I hate to admit it to you folks, but I don't like the taste of wine or most other alcohol. Is the cider in northern Spain that you read about fermented like Apple jack or just a fruit juice? Since Spain has large lime and lemon crops, can you get those wonderful limeades like you can in Mexico? Asking for a Dr. Pepper in a tapas bar hardly seems the thing to do!

In all of Spain you can get cider, but you can find it much more easily and more natural in the North, specially in Asturias.

The cider is fermented and has a low percentage of alcohol. The cider you don't buy in Asturias or in a "sidrería" (cider bar), will be sparkling.

If you want it without alcohol, I am afraide you'll have to ask for an apple juice or an apple refreshment like "Trina manzana" or the like.

Of course, you can ask for a lemonade (limade?), but it's pretty uncommon. In summer, people have "sangría" which is kind of a lemonade with wine,instead.

When I don't want to drink alcohol, I am afraid the offer is not very wide: water, refreshments (many of which I don't have, like Coke, because they stain the teeth and have enormous amounts of sugar) and coffe and tea where avaliable.

Two words DJC,

Fanta Limon....um.

You may not like the taste of wine, but you might like the Spanish grape juice known as "mosto". It's another nonalcoholic alternative. I think you'll find it a step up from Welch's!

Another great lemon drink is the granizado de limón. It's lemonade in crushed ice, but you won't find it too easily at this time of year. It's a summer drink.

DJC,

...oh my gosh! no wine? I don't know how to answer that...

Seriously, have you tried any Spanish rosado wines? In particular, some rosado wines are high in residual sugars, can have also a natural effevescence, and are super-light in alcohol, so they are more like an American-style wine cooler, but much tastier.

*Most* spanish rosado wines are not like white zinfendel ( which is generally a 'fake' rose wine anyway), so be sure to ask for one that is *sweet* or you may not like it.

A specific brand name of rosado that is like what I am describing is 'Landó,' from a winery in Valdepeñas called Arúspide. Another really nice one is 'Barbarosa' from the Peces-Barba bodega near Toledo. These wines are from the Tempranillo ( aka, Cencibel) and Garnacha grape varieties, respectively. Both very unique from the varieties you typically see in the USA.

These wines are like liquid strawberry and fresh red fruits. *SO* delicious, and should be available in Madrid.

Most rosado wines in Spain are not like those above, but these are being developed for the younger market, and to appeal to those who are like you and do not generally prefer the 'alcohol' taste...

Anyway, I adore wine and just had to make these suggestions to you ( and everyone)! I hope you can try them!

andrew

If I am going to try cargoles and arroz negro (shudder at the thought of squid ink!!!), I can at least try the rosada wine. This trip is going to be memorable in many ways.

The vast majority of Spanish Rosados have the same amount of alcohol content as other wines (11-13% by volume), so you would be hard-pressed (excuse the pun) to find a super-light one. Still, I would agree with Andrew that rosés are often the best choice to introduce a person to wine. They are not as strong as reds and less acidic than whites. A lot of regions make decent rosados, but the most famous are Navarra, Cigales and Utiel-Requena. Serve them chilled.

Another possibility is a semi-dulce (semi-sweet) wine. A lot of Spaniards don't like them because the Spanish aren't very fond of sweet wines, which is ironic because they traditionally have made some of the best in the world. Still, a semi-sweet is a nice compromise because it isn't as sweet as a dessert wine and not a strong as a regular one. A very common one is a Rioja called Diamante. Experts will say it's nothing to write home about, but I think it's very drinkable and it's popular with visitors too.

If you feel like it, give it a try. Spanish wine and its world is fascinating and the variety is bewildering.

Well, we don't have sweet wines usually, but we can enjoy them. Many have "Jerez dulce" or "Málaga Virgen" or the like for Sundays appetitizer at home or so. My grandma always gave me some when I was teenager, with some waffels that I dipped into it (I wouldn't now, haha).

Now, I don't have the custom to enjoy them, but from time to time I do, along with vermouth "de grigo", much better than the bottle one.

Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a little the part about Spaniards not liking sweet wine, but not by much. A lot of times when I offer a Spaniard one they say it's all right, but "muy dulzón". Still, they do have their fans and are making a modest but noticeable comeback in the Spanish market. I think many of them are excellent and should be promoted more. Spain's very reputation as a wine producer was built on them during the 15th to 18th centuries.

And you're right about the vermouth del grifo. There's another choice. It's a classic Sunday aperitivo in Madrid.

DJC - A few suggestions for drinks with tapas in Spain might be a wine drink called "tinto de verano" which is red wine cut with a very light citrus infused sparkling water called "gaseosa". You mention that you don't like most alcohol, but just in case you really mean "wine" when you say this, you should know that beer is probably a more common drink than wine in most tapas bars. Spanish beers are good, too!

- Quevedo