11 Drinks To Try In Spain

Salud!

1. Vino Rioja

uk.riojawine.com

Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world, so to visit the country without tasting the famous red wine is basically a cardinal sin.

2. Sangria

vintagenorthjersey.com

Once you've tried the wine, next on your list should be sangría. There is no question about this one. Sure, it's for the tourists, but that's what you are. So, don't leave until you've had your substantial fill of fruity wine-punch deliciousness.

3. Tinto de Verano

chowstatic.com

Next up, more wine. But this one is more than just wine – it's soda too. Fill half a glass with wine and the other half with your choice of a Fanta flavor, Sprite or Coca-Cola (yes, you read correctly: Coca-Cola). Don't knock it 'til you try it.

4. Cava

whereisjbs.com

Still on the topic of wine, but this one sparkles! The only difference between cava and any other type of champagne is that the grapes used to produce it grow only in a certain region of northeastern Spain. The best place to get it – and this is a totally biased opinion – is at Can Paixano (known as La Champaneria to locals) in Barcelona, Spain.

5. Sherry

travelswithtwo.com

Last wine must-try: sherry. If you are traveling in Andalusia, the south of Spain, you must sample the stronger, drier cousin of the aforementioned Spanish wines.

6. Horchata

img.foodnetwork.com

This tangy, milky, rice-water concoction is the most refreshing beverage in existence, especially on a hot summer day.

7. Soda in general is just better.

blogger.com

No explanation here. You'll just have to try it to believe it.

8. Coffee

upload.wikimedia.org

Café con leche, cortado, café con hielo, whatever you want. Spanish coffee is fantastic, and there is a cafe – or two – or three – on every block, so you have no excuse to leave Spain without even just a taste of it. You can get the standard coffee with milk or, if you're daring, a "carajillo," which is coffee and liquor. Bonus points if you get a pastry to eat with it.

9. Hot Chocolate

velvetescape.com

It's not the hot chocolate you're probably expecting; it's thick enough to rest your spoon on without falling through. You can drink it, but you'll probably need a doctor's appointment ASAP if you do. Most people use it as a dip for the fluffy fried dough that accompanies it. You can find it all over Spain, but chocolate con churros at San Gines in Madrid is really the way to go.

10. Txakoli/Sidra

lacunza.com

Don't worry if you can't pronounce it. Not many people speak Euskara, which is the difficult language of the Basque country in northern Spain where this sweet, cider-like beverage is drunk. Ask for "cha-coe-lee" at a tapas/pintxo taberna, and the bartender will know what you're asking for. And if you want it served traditionally, it needs to be poured from a great height into your glass.

11. And last but certainly not least: cerveza

hodapp.me

No trip to another nation is complete without tasting the country's beer. Spain's beer doesn't have the reputation that Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic can boast, but you should still enjoy a nice, tall one. And if you are traveling in Madrid or the south of Spain, tapas culture exists almost solely on beer. Just say, "una cerveza por favor," and a plate full of tapas awaits you. Drink up, find a new bar and repeat. What could be better than that?