Create the perfect Spanish cellar

Spain is one of the favourite wine-producing countries among Decanter readers. Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW explain how to build the perfect Spanish cellar, including wines to buy for all budgets, their top tips, vintage guides and further reading on the subject.

Picture credit: Thomas Skovsende

Quick links:

• Spanish cellar: Insider tips
• Spanish cellar: Regions and vintages
• Spanish cellar: Further reading
• Sarah Jane Evans MW’s Spanish cellar for £300
• Pedro Ballesteroes Torres MW’s Spanish cellar for £800

Spanish cellar: Insider tips

Picture credit: Thomas Skovsende

Insider tip #1

Try lesser wines from the most prestigious estates – they often provide unbeatable value. That’s why the £300 cellar selection here includes wines from producers that also appear in the £800 cellar selection.

Insider tip #2

Ignore the ‘official’ vintage ratings, provided by the appellations, as they are useless. During this century, not a single vintage in any region has been less than ‘Good’!

Insider tip #3

Spain’s dry climate is ideal for organic and biodynamic viticulture. Many top wineries do not indicate that they are organic on the labels, but you should find it on the winery website.

Insider tip #4

Spanish wine is good value for money, but avoid anything sold as a bargain. Heavily discounted wines tend to be mediocre.

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