Episodes
VC Cebreros - how did this region escape us for so long?! Just out west, over the Madrid border, is a high altitude mountainous Vino de Calidad wine region called Cebreros up in the Sierra de Gredos. Today, with special guest Rick Fisher SWS, we sample a bottle of Viña de Ayer Albillo from winemaker SotoManrique!
Published 05/28/22
Maturana what now? Yes, that's right; we're back with another weird grape. This week it's a vitually non-planted and unknown white variety from Rioja. The crazy thing is that it's one of the oldest in the region! Roque and Luke are enjoying a bottle of Clipeo; an organic small production fancy pants bottle.
Published 05/07/22
Sherry. That famously misunderstood wine; sometimes sweet, sometimes drier than bone dry. Always fortified. But what if a sherry winemaker decided to release a sherry...unfortified? Well that's what Luke and Roque have this week. A bottle of Socaire from VT Cadiz. 
Published 04/23/22
This week Roque and Luke head back to Bierzo; one of their favourite DOs. Why? Well, since 2019 a lot of Spanish wine regions have been undergoing major changes to their rules and regs. So they plan to revisit and drink their way through the changes. This week Banzao's Godello Vino de Villa. 
Published 04/18/22
What goes into a wine? Grapes? Sure. Fermented ones? That’s right. And sometimes more than one type. The idea of a blended wine isn’t new, but it’s not often talked about. Bordeaux is a blend, Rioja traditionally is a blend. Today we wanted to talk about blending with an awesome little wine that puts the idea of the coupage foremost. Pasotismo from Aragon. ¡Nuevos episodios! / New episodes!
Published 04/11/22
We have had only a few rose wines - or rosados - on the podcast over the few years. But something we've never really touched on is the idea of ageing a rosado. Can you barrel them and age them? Should you? And what do they taste like? This week they open a bottle of Huella de Aitana from Navarra to find out!
Published 03/28/22
We love the weird grapes episodes. It's always fun for us to take you a world of wine that is marvellously off the beaten track in the hope we fuel your interest in discovering new varietals. And this week it's not one, not two, but five grapes all in one wine from the Canary Islands. Bimbache from the El Hierro island!
Published 03/21/22
Yes, you read that correctly! Over the many years of giving winetastings we have been asked countless times 'Is supermarket wine any good?' or 'how do I choose wine in the supermarket?'. So we thought, we should talk about that, as it's a huge part of the wine industry. To dive deeper Roque has brought a supermarket wine to put Luke to the test!
Published 03/15/22
Have you heard of Tempranillo? Of course you have. But do you really know about it? It is Spain's premier red grape of course, but most people only know it in realtion with Rioja. Tempranillo is the superstar, but why? Where is it from and where is it planted? To dive into this mythical grape Roque and Luke are drinking a bottle of Palacio de Villachica from DO Toro!
Published 03/08/22
Yes, you read that correctly, Juan Ibañez. Could be the name of a Spanish bloke; but no, it's a grape! Actually it goes by many weird names and hails from the Aragon region of Spain. This week we try a bottle of Anayón Parcela 65 from DO Cariñena made from said grape. But what's it like and is it any good?
Published 02/23/22
This week something a little different. Four different wines! Four?? That's right. But not the usual glass-bottled, labelled, from the wine-shop variety, no. Vino a granel, or 'bulk wine' is all the wine that is not bottled. Roque was down in Murcia and brought back a red, a white, a vermouth, and a sherry, all siphoned off into plastic containers. But what is the truth behind vino a granel really? And is it any good?
Published 02/07/22
Well aren't we all lucky that Roque had a little alcohlic jaunt with his family to the paradise island of Menorca recently. Fortunately, being always attentive to the needs of our audience, he brought back a bottle of wine to try! And try we will, for we've never had one before! A bottle of red from Bodegas Binitord; one of only a handful on the island.
Published 01/31/22
¿Qué deberías hacer si eres una famosa bodega de culto de la Ribera del Duero? Dirigirse al sur de La Mancha y empezar a hacer un vino de Pago... obviamente. Esta semana Luke y Roque se beben una botella de tinto Pago Florentino VP. La pregunta es: ¿deberían haber dejado el Duero en primer lugar?
Published 01/21/22
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Following a few weeks off - due to Christmas, New Year, Three Kings and a lot of craziness in the shop, Roque and Luke are back to toast the new year. On this episode they go over what happened in 2021 and highlight some of their standout wines of the year. Also they have lots of juicy plans for 2022, which they discuss we the usual seriousness they give these topics.
Published 01/14/22
Another week and yes, another Vino de Pago! They've been popping up on our radar and we've been snagging them when we are able. This week we take a trip the middle of nowhere in Albacete province and try an intriguing 100% Merlot from Pago Guijoso! Enjoy!
Published 12/13/21
This week Roque and Luke are bringing you a wine that is the niche'st of the niche. You may have not heard of the region Almeria; it's a small province in the east of Andalucia. Not traditionally wine country, it's more famous for cowboy movies and vast beaches. There are wine areas though, but this isn't from one of them. Sierra Almagrera is a range of hills facing the Med and there's one winery doing their own thing there. So this is that wine! 
Published 11/30/21
What's that? Two weird grapes in a row? Well yes! There are so many in this wonderful country and we just got one in the shop that we just had to try with you all. Forcallat is an almost extinct Valencian variety that we have never tried in its pure form; and this week we have a bottle of La Forcallà de Antonia to help educate our palates! Enjoy!
Published 11/15/21
We are back again at this Halloween time of the year with another weird grape; an island grape at that. Mallorca has a few local varieties that nobody has ever heard of. Today Roque and Luke sip at a bottle of Mantonegro red wine. Supernova from Bodega C'an Verdura!
Published 11/02/21
Another week, another yummy wine, and another return to the wonderful world of the Vinos de Pago. This week Roque and Luke have a bottle of Petit Hipperia from one of the country's newest Vino de Pago zones. She's big, she's boozy, and she's got a horse on the label. 
Published 10/19/21
This week Roque and Luke talk animals, specifically those of the vineyards. From the bugs and bichos to birds, bats and beasts of burden, there is a lot of animal life involved both directly and indirectly in the vineyards. To lead them into this topic they have a couple of wines from Bodegas Enguera in Valencia. Enjoy!
Published 10/13/21
This week Roque and Luke dive into the geeky world of wine qualifications as both of them are embarking on their SWS course. But of course there's a variety of options out there for the interested alcoholic. Also, during a tête à tête about course rules Roque gets a special guest on for help!
Published 09/20/21
Have you ever heard of pitarra wine? No? Well we hadn't either until quite recently. Vino de pitarra is a type of very localised wine from Extremadura. Fortunately Luke just spent a few days over there and brought a bottle back. But what is it and how is it made? What does pitarra even mean? And is it any good!?
Published 09/11/21
Here's a new one for you. Vino de la Tierra de Murcia. Things are changing down south, and also changing for our old friends at Bodega Casa Rojo. They've moved away from their initial DO Jumilla wines and are now flying the flag for the far more unknown and new VT Murcia. So this week Roque and Luke crack open a bottle of Enemigo Mío and see what's what in Roque homeland!
Published 08/18/21
We are back again, so soon, we know, with another one of our Perfect Spanish Wine Cellar pods. This time we have upped the price to 500€ so be prepared for longer lists and much fancier wines. This the cellar for the person who wants some of the finer things as well as more range than you'd get from 100€. Enjoy!
Published 08/02/21
Well look at that, we found another wine region for you guys! This one we have already tried and loved and have been selling in our shop. We just forgot we hadn't done a podcast! A tiny VT region in Navarra, 3 Riberas only has a handful of wineries. This is the most prestigious; a rosé project made by legendary winery Chivite in conjunction with top chef Arzak! Enjoy!
Published 07/06/21