda in La Seca, Naia is a critics' darling. Old-vine fruit gives more depth and texture than typical Verdejo — grapefruit, fresh fennel, white flowers, and a long, almost saline finish. Serious Verdejo for the price.
Five generations of one of the world's most respected, sustainability-driven wine families. Their Verdejo is bright and expressive — citrus blossom, green apple, a clean mineral finish — and reliably food-friendly. A globally loved name doing Rueda right.
A family estate taking the single-vineyard route. Estate-grown fruit gives this Verdejo extra texture and concentration — lemon cream, white flowers, and a layered, lingering finish. For the shopper who thinks they already know Verdejo.
One of Rueda's pioneering houses — among the first to bottle premium Verdejo. "La Caprichosa" is the step up: rounder and more textured, with ripe citrus, a creamy mid-palate, and a long mineral finish. Proof Verdejo belongs at the dinner table.
A sampling of leading Rueda Verdejo producers to look for at Spec's — not a complete list. Dozens of Rueda wines available statewide.
Castilla y León — Where Spain Makes Its Best Wine
Rueda and Ribera del Duero sit side by side on the high plateau of Castilla y León. Two regions. Two grapes. One extraordinary wine country.
D.O. Rueda
Spain's premier white wine region. Sandy soils saved old Verdejo vines from phylloxera, giving Rueda a deep reservoir of ancient vine stock that produces whites of unusual complexity.
- Spain's #1 consumed white wine — and growing fast in the U.S.
- Women are the majority of winemakers in Rueda — globally rare
- Flavor: crisp, herbal, mineral — grapefruit, fennel, white flowers
- Pairs with: ceviche, oysters, grilled fish, goat cheese, summer salads
D.O. Ribera del Duero
Spain's most exclusive red wine region, rivaling Napa and Burgundy in global prestige. 800+ meters of altitude create reds with power, elegance, and natural acidity that age for decades.
- 2,200+ registered wineries across the D.O.
- 800+ meters altitude — extreme diurnal temperature swings
- Classifications: Roble · Crianza · Reserva · Gran Reserva
- Pairs with: brisket, roast lamb, Ibérico, steak, aged cheeses
Spain's #1 Summer White Is at Spec's This July
Free Verdejo tastings rotating all month · Houston · Dallas-Fort Worth · Austin · San Antonio · Online ordering available all July
Questions? Contact riberaruedawine.com