Most people know Spain for structured, age-worthy reds. Rachael Ryan makes the case for its other side — the vibrant Albariños of Galicia, the crisp sparkling wines of Penedès, the lively Txakolina of the Basque Country, and a new generation of chillable reds that beg to be served cold. Twenty bottles from $12.99 to $44.99, all built for summer.
Read MoreWhile Bordeaux and Burgundy push collectors further out of reach every vintage, Spain quietly offers some of the world's most age-worthy wines at prices that shouldn't be possible. Rachael Ryan makes the case — and backs it up with bottles from López de Heredia, Vega Sicilia, Muga, CVNE, Clos Mogador, La Rioja Alta, and Telmo Rodríguez, ranging from $59.99 to a once-in-a-lifetime 1961 Gran Reserva.
Read MoreFew Rioja producers walk the line between tradition and modernity as gracefully as Bodegas Miguel Merino. Founded in the mid-1990s by Miguel Sr. and now guided by his son Miguel Jr. and daughter-in-law Erika, the winery is making some of the most elegant, terroir-driven wines in Briones—including single-vineyard bottlings of Garnacha, Mazuelo, and a white Rioja that will make you rethink the region entirely. Seven bottles from $21.99 to $64.99, all direct import.
Read MoreRachael Ryan has been hunting for the right Spanish direct import partner for years. She found it in Dominio de Atauta — a Ribera del Duero producer working with pre-Phylloxera vines averaging 85 years old, some exceeding 120, at elevations that give the wines a freshness and elegance the region isn't always known for. Four bottles, from $19.99 to $44.99, all worth your attention.
Read MoreI’ve just returned from a buying trip through Spain and Portugal, and I’m more energized than ever about what these regions are delivering. Across the board—red, white, and sparkling—the quality is high, the styles are distinctive, and the pricing still works strongly in the customer’s favor. From Spain’s broad, well‑established appellations to Portugal’s incredible diversity of native varieties, the consistency and craftsmanship I tasted were impressive. The wines highlighted here are some of the bottles and categories I’m genuinely excited to share with you.
Read MoreFor decades, Cava was the dependable workhorse of the wine bar: reliable, ubiquitous, and, if I’m being honest, often uninspiring. Even in Spain, 90% of Cava sells for under 10 euros per bottle. The issue has always been one of geography. Unlike Champagne, which is a place, Cava is a method. You can make it in Catalonia, of course, but also in pockets of Rioja, Valencia, and even Extremadura. This multi-regional approach to an appellation has long frustrated small producers who believed that it obscured the quality and potential of small-scale sparkling winemaking in Penedès, where the style originated.
Read MoreSpain offers some of the best wine values in the world because it combines ideal growing conditions with deep-rooted tradition and relatively low production costs. Much of the country, especially regions like Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Aragón, has abundant sunshine, varied elevations, and old vines that produce wines of great concentration and complexity.
Read MoreProducing everything from delicate, almost ethereal wines to intensely concentrated and juicy styles, Garnacha is a true chameleon. This, in my opinion, makes it a fascinating variety to explore. And with the world’s highest concentration of old vines, Spain is the country to turn to in order to understand this historic grape.
Read MoreIn recent years, Rioja has been experiencing a tidal wave of change, with many young and new winemakers eager to make their mark upon the classic region. And while Rioja might still be most well-known for the long-aged wines of the Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva classification system, smaller wineries are increasingly rejecting this system in favor of the flexibility to craft wines that represent a more modern, terroir-driven perspective. The resulting “modern” Rioja wines bear the generic Rioja label, but they are anything but generic!
Read MoreThe quality arising from small, family-owned wineries in the Cava DO has never been better. These are wines made in the traditional method, aged just as long (if not longer) than Champagne, and offered at incredibly reasonable prices. If you haven’t had Cava in a while–or tried a Corpinnat–here are my top selections that will probably surprise you with just how good they are.
Read MoreEight new wines are hitting the Open Cellar machines, and they couldn’t be better timed for the season. Think textural whites for crisp evenings, generous reds for hearty meals, and a few aged treasures ready to steal the show at your Thanksgiving table. Come taste them at any of our stores and find your next favorite bottle for fall.
Read MoreI'm sure I've said this before, but I really enjoy a tasting that feels more like a multi-course dinner than just a straightforward tasting. Our Buyer Rachael Ryan really puts together a nice tasting that has this kind of complete feel. We started off last week’s Spanish and Portuguese tasting with the super classic and super delicious Mas Codina Cava Brut Reserva Penedès $13.99, one of my favorite bottles of bubbles when I don’t want to spend the money for Champagne. It’s still made in the traditional Méthode Champenoise and is a delicious clean and crisp style of sparkling wine. It's fantastic.
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