(637,1,'2012-10-22 04:21:28','2012-10-22 04:21:28','<h2><strong>Rioja</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThe Denominacion de Origen (DO) is located in Rioja, Basque Country, Navarra\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large area known for red and some whites</li>\r\n	<li>Three sub zones: Alta,  Alavesa, and Baja</li>\r\n	<li>Most densely planted area in Spain</li>\r\n	<li>Classic wine region that led the way\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Brought French influence in 19th century</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Most famous Spanish wine region internationally</li>\r\n	<li>DO created in 1925 (1st)</li>\r\n	<li>DOCa since 1991</li>\r\n	<li>65,000 hectares</li>\r\n	<li>More than 600 wineries</li>\r\n	<li>Main grape: Tempranillo</li>\r\n	<li>Also: Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano</li>\r\n	<li>Experimental grape: Cabernet Sauvignon</li>\r\n	<li>Mild climatological conditions: Atlantic influence</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAssessment:  huge player in industry.  Lots of mediocre wine though good value and good quality wines abound. Somewhat of a stylistic identity crisis as the older traditional styles are pitted against the more modern styles that have become more popular.  Large range of styles without label indication can lead to confusion amongst consumers.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Castilla Leon</strong></h2>\r\nHuge area with five important DOs\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>DO Ribera del Duero</li>\r\n	<li>DO Rueda</li>\r\n	<li>DO Toro</li>\r\n	<li>DO Bierzo</li>\r\n	<li>DO Cigales</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nAlso very important is the production of Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Leon\r\n\r\n<strong>DO Ribera del Duero</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>DO since 1982</li>\r\n	<li>Considered to produce some of the finest red wines in Spain</li>\r\n	<li>Trendy and fast-growing areas</li>\r\n	<li>Prices can be quite high</li>\r\n	<li>Wines can be over-oaked</li>\r\n	<li>8,000 ha of vineyards and over 200 wineries.</li>\r\n	<li>Main grape variety:  Tinto Fino, a variant of Tempranillo</li>\r\n	<li>Climate: Continental with some Med influences</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div>Very popular, especially in Madrid.  Climate gives very intense wines with great fruit and tannins...current trends in wine-making as led to some excessive oaking practices.  Can be very pricy and not always good value, but with careful selection, these are outstanding wines.</div>\r\n<strong>DO Rueda</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small wine region (6000ha) with 36 wineries</li>\r\n	<li>White wines from Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc</li>\r\n	<li>Created in 1980 for whites</li>\r\n	<li>Since 2001 open to reds (but few if any)</li>\r\n	<li>The wines are attractive modern, cold-fermented whites, usually un-oaked</li>\r\n	<li>Now a percentage are barrel fermented</li>\r\n	<li>The climate is wind-swept continental</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div>Fantastic value whites that are ubiquitous throughout Spain.  Very consistent. at all price points.  Some of the oaked one can be over-oaked but that has been better in recent years.  The un-oaked ones are unbelievable value for money.</div>\r\n<strong>DO Toro</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Gained fame over last ten years</li>\r\n	<li>Powerful red wines with big tannins and fruit</li>\r\n	<li>Some good value wines, but many more expensive now</li>\r\n	<li>Small DO created in 1987: 34 wineries</li>\r\n	<li>Main varietal: Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo)</li>\r\n	<li>Extreme continental climate</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div>Super intense wines...like Ribera, but more so.  Better value than Ribera del Duero for those who like them.</div>\r\n<strong>DO Bierzo</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>“Gateway to Galicia”: Currently high profile</li>\r\n	<li>Small red and white producing area</li>\r\n	<li>DO created in 1988: 39 wineries</li>\r\n	<li>Main grapes: Mencía (red) and Godello (white)</li>\r\n	<li>Mild climate</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div>Excellent reds form Mencia and whites from Godello.  Can be good value though prices have risen due to recent popularity and small production.</div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Cataluña</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Huge region with 12 DOs with many climatic and geographic variations</li>\r\n	<li>1999: a regional DO called DO Cataluña</li>\r\n	<li>Strongest on whites but also great reds</li>\r\n	<li>Widespread use of indigenous varieties</li>\r\n	<li>Widespread use of international varieties</li>\r\n	<li>90% of Cava produced here</li>\r\n	<li>Key in spread of modern equipment and techniques</li>\r\n	<li>All of the DOs are improving dramatically</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div>Great wines!  Can be pricy compared to other Spanish regions.</div>\r\n<strong>DO Penedés</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Important DO since 1960:  150 wineries</li>\r\n	<li>Important innovator in wine</li>\r\n	<li>Center of Cava production</li>\r\n	<li>Also elegant whites and reds</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DOCa Priorat</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small, exclusive DO since 1954: 26 wineries</li>\r\n	<li>Very expensive wines</li>\r\n	<li>Crisis times hav eled to some more reasonably priced entry-level wines</li>\r\n	<li>Famous for huge, mineral red wines:  very distinctive aromas</li>\r\n	<li>Unique slate soils: licorella</li>\r\n	<li>Use of Garnacha and Cariñena with French varieties</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Montsant</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Best wine similar wines to Priorat…less expensive</li>\r\n	<li>Lesser wines are lighter style</li>\r\n	<li>Can be excellent value</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Terra Alta</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Still rustic at times…similar potential to Priorat or Montsant</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Alella</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Tiny coastal DO: mostly known for whites</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Apurdán-Costa Brava</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small coastal DO known traditionally for rosados</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Concá de Barbera</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Medium size interior DO used as source for cava wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Costers de Segre</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small interior DO used a source for cava wines</li>\r\n	<li>Dominated by one big producer:  Raimat</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Plá de Bagés</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Tiny interior DO known for crisp whites</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Tarragona</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large coastal/interior DO makes a wide variety of wines</li>\r\n	<li>Big range in quality</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Castilla La Mancha</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> Huge region: one of the biggest in the world</li>\r\n	<li>8 DOs:  more being created</li>\r\n	<li>8 Vinos de Pago or single estate appellations</li>\r\n	<li>Very hot region producing Mediterranean style red wines</li>\r\n	<li>Very good value and improving quality</li>\r\n	<li>Lots of jug wine still!</li>\r\n	<li>Very good regional wine category Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO La Mancha</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Enormous DO making some good quality wine from Tempranillo</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Valdepeñas</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Very large DO making traditional wines from Tempranillo</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>Other DOs</strong>\r\n\r\nDO Almansa, DO Manchela, DO Méntrida, DO Mondéjar, DO Riber del Júcar\r\n\r\n<strong>DO Vinos de Madrid</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Not technically La Mancha, but similar climate and similar wines</li>\r\n	<li>Improving rapidly</li>\r\n	<li>Best wines are expensive due to demand and small production</li>\r\n	<li>Some interesting old vine vineyards</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Aragon</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> Large region with 4 DOs</li>\r\n	<li>One is very high quality, the other three improving rapidly</li>\r\n	<li>Lots of jug wine still made here</li>\r\n	<li>Excellent climate for high quality wine</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Somontano</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small, but growing DO with excellent quality</li>\r\n	<li>Rising prices</li>\r\n	<li>Elegant, racy wines from indigenous and especially international varieties</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Calatayud</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Medium DO still rustic but interesting old-vine Garnacha and cavas</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Cariñena</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large DO making lots of jug wine and some interesting old-vine Garnacha</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Campo de Borja</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Medium DO with lots of old-vine Garnacha</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Galicia</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> Mild, wet region known for interesting whites and increasingly, reds</li>\r\n	<li> 5 DOs</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Rias Baixas</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Good quality, small DO making whites from Albariño</li>\r\n	<li>Humidity, rain, main challenges</li>\r\n	<li>No bulk wine allowed (sign of quality)</li>\r\n	<li>Wines can be pricy and quality can vary</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Valdeorras</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>High quality small DO on border with Leon</li>\r\n	<li>Eastern, sheltered location gives more full-bodied whites and reds from Godello and Mencía</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Monterei</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Hot, sheltered, tiny DO makes mostly reds</li>\r\n	<li>Improving rapidly</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Ribeiro</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small, coastal DO makes light, spritzy, blended whites</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Ribera Sacra</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small DO making traditional Galician whites</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Navarra and Basque Country</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> One large DO and 3 tiny ones</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Navarra</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large DO making some very good wines: 109 wineries</li>\r\n	<li>Use of a lot of indigenous and foreign grapes</li>\r\n	<li>Reputation built on rosés</li>\r\n	<li>Now many more interesting reds and whites</li>\r\n	<li>Cross between continental and Atlantic climate</li>\r\n	<li>Huge variety of styles can lead to confusion</li>\r\n	<li>Excellent prices for very good wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Txacoli</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Three separate DOs: Alava, Getaria, Vizcaya</li>\r\n	<li>Making vinho verde-style wines from local varieties</li>\r\n	<li>Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza</li>\r\n	<li>Most are easy-drinking quaffers, but a few more serious wines being made now</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Valencia and Murcia</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large jug wine areas now making very interesting wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2>Murcia:</h2>\r\n3 DOs\r\n\r\n<strong>DO Jumilla</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Enormous DO with growing reputation for quality wines</li>\r\n	<li>Red, quality wines based on Monastrell</li>\r\n	<li>Lots of other varietals represented</li>\r\n	<li>Interesting dessert wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Bullas</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Small DO with higher altitude makes some interesting reds from Monastrell</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Yecla</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Medium DO similar to Jumilla</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h2>Valencia:</h2>\r\n3 DOs\r\n\r\n<strong>DO Valencia</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large DO making mostly insipid whites, but has potential for reds from Monastrell</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Utiel Requena</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Huge DO making lots of red jug wine</li>\r\n	<li>Very good red wines being made from Bobal</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Alicante</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large DO traditionally know for sweet wines</li>\r\n	<li>Now making good reds from Monastrell</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Extremadura</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> Large DO (Ribera del Guadiana) making mostly jug wines</li>\r\n	<li>Good potential but little results</li>\r\n	<li>Best results in whites, though reds should be better</li>\r\n	<li>Many grapes varieties:  Tempranillo and Garnacha dominate</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Balearic Islands</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> Tiny production</li>\r\n	<li>Most wine made for local tourist consumption\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Cheap and cheerful!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Some quality red wine made but quite pricy</li>\r\n	<li>Local varieties such as Callet, Fogoneu, Manto Negro are very interesting</li>\r\n	<li>Best wines are remarkably elegant and fresh considering hot climate</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Canaries</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Medium production made for tourist industry</li>\r\n	<li>Local varieties such as Listan negra y Blanca and Malvasia</li>\r\n	<li>Whites much better than reds, but reds improving</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Andalucia</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Mostly fortified wines, but some interesting table wines being made in Malaga and around Granada</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Jerez</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Large DO of 10,000 hectares</li>\r\n	<li>Makes of fortified white wines of in 15 styles, mostly dry</li>\r\n	<li>Grapes:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Palomino for dry sherries</li>\r\n	<li>Moscatel and PX for sweet wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Non-vintage wines made in criadera and solera systems, fractional blending system\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Like cava and champagne</li>\r\n	<li>To preserve house style</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Finos and Manzanillas\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Made in reductive style under protective \"flor\"</li>\r\n	<li>Dry and fresh</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Amontillado\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Aged Fino</li>\r\n	<li>Has oxidative notes plus freshness of Fino</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Oloroso:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Solera without flor</li>\r\n	<li>Oxidized style:  nutty, brown</li>\r\n	<li>All start out dry:  some have PX added for sweetness</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Palo Cortado\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Rarest style</li>\r\n	<li>Cross between Oloroso and Amontillado</li>\r\n	<li>Has flor for short time</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Sweet sherries\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Moscatel and PX dried to raisins</li>\r\n	<li>Used as varietal wines and blenders</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Montilla Moriles</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Very similar wines to sherry but using PX as base wine</li>\r\n	<li>Whole range from Fino to sweet stickies</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Malaga/Sierras de Malaga</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Fortified dessert wines from Moscatel and PX</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>DO Huelva</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Similar wines to Jerez</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Cava</strong></h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> A style DO, not geographic</li>\r\n	<li>Sparkling wine made in Champenoise style</li>\r\n	<li>Mostly white, some rosé</li>\r\n	<li>Second in sales in world after champagne</li>\r\n	<li>Cataluña:  90% of cava made here</li>\r\n	<li>Other provinces:  Rioja, Valencia, Extremadura, Aragon</li>\r\n	<li>Three traditional grapes:  Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel.lo</li>\r\n	<li>Other grapes:  Chardonnay, Monastrell, Pinot Noir</li>\r\n	<li>Tendency:  use of more French varieties</li>\r\n	<li>Minmum aging over lees before disgorgement: 9 months</li>\r\n	<li>15 months aging for reserva wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div></div>','Spanish Wine Regions','','inherit','open','open','','606-revision-6','','','2012-10-22 04:21:28','2012-10-22 04:21:28','',606,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/606-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (638,1,'2012-10-21 00:16:28','2012-10-21 00:16:28','<h2><strong>Primary White Varieties</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAirén\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Most planted white grape in Spain</li>\r\n	<li>La Mancha</li>\r\n	<li>Most planted white grape in the world</li>\r\n	<li>Low quality grape</li>\r\n	<li>With modern techniques can make acceptable wine</li>\r\n	<li>Being replaced</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nAlbariño\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Important grape in Galicia</li>\r\n	<li>Very trendy</li>\r\n	<li>Many styles: from a more peachy, fruity style to a lean, steely profile</li>\r\n	<li>Generally made to be consumed young</li>\r\n	<li>Some interesting aging experiments being done</li>\r\n	<li>Another trend is barrel fermentation and/or aging</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGodello\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>High quality, aromatic grape native to Galicia</li>\r\n	<li>Good acidity and often shows mineral notes</li>\r\n	<li>Backbone of the Valdeorras and Bierzo Dos</li>\r\n	<li>Quickly gaining popularity</li>\r\n	<li>Experiments with aging and oak are underway</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMacabeo\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Also known as Viura</li>\r\n	<li>Macabeo is cultivated all over northern Spain</li>\r\n	<li>In the DO Cava regions it is combined with Xarel-lo and Parrelada</li>\r\n	<li>It is the dominant white grape in Rioja and Navarra</li>\r\n	<li>Can appear in these regions in an oak-aged style</li>\r\n	<li>Criticized for its neutral characteristics, but with care it can make attractive herbal wines.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMoscatel\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>This grape is the Muscat d\'Alexandrie of the Muscat family</li>\r\n	<li>Used in the Levant, Cataluña, and Andalucia to make sweet dessert wines</li>\r\n	<li>These are generally excellent value wines</li>\r\n	<li>Very distinctive grape:  highly aromatic, floral</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPalomino\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>This is the main dry sherry grape</li>\r\n	<li>It does extremely well on the chalky soils near Jerez</li>\r\n	<li>Planted elsewhere produces largely unremarkable wines.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nParellada\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>One of the primary Cava grapes</li>\r\n	<li>Also used in Cataluña for soft everyday drinking whites.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPedro Ximenez\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>This is the grape that makes the great sweet wines of Andalucia</li>\r\n	<li>Dry to raisins and then pressed to make a thick, sweet wine</li>\r\n	<li>Ages extremely well</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nVerdejo\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Principle variety of Rueda</li>\r\n	<li>With modern wine-making techniques makes a top quality crisp and citric flavoured wine</li>\r\n	<li>Pleasant bitter finish</li>\r\n	<li>These wines are among some of the best in Spain and best value</li>\r\n	<li>Experiments are underway with barrel fermentation and aging</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nXarel-lo\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The third of the primary Cava varieties</li>\r\n	<li>Adds weight and alcohol to the blend</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Red grape varieties</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nBobal\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Highly colored grape found in the Levant</li>\r\n	<li>Gives hearty rosados and reds</li>\r\n	<li>Previously for being coarse</li>\r\n	<li>Careful modern techniques can make very interesting wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nCariñena\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Also called Mazuelo in Rioja</li>\r\n	<li>A robust grape that is an important part of the Rioja blend</li>\r\n	<li>Giving color and body</li>\r\n	<li>Also used in Cataluña, where it is also used as a natural partner toGarnacha</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGarnacha\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Likely the most widely planted red grape in Spain</li>\r\n	<li>High yielding variety that makes a great blending grape</li>\r\n	<li>At low yields and older vines, it can produce stellar wines</li>\r\n	<li>Oxidizes easily</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nGraciano\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>A low-yielding grape that is a high quality part of the Rioja blend</li>\r\n	<li>It is seeing a resurgence</li>\r\n	<li>It has thick skins that give wines with a lot of tannin</li>\r\n	<li>They can be tough early on but they age extremely well</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMencía\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>High quality grape that is seeing a surge in popularity</li>\r\n	<li>Many high quality examples are being produced in the Bierzo DO and the Valdeorras DO</li>\r\n	<li>It gives fresh, tannic wines with an elegant profile</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMonastrell\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>High yielding variety that produces highly colored, alcoholic wines</li>\r\n	<li>In the right hands it can produce excellent wines</li>\r\n	<li>Its new reputation for quality wines is being led in Murcia</li>\r\n	<li>It is also used to make some interesting sweet wines.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nPrieto Picudo\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Rising in popularity in various parts of Castilla Leon</li>\r\n	<li>The best wines can be quite tannic and acidic with interesting cherry fruit</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nTempranillo\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Spain\'s top native red grape</li>\r\n	<li>It is cultivated throughout Spain and has many names depending on the region:</li>\r\n	<li>Cencibel in southern Spain</li>\r\n	<li>Tinto Fino, Tinto del Pais and Tinta de Toro in Castile Leon</li>\r\n	<li>Tinta de Toro in Toro</li>\r\n	<li>Ull de Llebre in Cataluña</li>\r\n	<li>It gives high quality wines at all levels, with great strawberry fruit</li>\r\n	<li>Mainly diverse styles…it is sometimes criticized for lacking a dominant varietal character.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Grape Varieties','','inherit','open','open','','573-revision-5','','','2012-10-21 00:16:28','2012-10-21 00:16:28','',573,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/573-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(639,1,'2012-10-22 04:39:50','2012-10-22 04:39:50','<h2><strong>Primary White Varieties</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Airén</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Most planted white grape in Spain</li>\r\n	<li>La Mancha</li>\r\n	<li>Most planted white grape in the world</li>\r\n	<li>Low quality grape</li>\r\n	<li>With modern techniques can make acceptable wine</li>\r\n	<li>Being replaced</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Albariño</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Important grape in Galicia</li>\r\n	<li>Very trendy</li>\r\n	<li>Many styles: from a more peachy, fruity style to a lean, steely profile</li>\r\n	<li>Generally made to be consumed young</li>\r\n	<li>Some interesting aging experiments being done</li>\r\n	<li>Another trend is barrel fermentation and/or aging</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Godello</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>High quality, aromatic grape native to Galicia</li>\r\n	<li>Good acidity and often shows mineral notes</li>\r\n	<li>Backbone of the Valdeorras and Bierzo Dos</li>\r\n	<li>Quickly gaining popularity</li>\r\n	<li>Experiments with aging and oak are underway</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Macabeo</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Also known as Viura</li>\r\n	<li>Macabeo is cultivated all over northern Spain</li>\r\n	<li>In the DO Cava regions it is combined with Xarel-lo and Parrelada</li>\r\n	<li>It is the dominant white grape in Rioja and Navarra</li>\r\n	<li>Can appear in these regions in an oak-aged style</li>\r\n	<li>Criticized for its neutral characteristics, but with care it can make attractive herbal wines.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Moscatel</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>This grape is the Muscat d\'Alexandrie of the Muscat family</li>\r\n	<li>Used in the Levant, Cataluña, and Andalucia to make sweet dessert wines</li>\r\n	<li>These are generally excellent value wines</li>\r\n	<li>Very distinctive grape:  highly aromatic, floral</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Palomino</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>This is the main dry sherry grape</li>\r\n	<li>It does extremely well on the chalky soils near Jerez</li>\r\n	<li>Planted elsewhere produces largely unremarkable wines.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Parellada</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>One of the primary Cava grapes</li>\r\n	<li>Also used in Cataluña for soft everyday drinking whites.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Pedro Ximenez</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>This is the grape that makes the great sweet wines of Andalucia</li>\r\n	<li>Dry to raisins and then pressed to make a thick, sweet wine</li>\r\n	<li>Ages extremely well</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Verdejo</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Principle variety of Rueda</li>\r\n	<li>With modern wine-making techniques makes a top quality crisp and citric flavoured wine</li>\r\n	<li>Pleasant bitter finish</li>\r\n	<li>These wines are among some of the best in Spain and best value</li>\r\n	<li>Experiments are underway with barrel fermentation and aging</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Xarel-lo</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>The third of the primary Cava varieties</li>\r\n	<li>Adds weight and alcohol to the blend</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Red grape varieties</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Bobal</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Highly colored grape found in the Levant</li>\r\n	<li>Gives hearty rosados and reds</li>\r\n	<li>Previously for being coarse</li>\r\n	<li>Careful modern techniques can make very interesting wines</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Cariñena</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Also called Mazuelo in Rioja</li>\r\n	<li>A robust grape that is an important part of the Rioja blend</li>\r\n	<li>Giving color and body</li>\r\n	<li>Also used in Cataluña, where it is also used as a natural partner toGarnacha</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Garnacha</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Likely the most widely planted red grape in Spain</li>\r\n	<li>High yielding variety that makes a great blending grape</li>\r\n	<li>At low yields and older vines, it can produce stellar wines</li>\r\n	<li>Oxidizes easily</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Graciano</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>A low-yielding grape that is a high quality part of the Rioja blend</li>\r\n	<li>It is seeing a resurgence</li>\r\n	<li>It has thick skins that give wines with a lot of tannin</li>\r\n	<li>They can be tough early on but they age extremely well</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Mencía</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>High quality grape that is seeing a surge in popularity</li>\r\n	<li>Many high quality examples are being produced in the Bierzo DO and the Valdeorras DO</li>\r\n	<li>It gives fresh, tannic wines with an elegant profile</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Monastrell(Mourvedre)</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>High yielding variety that produces highly colored, alcoholic wines</li>\r\n	<li>In the right hands it can produce excellent wines</li>\r\n	<li>Its new reputation for quality wines is being led in Murcia</li>\r\n	<li>It is also used to make some interesting sweet wines.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Prieto Picudo</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Rising in popularity in various parts of Castilla Leon</li>\r\n	<li>The best wines can be quite tannic and acidic with interesting cherry fruit</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Tempranillo</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Spain\'s top native red grape</li>\r\n	<li>It is cultivated throughout Spain and has many names depending on the region:</li>\r\n	<li>Cencibel in southern Spain</li>\r\n	<li>Tinto Fino, Tinto del Pais and Tinta de Toro in Castile Leon</li>\r\n	<li>Tinta de Toro in Toro</li>\r\n	<li>Ull de Llebre in Cataluña</li>\r\n	<li>It gives high quality wines at all levels, with great strawberry fruit</li>\r\n	<li>Mainly diverse styles…it is sometimes criticized for lacking a dominant varietal character.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;','Spanish Grape Varieties','','inherit','open','open','','573-revision-6','','','2012-10-22 04:39:50','2012-10-22 04:39:50','',573,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/573-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(640,1,'2012-10-22 05:57:38','2012-10-22 05:57:38','<a title=\"Finca Terrerazo is a Spanish wine from the Utiel region\" href=\"http://myplanetavino.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/finca-terrerazo-2005.jpg\"><img src=\"http://myplanetavino.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/finca-terrerazo-2005.jpg\" alt=\"Finca Terrerazo is a Spanish wine from the Utiel region\" align=\"right\" /></a>This is a top notch red from the southeastern Utiel region of Spain.  I recently rated this winery’s bargain wine <a title=\"Spanish wine Mestizaje\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/2009/03/14/wine-rating-mestizaje-20062007/\">Mestizaje</a> and more recently tasted the Finca Terrerazo wine, which is their intermediate wine at about 25€.  The winery also has a top cru called Quincha Corral.    As I mentioned in the previous article, these wines are released under a Vino de la Tierra Category, in theory table wine, and are based upon the local grape Bobal.  Bobal is a mediocre grape when over cropped, but can make some unique, top quality wines with a lot of care.  The Ficna Terrerazo 2005 is a Bobal blend, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.  Very complex nose, with tobacco, menthol and black fruit.  The mouth has all those elements plus surprisingly fresh acidity and big, smooth tannins.  I tasted the wine a day later and it was even better…smoother and more in balance.  It has a whopping 19 months in new French oak, but the intensity of the wine allows for it.  Shows what Bobal can do…this is a good value wine, considered the complexity it gives you.  Read on for more details on Finca Terrerazo 2005.\n\nWine:  Finca Terrerazo 2005\nWinery:  Bodegas Mustiguillo\nDenominación de Origen (DO):Vino de la Tierra El Terrerazo\nAlc: 14.5%\nGrape varieties: 60% Bobal, 20% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon\nOak regime:  19 months in new French oak, malo in barrel\nPrice:  22-25€ retail in Madrid\n\nTasting notes\nVisual:  Opaque purple ruby color\nNose:  Very complex nose, with sweet black fruit, tobacco and touches of menthol.  At first a little closed...needed air to open the fruit.  The next day the nose had a much bigger fruit element.\nMouth:  Big intense mouth, though aromatically it needs air to open up.   Lots of tobacco and menthol, red fruit...quite acidic.  Big, full body, long tannic finish.  Tannins are very smooth. Really complex and impressive.  A day later, the Cabernet was more evident with touches of green pepper, but the fruit was much bigger and sweeter.  Better mouth balance the second day.\n\nConclusion: Complex, intense, lots of personality.  Really interesting wine that is also very drinkable.  Though a bit pricy, it is worth every penny.','Wine rating: Finca Terrerazo 2005','','inherit','open','open','','269-autosave','','','2012-10-22 05:57:38','2012-10-22 05:57:38','',269,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/269-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(641,1,'2012-08-07 20:29:45','2012-08-07 20:29:45','<h3>Get the most complete home wine preservation system!</h3>\r\nThe best way for the wine aficionado to preserve their fine wines and serve them by the glass. They are the perfect gift for any wine lover.\r\n\r\nPlanetavino is the sole distributor of Winekeeper products in Spain.\r\n\r\nWinekeeper products allow you to keep your wines in a perfect state of preservation for up to a month. We have three different models for your every need!\r\n\r\nTo keep the wines refrigerated, simply use the quick release system to unhook them. The nitrogen pressure is maintained perfectly. Then to serve, merely re-attach the bottle and tap assembly.\r\nCall us at 628 45 63 67 or 91 310 2855 for more information.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" align=\"right\" /></a>The Vintner\r\nFirst our most classic model, the Vintner, that allows you to serve three wines at the same time.\r\n\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Classic design in mahogany hard wood.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles.\r\n• Price: 325.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Noir\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Noir\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Noir\" align=\"right\" /></a>Our next model, the Petit Noir, has more modern lines, and can also serve three wines.\r\n\r\n• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Sleek and compact modern design.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles\r\n• Price: 340.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Keeper\r\nOur most basic model, the Keeper, is a more economical version that can serve one wine at a time.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" align=\"right\" /></a>• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Each cylinder can store and serve up to 24 wine bottles.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional three-way manifold kit to serve three wine bottles simultaneously.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple bottles.\r\n• Price: 99.00 Euro\r\n• Optional Three-way Connector: Price 30.00 Euro\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Winekeeper Accessories</h3>\r\nReplacement Canisters\r\n\r\nWe also can supply you with the extra canisters you’ll eventually need for your system\r\n\r\n• Canister Price: 19.00 Euro\r\n<h3><a title=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wine-keeper/winekeeper-faucet/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-63\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" /></a> <a title=\"Winekeeper canisters\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper canisters\" /></a></h3>\r\nFaucet Assembly\r\n\r\nWe can also sell you extra faucet assemblies to preserve more wines at a time\r\n\r\n• Faucet Assembly: Price 42.00 Euro','Winekeeper','','inherit','open','open','','308-revision-2','','','2012-08-07 20:29:45','2012-08-07 20:29:45','',308,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/2012/08/07/308-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(642,1,'2012-10-09 18:15:03','2012-10-09 18:15:03','<h3>¡Winekeeper: Hágase con el sistema domestico de conservación de vino mas completo!</h3>\r\nLa mejor manera de conservar los vinos y servirlos por copas para el sibarita domestico. El regalo perfecto para los amantes del buen vino.\r\n\r\nPlaneta Vino es el importador exclusivo para España de los productos de Winekeeper.\r\n\r\nLos productos de Winekeeper le permiten conservar sus vinos sin perder sus cualidades durante un mínimo de tres semanas.\r\n\r\nExisten tres modelos diferentes que se adaptan a las diferentes necesidades de su día a día.\r\n\r\nPara mantener su vino refrigerado, use el sistema de desconexión rápida para poder desconectar la botella del sistema principal y así guardarla en una cava refrigerada. La presión del nitrógeno se mantiene perfectamente. Para volver a servirse una copa, simplemente conecte de nuevo la botella al sistema principal.\r\n\r\nLlame al 91 310 2855 para mas información.\r\n<h3>The Vintner</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" align=\"right\" /></a>El primero, nuestro modelo mas clásico, The Vintner, que permite preservar y servir tres botellas al mismo tiempo.  Ideal para uso domestico.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Sencillo de usar.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño clásico en madera de roble.</li>\r\n	<li>Cilindro de nitrógeno y reductor ocultos en su interior.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar las botellas del sistema para mantenerlas refrigeradas.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75 l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples botellas.</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 325,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>The Noir</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Noir\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Noir\" align=\"right\" /></a>Nuestro siguiente modelo, The Noir, tiene unas líneas mas modernas y puede también preservar y servir tres botellas al mismo tiempo.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Simple to use.</li>\r\n	<li>Ideal para uso domestico.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño moderno, minimalista.</li>\r\n	<li>Cilindro de nitrógeno y reductor ocultos en su interior.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar las botellas del sistema para mantenerlas refrigeradas.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75 l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 340,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>The Keeper</h3>\r\nEl modelo básico, The Keeper, es una versión mas económica que da servicio a una botella cada vez.\r\nIdeal para uso domestico.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" align=\"right\" /></a>Sencillo de usar.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño clásico en madera de roble.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar la botella del sistema para mantenerla refrigerada.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples botellas.</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 99,00 €</li>\r\n	<li>Opcional: Conector múltiple, precio 30,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>Accesorios Winekeeper</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper faucet\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet1.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet1.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper faucet\" /></a>           <a title=\"Winekeeper canisters\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters1.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters1.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper canisters\" /></a>\r\n\r\nTambién podemos proveerle de los cilindros de nitrógeno adicionales que eventualmente necesitara para su sistema.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Precio de la bombona: 16,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nTambién podemos proporcionarle mas grifos sueltos para preservar varias botellas usando solamente una bombona de nitrógeno gracias al sistema de conexión-desconexión rápida.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Grifo: Precio 40,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>','en Español','','inherit','open','open','','323-revision-5','','','2012-10-09 18:15:03','2012-10-09 18:15:03','',323,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/2012/10/09/323-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(643,1,'2012-10-22 06:05:18','2012-10-22 06:05:18','<h3>¡Winekeeper: Hágase con el sistema domestico de conservación de vino mas completo!</h3>\r\nLa mejor manera de conservar los vinos y servirlos por copas para el sibarita domestico. El regalo perfecto para los amantes del buen vino.\r\n\r\nPlaneta Vino es el importador exclusivo para España de los productos de Winekeeper.\r\n\r\nLos productos de Winekeeper le permiten conservar sus vinos sin perder sus cualidades durante un mínimo de tres semanas.\r\n\r\nExisten tres modelos diferentes que se adaptan a las diferentes necesidades de su día a día.\r\n\r\nPara mantener su vino refrigerado, use el sistema de desconexión rápida para poder desconectar la botella del sistema principal y así guardarla en una cava refrigerada. La presión del nitrógeno se mantiene perfectamente. Para volver a servirse una copa, simplemente conecte de nuevo la botella al sistema principal.\r\n\r\nLlame al 91 310 2855 para mas información.\r\n<h3>The Vintner</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" align=\"right\" /></a>El primero, nuestro modelo mas clásico, The Vintner, que permite preservar y servir tres botellas al mismo tiempo.  Ideal para uso domestico.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Sencillo de usar.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño clásico en madera de roble.</li>\r\n	<li>Cilindro de nitrógeno y reductor ocultos en su interior.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar las botellas del sistema para mantenerlas refrigeradas.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75 l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples botellas.</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 325,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>The Noir</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Noir\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Noir\" align=\"right\" /></a>Nuestro siguiente modelo, The Noir, tiene unas líneas mas modernas y puede también preservar y servir tres botellas al mismo tiempo.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Simple to use.</li>\r\n	<li>Ideal para uso domestico.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño moderno, minimalista.</li>\r\n	<li>Cilindro de nitrógeno y reductor ocultos en su interior.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar las botellas del sistema para mantenerlas refrigeradas.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75 l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 340,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>The Keeper</h3>\r\nEl modelo básico, The Keeper, es una versión mas económica que da servicio a una botella cada vez.\r\nIdeal para uso domestico.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" align=\"right\" /></a>Sencillo de usar.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño clásico en madera de roble.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar la botella del sistema para mantenerla refrigerada.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples botellas.</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 99,00 €</li>\r\n	<li>Opcional: Conector múltiple, precio 30,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>Accesorios Winekeeper</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper faucet\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet1.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet1.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper faucet\" /></a>           <a title=\"Winekeeper canisters\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters1.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters1.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper canisters\" /></a>\r\n\r\nTambién podemos proveerle de los cilindros de nitrógeno adicionales que eventualmente necesitara para su sistema.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Precio de la bombona: 16,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nTambién podemos proporcionarle mas grifos sueltos para preservar varias botellas usando solamente una bombona de nitrógeno gracias al sistema de conexión-desconexión rápida.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Grifo: Precio 40,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>','en Español','','inherit','open','open','','323-revision-6','','','2012-10-22 06:05:18','2012-10-22 06:05:18','',323,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/2012/10/22/323-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(644,1,'2012-10-22 03:30:15','2012-10-22 03:30:15','Below you\'ll find a brief overview of Spanish wines, including a general introduction, wine law, and grape varieties.  This is the more detailed info for those who are looking for some background.\r\n\r\nI\'ve also created a great practical guide to drinking Spanish wine, the styles, identifying the Spanish wines you like by grape or region, figuring the best values and where you can find them.  To get this useful guide just sign up for my monthly newsletter here.  In my newsletter, I\'ll give you an update on the latest on Spanish wine and food and some top wine picks.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>My Top Ten of Spanish wine</strong></h2>\r\n<strong>...or a total simplification of Spanish wine!  ....but useful sometimes...</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Super dynamic wine market\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Getting world recognition</li>\r\n	<li>Lots of change in every corner of the country!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Huge wine producer\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Most vineyards in the world</li>\r\n	<li>3rd in wine production</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Red wine country\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Some of the top red wines in the world</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Whites wines\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Attractive, great value…improving very rapidly</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>In Spain wines ordered by region, not by grape variety\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>70+ designated wine regions or wine appellations (Denominacion de Origen (DO))</li>\r\n	<li>Most important: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat</li>\r\n	<li>Many rising stars: Jumilla, Toro, Bierzo, La Mancha etc.</li>\r\n	<li>Aging designations on label: crianza, reserva,  gran reserva</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Most important grape variety: Tempranillo\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>More than 600 indigenous grape varieties…but only 20 commercially important today</li>\r\n	<li>More and more international varieties:  Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay etc.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Spanish people drinking much less but drinking higher quality wine</li>\r\n	<li>Exports very important…40%\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Top customers are:  UK, Germany, U.S.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Tendencies:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Old vines...lots of them</li>\r\n	<li>Single vineyards/terroir wines...both relatively new concepts in Spain</li>\r\n	<li>International grapes and unique indigenous grapes</li>\r\n	<li>Criticism: Blockbuster wines…high alcohol, super extracted, over-oaked</li>\r\n	<li>Criticism: Wines to win points from wine critics (Parker effect), comercial wines</li>\r\n	<li>Less appellation wines</li>\r\n	<li>Less wines in traditional categories such as crianza, reserva and gran reserva</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Conclusion:  Very high quality, consistency and still excellent prices. Some of the best value wines in the world!</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>A few more details...</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> Long history of winemaking (3000 years!)</li>\r\n	<li>Most vineyards of any country in the world (15.5%)\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Third in world wine production after France and Italy (13%)</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Just over 50% of wine production is red\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Around 60% of production is table wine, 40% is quality wine</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>More than 600 indigenous grape varieties\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>But just 20 of them account for 80% of wine production</li>\r\n	<li>Tempranillo:  most important red grape in terms of quality and quantity</li>\r\n	<li>International grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon on the rise</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Vineyards in all 17 autonomous regions\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>La Mancha: (the greatest surface area of vines in the world)</li>\r\n	<li>Rioja:  most densely planted in Spain</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Classification system for quality wine based on regional wine appellations\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>There are over 70 Denominación de Origen (DO) spread throughout Spain</li>\r\n	<li>DO: wine appellation with strict rules controlling viticulture and wine production</li>\r\n	<li>DO wines often have indication of oak aging:  crianza, reserva, gran reserva</li>\r\n	<li>Other categories of quality wine: DOCA, VCIG, Vino de Pago</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Lesser classifications are now being used for some top wines\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Vino de la Tierra and Vino de Mesa</li>\r\n	<li>Used in areas outside designated DOs</li>\r\n	<li>Also used by some winemakers looking for more flexibility</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Over 40% of Spanish production is exported (increasing)\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Top customers in terms of value:  UK, Germany, USA</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Spain also has amazing cavas, dessert wines, and fortified wines at great values</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Some opinions (only mine!)</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>Change, change and more change!</strong>\r\n\r\nExciting times as change touches every area of Spain\'s wine industry.  New areas are up and coming and showcasing lesser known varietals, while the better known areas such a Rioja and Ribera del Duero are faced  more competition and forced to produce even better wines.  This healthy competition extends itself to styles: ultra modern, blockbuster styles, traditional styles and more restrained terroir styles must all compete for consumer approval.  Hopefully there is room in the market for the finest examples of all the styles as the diversity only benefits the consumer.\r\n\r\n<strong>A red wine country</strong>\r\n\r\nSpain is known for its red wines and makes some of the finest reds in the world.  It also makes tons of great value, easy drinking reds that consistently deliver.  Why so much talk of reds?  Spain\'s climate lends itself towards reds, but there is an equally important cultural reason for the domination of the color red.  For most spaniards wine is <span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">red </span><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> and only red.  There is a saying in Spain that the best white is a red!  So the focus for a long time was on reds.  This is changing a bit, but most Spaniards have still not been exposed to top notch whites, or even tried a white with some oak aging!</span></span></span>\r\n\r\n<strong>...but don\'t overlook the whites!</strong>\r\n\r\nWinemakers are changing Spain\'s whites with exciting new projects and turning out some remarkable wines, both with and without oak, from some very unique terroir sites.  There are many misses of course,  but the standard is improving all the time.  Meanwhile the simple, un-oaked styles of whites that the Spanish enjoy deserve more respect than they get.  they are consistently fresh, easy to drink, and easy on the pocket.  You just have to know the areas and grape varieties that are more reliable.  For me you can\'t beat the region Rueda with its attractive un-oaked Verdejos for some good everyday value quaffing.  Perhaps that\'s why it the basic bar white in most of Spain!   Albariño, the most beloved of whites to the Spanis, can also be lovely, but is not as consistent, and pricier.\r\n\r\n<strong>Obsessed with Rioja and Ribera?</strong>\r\n\r\nRioja still makes up over 50% of the fine wine market and remains the go-to wine for most Spaniards.  I like to call it \"Riojitis\"...which sounds better in Spanish!   Unfortunately a lot of the basic Rioja served at many bars and restaurants in Spain is pretty awful stuff.  So many faces still light up at the word Rioja...even the bad stuff....\r\n\r\nThere are regional variations, but in Madrid, Ribera de Duero has become the more fashionable alternative to Rioja.  Madrid palates have taken to the more robust and oaky wines from the region just to the north.  These wines are generally much more expensive than many Riojas and have become somewhat of a status symbol in the capital as well.  Ribera del Duero reds can be excellent when not suffering from excessive oak but they are often excessively priced as well.    There are less expensive ones of course but it\'s harder to find a tasty good value Ribera....Rioja is easier in that regard.\r\n\r\nI often find it a shame that there is not a better offering of other regions on wine lists in many parts of Spain, except in wine bars or specialized restaurants.  There are so many excellent wines from regions that offer much better value...and there is something to be said for variety.  In Madrid you are often left with two choices:  Ribera or Rioja!\r\n\r\n<strong>Spaniards don\'t like wine anymore?</strong>\r\n\r\nA worrisome trend to the wine industry is that continue a decades long trend to drinking less wine. Many factors have affected this decline.   Wine has been replaced by other drinks at Spanish meals and when drunk is often reserved for longer family meals on the weekend.  Stricter drunk driving laws has had a great impact on wine consumption in bars and restaurants.  While wine aficionados have multiplied, many segments of society, especially young people have lost touch with wine as part of Spanish culture.  All of these tendecies are difficult ones to address.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile Spanish wine exports have been growing and thriving, reaching over 40% of appellation level wines.  It\'s become a critical market for wineries as the domestic market shrinks.  Despite tough economic times, overall Spanish wine exports have continued to outperform their neighbors.  Spanish wineries need to continue to find effective ways to compete in an increasingly competitive world market.\r\n\r\n<strong>Some beautiful things</strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li> The old, old vines:  what a wonderful wealth of lovely old bush vines that abound....a goldmine!  Though blends used to be the norm, winemakers are now highlighting hese special parcels.  Some extraordinary wines come from these vineyards, including some of my favorite Grenaches</li>\r\n	<li>Great grapes:  love that Mencia, that Garnacha, that Godello! But so many more,:  Prieto Picudo, Callet, Bobal, Cariñena etc.etc. Also some fun stuff with the international varieties</li>\r\n	<li>The leaner terroir wine appearing of late:  though I love and appreciate some of those intense fruit bombs, I have an abiding love for a different more austere type of intensity....and we\'re seeing it more and more with interesting projects all over Spain</li>\r\n	<li>Beautiful, cheap wines in Spanish restaurants and bars:  though I amy complain about the selection...you can\'t beat the prices!  Now that I live in the States....I appreciate them all the more!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>Some not so beautiful things </strong>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Still way too many over-oaked wines</li>\r\n	<li>More marketing needed:  Spanish wines still need more exposure.  The government-run organization Wines from Spain tries.....</li>\r\n	<li>New obsession with points by critics...it arrived late in Spain but was inevitable!</li>\r\n	<li>Better enotourism experiences needed in many areas....don\'t want to lose the authenticity, but a little more thoughtfulness and practicality needed</li>\r\n	<li>Not enough recognition for Spanish wines:  the wines deserve more!</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<strong>Love me some Spanish wine!</strong>\r\n\r\nThere is so much to love about Spanish wines.  Everyone can find the style they like to sip or to go with any food:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>A rich variety of red wine styles for every occasion</li>\r\n	<li>Simple, attractive whites for everyday</li>\r\n	<li>The \"new\" whites, complex, mineral, age-worthy</li>\r\n	<li>Delightfully fruity, yet dry rosados</li>\r\n	<li>Fresh, harmonious sparkling cava</li>\r\n	<li>Complex, fascinating, misunderstood sherry</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<div>All of this variety and much more comes at a super reasonable price that few countries, if any, can match.  A bonus is great consistency that comes with relatively little vintage variation.</div>\r\n<div>What\'s not to love?</div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Spanish Wine Regions</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThere are over 70 designated wine appellations or Denominacion de Origen (DO) in Spain and for more informsation on the primary ones you can check <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/spanish-wine-regions/\">here</a>.\r\n\r\nAn easier way to describe Spain\'s wine regions is using the regional approach taken at the Wines from Spain <a href=\"http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions\" target=\"_blank\">website</a>.  They divide the country into 8 regions that are somewhat coherent stylistically in terms of wine.  it is a generalization, but it is useful to simplify a complex wine landscape.\r\n\r\nSee the Wines from Spain map below and my brief look at the 8 regions below that.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_610\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"482\"]<a href=\"http://www.winesfromspainusa.com/regions\"><img class=\" wp-image-610  \" title=\"Wines from Spain Regional Map\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Wines-from-Spain-Regional-Map.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"482\" height=\"482\" /></a> Wines From Spain USA Regional Wine Map[/caption]\r\n\r\n<strong>Green Spain</strong>\r\n\r\nCalled so because of the abundant rainfall, Green Spain has traditionally been known for light, aromatic whites, the most famous of which is Albariño.  Albariño continues to be a star, but there are so many other great wines from the area, including standout reds from the Mencía grape and delicious, good value whites from Godello.\r\n\r\nThe most important DOs to look out for are:  Rias Baixas, Bierzo and Valdeorras\r\n\r\nGreen Spain also includes Basque country, whose  unique spritzy wine Chacoli (Txacoli) is improving greatly in quality.  It would be most similar in style to Portugal\'s vinho verde and is fun to try.\r\n\r\n<strong>North Central Spain</strong>\r\n\r\nSome of Spain\'s top reds come from this area, much of which is situated along the Duero River Valley.  The semi-arid conditions and a large differential between day and night temperatures allow for the long, slow ripening of Tempranillo in areas such as Ribera del Duero and Toro.  These reds are intense, with deep fruit and impressive tannic structure, yet they retain good levels of acidity.  Other up and coming DOs in the ares include Cigales, Arribes, Zamora, Tierra de Leon and Arlanza.\r\n\r\nAlso important for red wine is the regional category of wines called Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Leon...some top class wines are made under this category as well as many great value everyday wines.\r\n\r\nWhites play a definite second fiddle in the area with one tremendous exception, that of of Rueda, producing consistently delicious, mostly inexpensive, white wines from the Verdejo grape.  Albariño may be Spaniards favorite white, but Rueda is the workhorse white wine of Spain, served in every bar from coast to coast.  The more basic wines are simple, but very acceptable and the top un-oaked Verdejos can have some complex aromas and minerality paired with a wonderful mouthfeel.....lots of yummy oaked versions too!\r\n\r\n<strong>The Ebro River Valley</strong>\r\n\r\nRioja is the top area in this region, Spain\'s largest fine wine appellation, with an excellent, Atlantic-influenced climate that can produce some very elegant wines.  Reds are heavily based on Tempranillo, though there are some other interesting varieties such as Mazuelo, Graciano and Garnanacha.  Stylistically there is a bit of a challenge at the moment as lighter, elegant traditional styles face off against bolder, bigger modern styles.  The pletora of styles and lack of indication can lead to some confusion amongst consumers.  Rioja , based on Viura (Macabeo), have been improving greatly recently.\r\n\r\nNavarra is Rioja\'s next door neighbor and has long been in it\'s shadow.  It is known within Spain largely for its lovely, cheap rosados.  This is unfortunate because both the reds and whites are deserving of a closer look.  There is an enormous variety in varietals (indigenous and international) and styles, perhaps contributing to image problems.  But the wines are top quality and amazing value.  Favorites include Chardonnays and old vine Grenache.\r\n\r\nAlso grouped in this region are the wines of Aragon, which have been gaining recognition for quality and value of late.  Long known for jug wines, the region first changed its reputation in the area of Somontano with interesting, fresh wines made largely from international varietals.  Since then the DOs of Campo de Borja, Calatayud and Cariñena have gained a reputation for interesting old vine Grenache.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Meseta</strong>\r\n\r\nVery hot and dry, this area is one of the biggest wine regions in the world, producing mostly jug wine.  In the last decades good value quality wine has started to change the area\'s reputation, offering reliable, consistent wines at cheap prices.  Tempranillo is the most important varietal but numorous varieties are represented.  DO La Mancha is the big player but also up and coming are: Manchuela, Ribera del Jucar, Méntrida, Uclés, etc.\r\n\r\nAlso important in the area is the regional category of Vino de la Tierra de Castilla and Vinos de Pago, which are single estate appellations.\r\n\r\nIncluded in the Meseta area is Vinos de Madrid, which used to be quite terrible, but has improved greatly, with some exciting old vine projects.  Unfortunately production is quite limited so prices can be high.\r\n\r\nFinally there is Extremadura, which has a lot of potential...some interesting wines have been produced from the numerous varieties that are are planted.  Great improvements have been made,but much remains to be done.\r\n\r\n<strong>The Mediterranean Coast</strong>\r\n\r\nThis encompasses a huge area and is very varied stylistically.\r\n\r\nCataluña is a huge wine region with 12 DOs alone and huge climatic variations.\r\n\r\nGeneralizing a bit....the coastal wines tend to be lighter, more elegant and international varieties have become very popular in reas such as Penedés.  The inland, or mountain wines, tend to be more intense and concentrated and are often made from indigenous grapes.  Priorat and Montsant have come to represent the mountain wines with their intense, brooding, long-lived wines, while Penedés is the top producer, qualitatively and quantitatively of the coastal areas.\r\n\r\nCatalan are very unique and quality is often quite high, but they can be more expensive than average for Spanish wines.\r\n\r\nAnother very important category in Catalan wines is DO Cava.  Though cava can also be produced in Rioja, Valencia, Extremadura, and Aragon, 90% of it is produced in Cataluña.  Cava is Spain\'s quality sparkling wine category and has traditionally beenmade from three grape varieties, Macabeo, Parllada and Xarel.lo.  Today, some producers are also making it from Champagne grape varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.\r\n\r\nThe second large area of the Mediterranean Coast is the Levante Region, which is one of the warmest areas of Spain and makes wines with a real Mediterranean character.  This area was known solely for jug wines only a couple fo decades ago.  Know there are some really spectacular wines made as well as some nice, inexpensive everyday wines.  Jumilla was the DO that first was recognized for quality wine and Monastrell (Mourvedre) is its quality grape, though there is an enormous variety of grapes, indigenous and international, planted.  Other up and coming DOs include:     Utiel-Reuena, Yecla, Valencia, Bullas and Alicante.\r\n\r\n<strong>Andalucia</strong>\r\n\r\nThe traditional star here is DO Jerez or sherry, a unique fortified wine produced in 15, mostly dry styles.  It is a difficult wine to market and sell today and its currently suffering from an image problem.  Due to this, sherry cost very little for the quality of the wines.\r\n\r\nSherry means something different to everyone.  In Spain, most people stick to the two driest, lightest forms, Fino and Manzanilla.  To many people in the UK and the US sherry is a sweet wine, such as a cream sherry.\r\n\r\nWhile in Andalucia you can still taste the traditional sweet fortified wines that remain popular in many areas, though they are rarely exported.\r\n\r\nMany great table wines are now being made in various higher altitude areas in Malaga and Grenada... despite the heat, the higher altitude allow for some great sites.  Grape varieties are numourous, though international varieties have become very popular.\r\n\r\n<strong>Islands of Spain</strong>\r\n\r\nThe Balearic Islands, especially Mallorca is producing some very interesting wines in the last decades.  Most wines in the area are made merely for the tourist market, but there are a few wineries doing much, much more.  The local grape varieties, such as Callet and Mantonegro,  are very interesting, and can produce remarkably elegant and fresh wines from such a a hot climate.\r\n\r\nThe Canaries also produce wines largely for the tourist hordes, but there are some great exceptions.  The whites from Malvasia, Listan Blanca, and many more, are especially good, but there are some interesting reds coming on from Negramoll, Listan Negra, and others.\r\n<h2><strong>Spanish Grape Varieties</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nThere is no doubt that the great red grape, Tempranillo,  is king in Spain....it is by far the most important grape variety in terms of quality wine production and respect.  It sometimes seems people would prefer to drink a bad Tempranillo than order another grape variety! Tempranillo is a wonderful variety and offers a great variety of wines depending on the region and the local variant of the grape.  Though considering by many experts a \"noble\" grape\", some also would perhaps criticize Tempranillo for its lack of a distinct personality that shines trough in any terroir.\r\n\r\nTimes are changing and this is a good thing because Spain has some really interesting indigenous varieties other than Tempranillo. Spain does not have the rich diversity of indigenous varieties that is seen in italy or Portugal.  Many varieties were lost or reduced to non-commercial levels after the phyloxera blight at the end of the 19th century.  Much of the replanting was done with easier varietals and eventually with Tempranillo.  Luckily today there is some interest in reviving some of the local obscure varietals.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile some of the great red varieties to watch out for are:  Garnacha (Grenache), Mencia, Bobal, Monastrell (Mourvedre) etc.\r\n\r\nOutstanding white varieties include: Verdejo, Godello, Albariño, Viura, and Palomino\r\n\r\nYou can also find the all usual international grapes planted in Spain and being made into mediocre to very good wine.\r\n\r\nFor more detail on the major indigenous Spanish varietals see <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/spanish-grape-varieties/\">here</a>...\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2><strong>Spanish Wine Law</strong></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>EU wine law recognizes two main categories of wine:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Table wine and quality wine</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Spain has two levels of table wine:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Vino de mesa:  no region, grapes, or vintage on label</li>\r\n	<li>Vino de la Tierra (VdlT):  equivalent of Vin de Pays in France\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>An officially recognized area but below DO level</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Spain has four levels of quality wine:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Vinos de Calidad con Indicación Geográfica (VCIG)\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>New category: areas must wait five years to ask for DO</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Denominación de Origen (DO).\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Over 70 exist</li>\r\n	<li>Regulated by a consejo regulador (governing body) with detailed rules</li>\r\n	<li>Guarantees origin not always quality</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Denominción de Origen Calificada (DOCa)\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>DO must wait ten years to attain</li>\r\n	<li>Only Rioja and Priorat so far: stricter rules</li>\r\n	<li>In reality does not guarentee more quality</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Vino de Pago:\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Single estates of exceptional quality</li>\r\n	<li>Must comply at least with DOCa rules</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n	<li>Aging requirements: national DO law...some regions set stricter limits\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Terms generally appear on front labels</li>\r\n	<li>All have a back sticker with category</li>\r\n	<li>Joven or vino de cosecha:  no oak aging (generally should be drunk from latest vintage)</li>\r\n	<li>Roble:  Seen some oak (no legal requirements)</li>\r\n	<li>In reality categories are mainly seen only on reds</li>\r\n	<li>Many wineries are ignoring traditional categories and have only \"cosecha\" sticker for wines with oak aging</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Crianza table\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/crianza-charts.JPG\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/crianza-charts.JPG\" alt=\"Crianza table\" width=\"539\" height=\"282\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;',' ','','inherit','open','open','','338-revision-49','','','2012-10-22 03:30:15','2012-10-22 03:30:15','',338,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/22/338-revision-49/',0,'revision','',0),(645,1,'2012-10-22 06:03:53','2012-10-22 06:03:53','<h3>Get the most complete home wine preservation system!</h3>\r\nThe best way for the wine aficionado to preserve their fine wines and serve them by the glass. They are the perfect gift for any wine lover.\r\n\r\nPlanetavino is the sole distributor of Winekeeper products in Spain.\r\n\r\nWinekeeper products allow you to keep your wines in a perfect state of preservation for up to a month. We have three different models for your every need!\r\n\r\nTo keep the wines refrigerated, simply use the quick release system to unhook them. The nitrogen pressure is maintained perfectly. Then to serve, merely re-attach the bottle and tap assembly.\r\nCall us at 628 45 63 67 or 91 310 2855 for more information.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" align=\"right\" /></a>The Vintner\r\nFirst our most classic model, the Vintner, that allows you to serve three wines at the same time.\r\n\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Classic design in mahogany hard wood.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles.\r\n• Price: 325.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Noir\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Noir\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Noir\" align=\"right\" /></a>Our next model, the Petit Noir, has more modern lines, and can also serve three wines.\r\n\r\n• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Sleek and compact modern design.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles\r\n• Price: 340.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Keeper\r\nOur most basic model, the Keeper, is a more economical version that can serve one wine at a time.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" align=\"right\" /></a>• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Each cylinder can store and serve up to 24 wine bottles.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional three-way manifold kit to serve three wine bottles simultaneously.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple bottles.\r\n• Price: 99.00 Euro\r\n• Optional Three-way Connector: Price 30.00 Euro\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Winekeeper Accessories</h3>\r\nReplacement Canisters\r\n\r\nWe also can supply you with the extra canisters you’ll eventually need for your system\r\n\r\n• Canister Price: 19.00 Euro\r\n<h3><a title=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wine-keeper/winekeeper-faucet/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-63\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" /></a> <a title=\"Winekeeper canisters\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper canisters\" /></a></h3>\r\nFaucet Assembly\r\n\r\nWe can also sell you extra faucet assemblies to preserve more wines at a time\r\n\r\n• Faucet Assembly: Price 42.00 Euro','Winekeeper','','inherit','open','open','','308-revision-3','','','2012-10-22 06:03:53','2012-10-22 06:03:53','',308,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/22/308-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(646,1,'2012-10-22 06:45:42','2012-10-22 06:45:42','<h2><strong>Though I\'ve moved to the US, we still represent Winekeeper wine preservation systems in Spain...see below for more information</strong></h2>\r\n<h2><strong>Para información sobre productos Winekeeper en español, pulse aquí</h2></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Get the most complete home wine preservation system!</h3>\r\nThe best way for the wine aficionado to preserve their fine wines and serve them by the glass. They are the perfect gift for any wine lover.\r\n\r\nPlanetavino is the sole distributor of Winekeeper products in Spain.\r\n\r\nWinekeeper products allow you to keep your wines in a perfect state of preservation for up to a month. We have three different models for your every need!\r\n\r\nTo keep the wines refrigerated, simply use the quick release system to unhook them. The nitrogen pressure is maintained perfectly. Then to serve, merely re-attach the bottle and tap assembly.\r\nCall us at 628 45 63 67 or 91 310 2855 for more information.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" align=\"right\" /></a>The Vintner\r\nFirst our most classic model, the Vintner, that allows you to serve three wines at the same time.\r\n\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Classic design in mahogany hard wood.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles.\r\n• Price: 325.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Noir\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Noir\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Noir\" align=\"right\" /></a>Our next model, the Petit Noir, has more modern lines, and can also serve three wines.\r\n\r\n• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Sleek and compact modern design.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles\r\n• Price: 340.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Keeper\r\nOur most basic model, the Keeper, is a more economical version that can serve one wine at a time.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" align=\"right\" /></a>• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Each cylinder can store and serve up to 24 wine bottles.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional three-way manifold kit to serve three wine bottles simultaneously.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple bottles.\r\n• Price: 99.00 Euro\r\n• Optional Three-way Connector: Price 30.00 Euro\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Winekeeper Accessories</h3>\r\nReplacement Canisters\r\n\r\nWe also can supply you with the extra canisters you’ll eventually need for your system\r\n\r\n• Canister Price: 19.00 Euro\r\n<h3><a title=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wine-keeper/winekeeper-faucet/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-63\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" /></a> <a title=\"Winekeeper canisters\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper canisters\" /></a></h3>\r\nFaucet Assembly\r\n\r\nWe can also sell you extra faucet assemblies to preserve more wines at a time\r\n\r\n• Faucet Assembly: Price 42.00 Euro','Winekeeper','','inherit','open','open','','308-revision-4','','','2012-10-22 06:45:42','2012-10-22 06:45:42','',308,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/22/308-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(647,1,'2012-10-22 06:46:15','2012-10-22 06:46:15','<h2><strong>Though I\'ve moved to the US, we still represent Winekeeper wine preservation systems in Spain...see below for more information</strong></h2>\r\n<h2><strong>Para información sobre productos Winekeeper en español, pulse aquí</h2></strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Get the most complete home wine preservation system!</h3>\r\nThe best way for the wine aficionado to preserve their fine wines and serve them by the glass. They are the perfect gift for any wine lover.\r\n\r\nPlanetavino is the sole distributor of Winekeeper products in Spain.\r\n\r\nWinekeeper products allow you to keep your wines in a perfect state of preservation for up to a month. We have three different models for your every need!\r\n\r\nTo keep the wines refrigerated, simply use the quick release system to unhook them. The nitrogen pressure is maintained perfectly. Then to serve, merely re-attach the bottle and tap assembly.\r\nCall us at 628 45 63 67 or 91 310 2855 for more information.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" align=\"right\" /></a>The Vintner\r\nFirst our most classic model, the Vintner, that allows you to serve three wines at the same time.\r\n\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Classic design in mahogany hard wood.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles.\r\n• Price: 325.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Noir\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Noir\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Noir\" align=\"right\" /></a>Our next model, the Petit Noir, has more modern lines, and can also serve three wines.\r\n\r\n• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Sleek and compact modern design.\r\n• Cylinder and regulator hidden in the interior.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple wine bottles\r\n• Price: 340.00 Euro\r\n\r\nThe Keeper\r\nOur most basic model, the Keeper, is a more economical version that can serve one wine at a time.\r\n\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" align=\"right\" /></a>• Simple to use.\r\n• Ideal for home use.\r\n• Each cylinder can store and serve up to 24 wine bottles.\r\n• Rapid disconnection feature allows for refrigeration of wine bottles.\r\n• Optional three-way manifold kit to serve three wine bottles simultaneously.\r\n• Optional tap assemblies to conserve multiple bottles.\r\n• Price: 99.00 Euro\r\n• Optional Three-way Connector: Price 30.00 Euro\r\n<h3></h3>\r\n<h3>Winekeeper Accessories</h3>\r\nReplacement Canisters\r\n\r\nWe also can supply you with the extra canisters you’ll eventually need for your system\r\n\r\n• Canister Price: 19.00 Euro\r\n<h3><a title=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wine-keeper/winekeeper-faucet/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-63\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper - Faucet\" /></a> <a title=\"Winekeeper canisters\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper canisters\" /></a></h3>\r\nFaucet Assembly\r\n\r\nWe can also sell you extra faucet assemblies to preserve more wines at a time\r\n\r\n• Faucet Assembly: Price 42.00 Euro','Winekeeper','','inherit','open','open','','308-revision-5','','','2012-10-22 06:46:15','2012-10-22 06:46:15','',308,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/22/308-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(648,1,'2012-11-30 20:00:38','2012-11-30 20:00:38','','wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-nov-26-2012-1812-jpg','','','2012-11-30 20:00:38','2012-11-30 20:00:38','',649,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(649,1,'2012-11-30 20:00:45','2012-11-30 20:00:45','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354332335109.8164\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\nSuch a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine! That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nSpanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines. Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value. Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles. Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer. Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!\r\n\r\nIn Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars. The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!\r\n\r\nStill popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor. Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca. Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late! Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.\r\n\r\nIt really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship. There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult. Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were. But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family. The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive. This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.\r\n\r\nI have lots of great places and even more wines I\'m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','publish','open','open','','recession-spain-a-fantastic-food-and-wine-destination','','','2012-12-01 03:32:39','2012-12-01 03:32:39','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=649',0,'post','',2),(650,1,'2012-11-30 20:00:39','2012-11-30 20:00:39','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','649-revision','','','2012-11-30 20:00:39','2012-11-30 20:00:39','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/649-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(651,1,'2012-11-30 20:00:39','2012-11-30 20:00:39','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354305645219.2405\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news.  It&#39;s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring.  I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables.  Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.  </p>\n\n<p>Spanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines.  Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value.  Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles.  Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer.  Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!</p>\n\n<p>In Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars.  The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!  </p>\n\n<p>Still popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor.  Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca.  Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late!  Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.  </p>\n\n<p>It really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship.  There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult.  Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were.  But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family.  The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive.  This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.  </p>\n\n<p>I have lots of great places and even more wines I&#39;m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p><div style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\" id=\"blogsy_footer\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-2','','','2012-11-30 20:00:39','2012-11-30 20:00:39','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/649-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(652,1,'2012-11-30 20:15:10','2012-11-30 20:15:10','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354306399130.149\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news.  It&#39;s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring.  I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables.  Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times. </p>\n\n<p>Spanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines.  Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value.  Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles.  Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer.  Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!</p>\n\n<p>In Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars.  The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!  </p>\n\n<p>Still popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor.  Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca.  Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late!  Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.  </p>\n\n<p>It really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship.  There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult.  Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were.  But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family.  The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive.  This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.  </p>\n\n<p>I have lots of great places and even more wines I&#39;m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p><div style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\" id=\"blogsy_footer\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times. Read more....','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-3','','','2012-11-30 20:15:10','2012-11-30 20:15:10','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/649-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(653,1,'2012-11-30 20:27:08','2012-11-30 20:27:08','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354307200017.3325\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news.  It&#39;s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring.  I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables.  Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times. </p>\n\n<!--more-->  \n\n<p>Spanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines.  Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value.  Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles.  Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer.  Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!</p>\n\n<p>In Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars.  The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!  </p>\n\n<p>Still popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor.  Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca.  Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late!  Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.  </p>\n\n<p>It really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship.  There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult.  Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were.  But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family.  The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive.  This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.  </p>\n\n<p>I have lots of great places and even more wines I&#39;m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p><div style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\" id=\"blogsy_footer\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-4','','','2012-11-30 20:27:08','2012-11-30 20:27:08','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/649-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(654,1,'2012-10-18 02:38:14','2012-10-18 02:38:14','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7714378642\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350180242590.2825\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7714378642_36b4685272_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"268\" /></a></div>\r\nGreat cheese is not so easy to find in Spain. There often isn\'t much variety, only variations on Manchego, and even the quality of the Manchego can vary greatly. That doesn\'t mean that there isn\'t spectacular cheese being produced out there, just that the great cheeses of Spain are not appreciated as much as they deserve. Artesanal cheese stores such as Poncelet have long offered these great cheeses but now diners can now enjoy the first cheese specialty restaurant in Madrid: Poncelet\'s Cheese Bar.\r\n\r\nIt\'s a far more elegant establishment than the name would suggest, though there is a sort of bar space up front, and there is an actual \"cheese bar\" way in the back, where you can watch the staff preparing the cheese plates. The service is very very good and in line with the fairly high prices for Madrid.\r\n\r\nThere is a regular menu, with all sort of dishes based on cheese, starters, soups, salads, tartars, pastas, as well as main courses. It also includes a fun selection of fondues and raclettes. We tried quite a few of the starters and they were all quite good....in fact, it was hard to resist ordering too much, as we were really there for the cheese plates.\r\n\r\nThe impressive selection of cheese, all aged in special rooms on site, is well over a hundred, and hails from all over Europe. There are thematic cheese plates, but you can also customize yours.....the menu lists all the cheeses, with all the relevant details, provenance, aging, type of milk, strength, necessary to help you choose. It\'s heaven....and oh so hard to choose! In the pictures you can see the all-Spanish plate I assembled, with some of my favorites such as Monte Enebro and Valdeon.\r\n\r\nThe wine list is lovely, heavy on whites, sparkling, fortified and sweet wines, perfect for cheese matching. We had the Louro do Bolo Godello from Valdeorras....really fresh acidity, stone fruit, a touch of oak smoke, mouth-filling....perfect with most of our cheeses. The wine list varies in price, can be high, but the wines they offer by the glass, are also well priced by the bottle.\r\n\r\nLove this place! If you love cheese and want to taste the best Spanish cheeses with some great wine in a top notch place, there is nowhere better than Cheese Bar in Madrid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Cheese heaven in Madrid','Great cheese is not so easy to find in Spain.  There often isn\'t much variety, only variations on Manchego, and even the quality of the Manchego can vary greatly.  That doesn\'t mean that there isn\'t spectacular cheese being produced out there, just that the great cheeses of Spain are not appreciated as much as they deserve.  Artesanal cheese stores such as Poncelet have long offered these great cheeses but now diners can now enjoy the first cheese specialty restaurant in Madrid: Poncelet\'s Cheese Bar.','inherit','open','open','','563-revision-4','','','2012-10-18 02:38:14','2012-10-18 02:38:14','',563,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/18/563-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(655,1,'2012-10-12 21:40:28','2012-10-12 21:40:28','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\"></a></div>\n\n<p>The branch of <a href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"La Boqueria\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace.  It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.  Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven!</p>\n\n<p>Happy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage.  The sangria of the day was easy to drink!</p>\n\n<p>Besides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular!  Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\"></a></div>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha.  Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\n\n<p>The wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn&#39;t excite me.  Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval.  The mark ups are hefty but that&#39;s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!</p>\n\n<p>Overall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain.  They don&#39;t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don&#39;t mess with the basics.  A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p><div style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\" id=\"blogsy_footer\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-2','','','2012-10-12 21:40:28','2012-10-12 21:40:28','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/12/554-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(656,1,'2012-11-30 20:34:24','2012-11-30 20:34:24','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\nThe branch of <a title=\"La Boqueria\" href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully. Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven! &lt;--more--&gt;\r\n\r\nHappy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage. The sangria of the day was easy to drink!\r\n\r\nBesides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular! Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha. Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\r\nThe wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn\'t excite me. Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval. The mark ups are hefty but that\'s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!\r\n\r\nOverall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain. They don\'t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don\'t mess with the basics. A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-3','','','2012-11-30 20:34:24','2012-11-30 20:34:24','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/554-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(657,1,'2012-11-30 20:34:56','2012-11-30 20:34:56','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\nThe branch of <a title=\"La Boqueria\" href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully. Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven! &lt;!--more--&gt;\r\n\r\nHappy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage. The sangria of the day was easy to drink!\r\n\r\nBesides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular! Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha. Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\r\nThe wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn\'t excite me. Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval. The mark ups are hefty but that\'s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!\r\n\r\nOverall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain. They don\'t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don\'t mess with the basics. A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-4','','','2012-11-30 20:34:56','2012-11-30 20:34:56','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/554-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(658,1,'2012-11-30 20:35:38','2012-11-30 20:35:38','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\nThe branch of <a title=\"La Boqueria\" href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully. Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven! &lt;!--more--&gt;\r\n\r\nHappy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage. The sangria of the day was easy to drink!\r\n\r\nBesides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular! Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha. Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\r\nThe wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn\'t excite me. Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval. The mark ups are hefty but that\'s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!\r\n\r\nOverall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain. They don\'t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don\'t mess with the basics. A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-5','','','2012-11-30 20:35:38','2012-11-30 20:35:38','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/554-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(660,1,'2012-11-30 20:36:38','2012-11-30 20:36:38','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\nThe branch of <a title=\"La Boqueria\" href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully. Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven! <!--more-->\r\n\r\nHappy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage. The sangria of the day was easy to drink!\r\n\r\nBesides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular! Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha. Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\r\nThe wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn\'t excite me. Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval. The mark ups are hefty but that\'s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!\r\n\r\nOverall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain. They don\'t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don\'t mess with the basics. A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-6','','','2012-11-30 20:36:38','2012-11-30 20:36:38','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/554-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(661,1,'2012-11-30 21:04:42','2012-11-30 21:04:42','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\nThe branch of <a title=\"La Boqueria\" href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully. Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven! <!--more-->\r\n\r\nHappy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage. The sangria of the day was easy to drink!\r\n\r\nBesides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular! Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha. Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\r\nThe wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn\'t excite me. Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval. The mark ups are hefty but that\'s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!\r\n\r\nOverall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain. They don\'t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don\'t mess with the basics. A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-7','','','2012-11-30 21:04:42','2012-11-30 21:04:42','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/554-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(663,1,'2012-12-01 00:37:14','2012-12-01 00:37:14','','','','inherit','open','open','','663','','','2012-12-01 00:37:14','2012-12-01 00:37:14','',27,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Ribera+Montecastro.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(664,1,'2012-12-01 00:37:15','2012-12-01 00:37:15','','','','inherit','open','open','','664','','','2012-12-01 00:37:15','2012-12-01 00:37:15','',28,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sherry+Matusalem.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(665,1,'2012-12-01 00:37:17','2012-12-01 00:37:17','','','','inherit','open','open','','665','','','2012-12-01 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00:38:59','','','','inherit','open','open','','742','','','2012-12-01 00:38:59','2012-12-01 00:38:59','',253,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/finca-largata-2004.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(743,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:00','2012-12-01 00:39:00','','','','inherit','open','open','','743','','','2012-12-01 00:39:00','2012-12-01 00:39:00','',255,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/el-timonel-grilled-calamar.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(744,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:01','2012-12-01 00:39:01','','','','inherit','open','open','','744','','','2012-12-01 00:39:01','2012-12-01 00:39:01','',259,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/baltasar-gracian-vinas-viejas-2006.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(745,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:02','2012-12-01 00:39:02','','','','inherit','open','open','','745','','','2012-12-01 00:39:02','2012-12-01 00:39:02','',261,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/groc-2007.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(746,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:03','2012-12-01 00:39:03','','','','inherit','open','open','','746','','','2012-12-01 00:39:03','2012-12-01 00:39:03','',263,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/louro-do-bolo-2007.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(747,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:05','2012-12-01 00:39:05','','','','inherit','open','open','','747','','','2012-12-01 00:39:05','2012-12-01 00:39:05','',265,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/caliza-2005.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(748,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:06','2012-12-01 00:39:06','','','','inherit','open','open','','748','','','2012-12-01 00:39:06','2012-12-01 00:39:06','',267,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/acustic-2007.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(749,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:07','2012-12-01 00:39:07','','','','inherit','open','open','','749','','','2012-12-01 00:39:07','2012-12-01 00:39:07','',269,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/finca-terrerazo-2005.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(750,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:08','2012-12-01 00:39:08','','','','inherit','open','open','','750','','','2012-12-01 00:39:08','2012-12-01 00:39:08','',271,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/gramona-imperial-2004.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(751,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:10','2012-12-01 00:39:10','','','','inherit','open','open','','751','','','2012-12-01 00:39:10','2012-12-01 00:39:10','',308,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(752,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:13','2012-12-01 00:39:13','','','','inherit','open','open','','752','','','2012-12-01 00:39:13','2012-12-01 00:39:13','',323,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/vintner-pro.thumbnail1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(753,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:31','2012-12-01 00:39:31','','','','inherit','open','open','','753','','','2012-12-01 00:39:31','2012-12-01 00:39:31','',539,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/8078657937_e169b3dc14_n.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(754,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:34','2012-12-01 00:39:34','','','','inherit','open','open','','754','','','2012-12-01 00:39:34','2012-12-01 00:39:34','',554,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(755,1,'2012-12-01 00:39:37','2012-12-01 00:39:37','','','','inherit','open','open','','755','','','2012-12-01 00:39:37','2012-12-01 00:39:37','',563,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/7714378642_36b4685272_n.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(756,1,'2012-12-01 03:33:43','2012-12-01 03:33:43','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354332335109.8164\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\nSuch a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine! That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.\n\n<!--more-->\n\nSpanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines. Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value. Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles. Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer. Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!\n\nIn Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars. The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!\n\nStill popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor. Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca. Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late! Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.\n\nIt really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship. There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult. Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were. But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family. The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive. This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.\n\nI have lots of great places and even more wines I\'m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-autosave','','','2012-12-01 03:33:43','2012-12-01 03:33:43','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/649-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(757,1,'2012-12-01 02:17:06','2012-12-01 02:17:06','','Spain trip summary thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','spain-trip-summary-thumbnail','','','2012-12-01 02:17:06','2012-12-01 02:17:06','',649,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Spain-trip-summary-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(758,1,'2012-11-30 20:28:08','2012-11-30 20:28:08','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354307200017.3325\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news.  It&#39;s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring.  I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables.  Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times. </p>\n\n<!--more-->  \n\n<p>Spanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines.  Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value.  Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles.  Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer.  Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!</p>\n\n<p>In Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars.  The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!  </p>\n\n<p>Still popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor.  Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca.  Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late!  Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.  </p>\n\n<p>It really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship.  There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult.  Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were.  But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family.  The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive.  This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.  </p>\n\n<p>I have lots of great places and even more wines I&#39;m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p><div style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\" id=\"blogsy_footer\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-5','','','2012-11-30 20:28:08','2012-11-30 20:28:08','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/649-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(759,1,'2012-12-01 02:19:20','2012-12-01 02:19:20','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354307200017.3325\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\nSuch a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine! That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nSpanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines. Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value. Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles. Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer. Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!\r\n\r\nIn Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars. The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!\r\n\r\nStill popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor. Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca. Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late! Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.\r\n\r\nIt really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship. There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult. Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were. But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family. The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive. This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.\r\n\r\nI have lots of great places and even more wines I\'m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-6','','','2012-12-01 02:19:20','2012-12-01 02:19:20','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/649-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(760,1,'2012-12-01 02:26:34','2012-12-01 02:26:34','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354307200017.3325\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\nSuch a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine! That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nSpanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines. Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value. Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles. Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer. Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!\r\n\r\nIn Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars. The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!\r\n\r\nStill popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor. Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca. Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late! Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.\r\n\r\nIt really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship. There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult. Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were. But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family. The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive. This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.\r\n\r\nI have lots of great places and even more wines I\'m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-7','','','2012-12-01 02:26:34','2012-12-01 02:26:34','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/649-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(761,1,'2012-12-01 03:24:17','2012-12-01 03:24:17','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354307200017.3325\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\nSuch a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine! That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring.  Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nSpanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines. Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value. Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles. Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer. Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!\r\n\r\nIn Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars. The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!\r\n\r\nStill popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor. Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca. Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late! Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.\r\n\r\nI also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables.  Catalan cuisine offers a broader range of flavors and sophistication at even the most basic price point than most regions of Spain and quality is generally excellent.\r\n\r\nIt really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship. There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult. Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were. But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family. The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive. This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.\r\n\r\nI have lots of great places and even more wines I\'m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-8','','','2012-12-01 03:24:17','2012-12-01 03:24:17','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/649-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(762,1,'2012-12-01 03:24:52','2012-12-01 03:24:52','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354307200017.3325\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\nSuch a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine! That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring.  Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nSpanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines. Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value. Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles. Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer. Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!\r\n\r\nIn Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars. The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!\r\n\r\nStill popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor. Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca. Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late! Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.\r\n\r\nI also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables.  Catalan cuisine offers a broader range of flavors and sophistication at even the most basic price point than most regions of Spain and quality is generally excellent.\r\n\r\nIt really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship. There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult. Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were. But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family. The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive. This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.\r\n\r\nI have lots of great places and even more wines I\'m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-9','','','2012-12-01 03:24:52','2012-12-01 03:24:52','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/649-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(763,1,'2012-12-01 03:30:40','2012-12-01 03:30:40','','cheese bar thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','cheese-bar-thumbnail','','','2012-12-01 03:30:40','2012-12-01 03:30:40','',563,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/cheese-bar-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(764,1,'2012-11-30 20:33:08','2012-11-30 20:33:08','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7714378642\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350180242590.2825\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7714378642_36b4685272_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"268\" /></a></div>\r\nGreat cheese is not so easy to find in Spain. There often isn\'t much variety, only variations on Manchego, and even the quality of the Manchego can vary greatly. That doesn\'t mean that there isn\'t spectacular cheese being produced out there, just that the great cheeses of Spain are not appreciated as much as they deserve. Artesanal cheese stores such as Poncelet have long offered these great cheeses but now diners can now enjoy the first cheese specialty restaurant in Madrid: Poncelet\'s Cheese Bar. <!--more-->\r\n\r\nIt\'s a far more elegant establishment than the name would suggest, though there is a sort of bar space up front, and there is an actual \"cheese bar\" way in the back, where you can watch the staff preparing the cheese plates. The service is very very good and in line with the fairly high prices for Madrid.\r\n\r\nThere is a regular menu, with all sort of dishes based on cheese, starters, soups, salads, tartars, pastas, as well as main courses. It also includes a fun selection of fondues and raclettes. We tried quite a few of the starters and they were all quite good....in fact, it was hard to resist ordering too much, as we were really there for the cheese plates.\r\n\r\nThe impressive selection of cheese, all aged in special rooms on site, is well over a hundred, and hails from all over Europe. There are thematic cheese plates, but you can also customize yours.....the menu lists all the cheeses, with all the relevant details, provenance, aging, type of milk, strength, necessary to help you choose. It\'s heaven....and oh so hard to choose! In the pictures you can see the all-Spanish plate I assembled, with some of my favorites such as Monte Enebro and Valdeon.\r\n\r\nThe wine list is lovely, heavy on whites, sparkling, fortified and sweet wines, perfect for cheese matching. We had the Louro do Bolo Godello from Valdeorras....really fresh acidity, stone fruit, a touch of oak smoke, mouth-filling....perfect with most of our cheeses. The wine list varies in price, can be high, but the wines they offer by the glass, are also well priced by the bottle.\r\n\r\nLove this place! If you love cheese and want to taste the best Spanish cheeses with some great wine in a top notch place, there is nowhere better than Cheese Bar in Madrid.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Cheese heaven in Madrid','Great cheese is not so easy to find in Spain.  There often isn\'t much variety, only variations on Manchego, and even the quality of the Manchego can vary greatly.  That doesn\'t mean that there isn\'t spectacular cheese being produced out there, just that the great cheeses of Spain are not appreciated as much as they deserve.  Artesanal cheese stores such as Poncelet have long offered these great cheeses but now diners can now enjoy the first cheese specialty restaurant in Madrid: Poncelet\'s Cheese Bar.','inherit','open','open','','563-revision-5','','','2012-11-30 20:33:08','2012-11-30 20:33:08','',563,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/563-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(765,1,'2012-12-01 03:26:26','2012-12-01 03:26:26','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/wpid-Photo-Nov-26-2012-1812.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354332335109.8164\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"429\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news.  It&#39;s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring.  I also travelled to Barcelona and Catalan wine country on this trip and also found the food exciting and so different with its focus on regional sauces and seasonal vegetables.  Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times. </p>\n\n<!--more-->  \n\n<p>Spanish wines have never been better and tough competition has trimmed the prices of all but the most iconic wines.  Also many top wineries in the more expensive regions have come out with second, more affordable wines that are often excellent value.  Lesser known regions still offer great value and often offer unique wines in atypical styles.  Overall the variety of styles in both whites and reds is growing, only adding to the quality on offer.  Value really is unbeatable, the quality of wines you can get between 10 and 20 euros is just unbelievable!</p>\n\n<p>In Madrid, the tapas are getting more sophisticated in the new trendy hotspots, but luckily the classics are still being preserved in the majority of bars.  The classic joints remain outstanding value but even the higher end spots surprised me at bill time....it really helps when the markup on wine is so low!  </p>\n\n<p>Still popular in Madrid and with more projects underway is the market/tapas concept which was so brilliantly started by the Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor.  Another slightly different concept, but just as fun, and just as crowded, is the Mercado de San Anton, in the neighborhood of Chueca.  Both combine food market, tapas, and drinking all day and until very late!  Love the concept and wish someone could do something similar in NYC or Washington DC.  </p>\n\n<p>It really bothers me that the only images of Spain you see in the media these days are ones of economic poverty and hardship.  There is no doubt that many people are suffering and times are extremely difficult.  Even my friends who are doing ok are not as well off as there were.  But one of the many strengths of the Spanish people is their ability to live in the now, to try and escape a sometimes difficult reality and enjoy a moment with their friends and family.  The streets, shops and bars are full, no doubt people are spending less, but the atmosphere is still supremely social, joyous and festive.  This is the Spain I remember and miss and it is the Spain that no recession can extinguish.  </p>\n\n<p>I have lots of great places and even more wines I&#39;m excited to write about so stay tuned as I digest all my adventures of the last weeks!</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Recession Spain: a fantastic food and wine destination','Such a lovely trip to Spain! So much great food and wine!  That bustling, loud, yet warm and inviting atmosphere still prevails in Madrid bars and restaurants, despite the persistently grim economic news. It\'s been sad to see some old favorites succumb to hard times, but new, exciting projects are everywhere and the amount of food options at all price points remains abundant and inspiring. Overall value for money is fantastic and Spain remains a great destination and wonderful source of inspiration in difficult times.','inherit','open','open','','649-revision-10','','','2012-12-01 03:26:26','2012-12-01 03:26:26','',649,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/649-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(766,1,'2012-12-01 03:37:56','2012-12-01 03:37:56','','jamonboqueria thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','jamonboqueria-thumbnail','','','2012-12-01 03:37:56','2012-12-01 03:37:56','',554,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/jamonboqueria-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(767,1,'2012-11-30 21:06:59','2012-11-30 21:06:59','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\nThe branch of <a title=\"La Boqueria\" href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully. Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven! <!--more-->\r\n\r\nHappy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage. The sangria of the day was easy to drink!\r\n\r\nBesides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular! Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha. Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\r\nThe wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn\'t excite me. Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval. The mark ups are hefty but that\'s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!\r\n\r\nOverall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain. They don\'t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don\'t mess with the basics. A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-8','','','2012-11-30 21:06:59','2012-11-30 21:06:59','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/11/30/554-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(768,1,'2012-12-01 03:39:33','2012-12-01 03:39:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/7708725254\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921321.7795\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8292/7708725254_348e1636ef_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></a></div>\r\nThe branch of <a title=\"La Boqueria\" href=\"http://www.boquerianyc.com/\" target=\"_blank\">La Boqueria</a> in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully. Pan con tomate or tomato bread, cheap, delicious and filling, flies out of the tapas kitchen. Splurge and top that pan con tomate with some jamon and you are in heaven! <!--more-->\r\n\r\nHappy hour is a great time to sit in the bar area...there is a special food menu and it included some delicious deals last time: creamy croquetas and an outstanding sandwich of butifarra, a Catalan sausage. The sangria of the day was easy to drink!\r\n\r\nBesides the regular menu, they have a menu of rotating specials, which often has the matrimonio, one of my favorites. This is a tapa on bread with a sort of escalivada (meltingly soft stewed vegetables,) topped with the matrimonio or \"marriage\" of two types of anchovies, the dark, salt-cured ones, and the white vinegar-cured ones, often called boquerones. Spectacular! Even people who paled at the word anchovies loved it!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8080696717\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350077921318.6455\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8080696717_51a1281fe5_c.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"400\" /></a></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">So many great dishes...also stood out for me the gambas al ajillo, shrimp cooked in garlic olive oil, and the txipirones, or baby squid seared a la plancha. Perhaps the weakest dish so far for me has been the black paella dish, which was just good, but a little dry (the seafood) and overdone (the rice).</div>\r\nThe wine list is more than acceptable, all Spanish, with some good choices, though the list as a whole didn\'t excite me. Besides the sangria we have mostly stuck to whites, Rueda, and a really excellent Godello from the region of Valdeorras, Viña Godeval. The mark ups are hefty but that\'s almost everywhere in the US...it still just takes my breath away!\r\n\r\nOverall I really like la Boqueria....it gives you an authentic taste of Spain. They don\'t try and fancy up some of the classic tapas dishes; they innovate in all the right places but don\'t mess with the basics. A good example are the pimientos de padron, small Galician peppers fried in olive oil and just served with a dusting of sea salt....perfect!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Satisfy some Spanish cravings in La Boqueria DC','The branch of La Boqueria in Washington DC opens into the bar area and the open prep kitchen where you can see them preparing the delicious little bites of tapas at a frenzied pace. It transports you to Spain right away, with a whole leg of iberico jamon, a great selection of Spanish cheese and olives, and tortilla de patata, all displayed beautifully.','inherit','open','open','','554-revision-9','','','2012-12-01 03:39:33','2012-12-01 03:39:33','',554,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/554-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(769,1,'2012-10-12 02:33:01','2012-10-12 02:33:01','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8078657937\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8078657937_e169b3dc14_n.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1350009087448.088\" class=\"alignright\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"270\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man&#39;s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again. This wine is from biodynamic producer Matsu in the Toro region of Spain. This is the middle wine of the range, a sort of crianza, with 14 months in oak, and my favorite. It offers the intense black fruit and structure typical of Toro with just enough oak. There is a great balance that makes it quite easy to drink. It&#39;s a fantastic value at about 12 euros!</p>\n\n<p>It&#39;s part of a range of realistic labels that represent both the style of the wine in terms of maturity and complexity and a different generation that devotes his life to the vineyard. The younger man, el Picaro, is for the joven or \"young\" wine, with the least oak. The grandfather figure, el Viejo, is for the reserva style wine with 16 months oak. All of them are made with Tinta de Toro, the local version of Tempranillo, are very reasonably priced in their category, and make beautiful gift wines.</p>\n\n<p>Here is a link to a cool video about the wines on <a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgUAG18a6Ig&list=UUZSs2KpIjtU8tgJWzqvehZQ&index=2&feature=plcp\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Matsu video\">you tube</a>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p><div style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\" id=\"blogsy_footer\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Tasty and Beautiful Toro Wine','The striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again.','inherit','open','open','','539-revision-2','','','2012-10-12 02:33:01','2012-10-12 02:33:01','',539,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/12/539-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(770,1,'2012-12-01 03:47:49','2012-12-01 03:47:49','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8078657937\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8078657937_e169b3dc14_n.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354333625845.0984\" class=\"alignright\" width=\"360\" height=\"270\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man&#39;s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again. This wine is from biodynamic producer Matsu in the Toro region of Spain. This is the middle wine of the range, a sort of crianza, with 14 months in oak, and my favorite. It offers the intense black fruit and structure typical of Toro with just enough oak. There is a great balance that makes it quite easy to drink. It&#39;s a fantastic value at about 12 euros!</p>\n\n<p>It&#39;s part of a range of realistic labels that represent both the style of the wine in terms of maturity and complexity and a different generation that devotes his life to the vineyard. The younger man, el Picaro, is for the joven or \"young\" wine, with the least oak. The grandfather figure, el Viejo, is for the reserva style wine with 16 months oak. All of them are made with Tinta de Toro, the local version of Tempranillo, are very reasonably priced in their category, and make beautiful gift wines.</p>\n\n<p>Here is a link to a cool video about the wines on <a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgUAG18a6Ig&list=UUZSs2KpIjtU8tgJWzqvehZQ&index=2&feature=plcp\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Matsu video\">you tube</a>.</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Tasty and Beautiful Toro Wine','The striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again.  This wine is from biodynamic producer Matsu in the Toro region of Spain. This is the middle wine of the range, a sort of crianza, with 14 months in oak, and my favorite. It offers the intense black fruit and structure typical of Toro with just enough oak. There is a great balance that makes it quite easy to drink. It\'s a fantastic value at about 12 euros!','inherit','open','open','','539-revision-3','','','2012-12-01 03:47:49','2012-12-01 03:47:49','',539,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/539-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(771,1,'2012-12-01 03:51:19','2012-12-01 03:51:19','','matsu el recio thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','matsu-el-recio-thumbnail','','','2012-12-01 03:51:19','2012-12-01 03:51:19','',539,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/matsu-el-recio-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(772,1,'2012-12-01 03:50:46','2012-12-01 03:50:46','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8078657937\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350009087448.088\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8078657937_e169b3dc14_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"270\" /></a></div>\r\nThe striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again. This wine is from biodynamic producer Matsu in the Toro region of Spain. This is the middle wine of the range, a sort of crianza, with 14 months in oak, and my favorite. It offers the intense black fruit and structure typical of Toro with just enough oak. There is a great balance that makes it quite easy to drink. It\'s a fantastic value at about 12 euros!\r\n\r\nIt\'s part of a range of realistic labels that represent both the style of the wine in terms of maturity and complexity and a different generation that devotes his life to the vineyard. The younger man, el Picaro, is for the joven or \"young\" wine, with the least oak. The grandfather figure, el Viejo, is for the reserva style wine with 16 months oak. All of them are made with Tinta de Toro, the local version of Tempranillo, are very reasonably priced in their category, and make beautiful gift wines.\r\n\r\nHere is a link to a cool video about the wines on <a title=\"Matsu video\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgUAG18a6Ig&amp;list=UUZSs2KpIjtU8tgJWzqvehZQ&amp;index=2&amp;feature=plcp\" target=\"_blank\">you tube</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Tasty and Beautiful Toro Wine','The striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again.','inherit','open','open','','539-revision-4','','','2012-12-01 03:50:46','2012-12-01 03:50:46','',539,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/539-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(773,1,'2012-12-01 03:52:33','2012-12-01 03:52:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8078657937\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350009087448.088\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8078657937_e169b3dc14_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"270\" /></a></div>\r\nThe striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again. This wine is from biodynamic producer Matsu in the Toro region of Spain. This is the middle wine of the range, a sort of crianza, with 14 months in oak, and my favorite. It offers the intense black fruit and structure typical of Toro with just enough oak. There is a great balance that makes it quite easy to drink. It\'s a fantastic value at about 12 euros!\r\n\r\nIt\'s part of a range of realistic labels that represent both the style of the wine in terms of maturity and complexity and a different generation that devotes his life to the vineyard. The younger man, el Picaro, is for the joven or \"young\" wine, with the least oak. The grandfather figure, el Viejo, is for the reserva style wine with 16 months oak. All of them are made with Tinta de Toro, the local version of Tempranillo, are very reasonably priced in their category, and make beautiful gift wines.\r\n\r\nHere is a link to a cool video about the wines on <a title=\"Matsu video\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgUAG18a6Ig&amp;list=UUZSs2KpIjtU8tgJWzqvehZQ&amp;index=2&amp;feature=plcp\" target=\"_blank\">you tube</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Tasty and Beautiful Toro Wine','The striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again.','inherit','open','open','','539-revision-5','','','2012-12-01 03:52:33','2012-12-01 03:52:33','',539,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/539-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(774,1,'2012-12-01 03:53:28','2012-12-01 03:53:28','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8078657937\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1350009087448.088\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8327/8078657937_e169b3dc14_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"360\" height=\"270\" /></a></div>\r\nThe striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again. This wine is from biodynamic producer Matsu in the Toro region of Spain. This is the middle wine of the range, a sort of crianza, with 14 months in oak, and my favorite. It offers the intense black fruit and structure typical of Toro with just enough oak. There is a great balance that makes it quite easy to drink. It\'s a fantastic value at about 12 euros! <!--more-->\r\n\r\nIt\'s part of a range of realistic labels that represent both the style of the wine in terms of maturity and complexity and a different generation that devotes his life to the vineyard. The younger man, el Picaro, is for the joven or \"young\" wine, with the least oak. The grandfather figure, el Viejo, is for the reserva style wine with 16 months oak. All of them are made with Tinta de Toro, the local version of Tempranillo, are very reasonably priced in their category, and make beautiful gift wines.\r\n\r\nHere is a link to a cool video about the wines on <a title=\"Matsu video\" href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgUAG18a6Ig&amp;list=UUZSs2KpIjtU8tgJWzqvehZQ&amp;index=2&amp;feature=plcp\" target=\"_blank\">you tube</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"blogsy_footer\" style=\"text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;\"><a href=\"http://blogsyapp.com\" target=\"_blank\"><img style=\"vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;\" src=\"http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png\" alt=\"Posted with Blogsy\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>','Tasty and Beautiful Toro Wine','The striking label on Matsu \"el Recio\" draws you in, the man\'s face fascinates in its stark realism. The taste of the wine brings you back again and again.','inherit','open','open','','539-revision-6','','','2012-12-01 03:53:28','2012-12-01 03:53:28','',539,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/01/539-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(775,1,'2012-12-02 01:04:57','2012-12-02 05:04:57','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8235507098\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354410367918.9456\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8235507098_3a00891967_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"317\" height=\"395\" /></a></div>\r\nParada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero. This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it\'s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth. It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain. Here in the US I\'ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price. Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nDominio de Atauta has always been one of my favorite wineries in Ribera del Duero. These wines buck the current trend of extraction and heavy oak that is still dominate in the region, offering a fresh, terroir-driven style. In my earlier <a title=\"Domino de Atauta\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/03/12/wine-rating-dominio-de-atauta-2005/\" target=\"_blank\">blog article</a> I wrote about the basic Domino de Atauta cuvée and mentioned the single vineyard wines. These wines can be quite austere and tannic at first and need lots of time. That 2005 basic Atauta I review in the 2009 article is drinking youthfully still today and is really beautiful! I had a chance to try the 2009 single vineyard wines and the basic cuvee in Oct 2012 and they were amazing but wound as tight as a drum!\r\n\r\nI was really pleased to see the Parada out at such a great price point. It\'s so accessible and drinkable comparable to its big brothers....the 2009, on the market now, is perfectly delightful! Intense red fruit, a bit sweet, touch of spice, approachable tannins, but with that freshness that vineyards planted at over 3000 ft will give you. The fruit intensity comes from old vines...there are no vineyards less than 60 years old at the winery.\r\n\r\nIt would be great with any red meats or any roasted meats, poultry or vegetables. At 13.5% alcohol and with only 12 months in French oak, it\'s a lot more food friendly than some of the heavier, oakier Riberas.\r\n\r\nRibera is one of Spain\'s most expensive regions and this is a lot of wine for 18 euros. At <a title=\"\" href=\"http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/dominio+atauta+ribera+del+duero+parada+atauta/2009/usa\" target=\"_blank\">winesearcher.com</a> there are several options to buy it for 30$ on up here in the US.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Wine review: Parada de Atauta 2009','Parada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero. This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it\'s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth. It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain. Here in the US I\'ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price. Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...','publish','open','open','','wine-review-parada-de-atauta-2009','','\nhttp://planetavino.net/2009/03/12/wine-rating-dominio-de-atauta-2005/','2013-05-03 22:33:21','2013-05-04 02:33:21','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=775',0,'post','',0),(776,1,'2012-12-02 01:04:37','2012-12-02 01:04:37','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','775-revision','','','2012-12-02 01:04:37','2012-12-02 01:04:37','',775,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/02/775-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(777,1,'2012-12-02 01:04:37','2012-12-02 01:04:37','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8235507098\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8235507098_3a00891967_z.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354410186558.3728\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"317\" height=\"395\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Parada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero.  This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it&#39;s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth.  It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain.  Here in the US I&#39;ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price.  Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...</p>\n\n<p>Dominio de Atauta has always been one of my favorite wineries in Ribera del Duero. These wines buck the current trend of extraction and heavy oak that is still dominate in the region, offering a fresh, terroir-driven style.   In my earlier <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/03/12/wine-rating-dominio-de-atauta-2005/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Domino de Atauta\">blog article</a> I wrote about the basic Domino de Atauta cuvée and mentioned the single vineyard wines.  These wines can be quite austere and tannic at first and need lots of time.  That 2005 basic Atauta I review in the 2009 article is drinking youthfully still today and is really beautiful!  I had a chance to try the 2009 single vineyard wines and the basic cuvee in Oct 2012 and they were amazing but wound as tight as a drum!</p>\n\n<p>I was really pleased to see the Parada out at such a great price point.  It&#39;s so accessible and drinkable comparable to its big brothers....the 2009, on the market now, is perfectly delightful!  Intense red fruit, a bit sweet, touch of spice, approachable tannins, but with that freshness that vineyards planted at over 3000 ft will give you.  The fruit intensity comes from old vines...there are no vineyards less than 60 years old at the winery.  </p>\n\n<p>It would be great with any red meats or any roasted meats, poultry or vegetables.  At 13.5% alcohol and with only 12 months in French oak, it&#39;s a lot more food friendly than some of the heavier, oakier Riberas.  </p>\n\n<p>Ribera is one of Spain&#39;s most expensive regions and this is a lot of wine for 18 euros.  At <a href=\"http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/dominio+atauta+ribera+del+duero+parada+atauta/2009/usa\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\">winesearcher.com</a> there are several options to buy it for 30$ on up here in the US.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine review: Parada de Atauta 2009','Parada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero. This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it\'s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth. It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain. Here in the US I\'ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price. Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...','inherit','open','open','','775-revision-2','','','2012-12-02 01:04:37','2012-12-02 01:04:37','',775,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/02/775-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(778,1,'2012-12-02 01:07:22','2012-12-02 01:07:22','','Parada de Atauta thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','parada-de-atauta-thumbnail','','','2012-12-02 01:07:22','2012-12-02 01:07:22','',775,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Parada-de-Atauta-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(779,1,'2012-12-02 01:09:49','2012-12-02 01:09:49','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8235507098\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354410367918.9456\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8235507098_3a00891967_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"317\" height=\"395\" /></a></div>\nParada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero. This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it\'s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth. It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain. Here in the US I\'ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price. Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...\n\n<!--more-->\n\nDominio de Atauta has always been one of my favorite wineries in Ribera del Duero. These wines buck the current trend of extraction and heavy oak that is still dominate in the region, offering a fresh, terroir-driven style. In my earlier <a title=\"Domino de Atauta\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/03/12/wine-rating-dominio-de-atauta-2005/\" target=\"_blank\">blog article</a> I wrote about the basic Domino de Atauta cuvée and mentioned the single vineyard wines. These wines can be quite austere and tannic at first and need lots of time. That 2005 basic Atauta I review in the 2009 article is drinking youthfully still today and is really beautiful! I had a chance to try the 2009 single vineyard wines and the basic cuvee in Oct 2012 and they were amazing but wound as tight as a drum!\n\nI was really pleased to see the Parada out at such a great price point. It\'s so accessible and drinkable comparable to its big brothers....the 2009, on the market now, is perfectly delightful! Intense red fruit, a bit sweet, touch of spice, approachable tannins, but with that freshness that vineyards planted at over 3000 ft will give you. The fruit intensity comes from old vines...there are no vineyards less than 60 years old at the winery.\n\nIt would be great with any red meats or any roasted meats, poultry or vegetables. At 13.5% alcohol and with only 12 months in French oak, it\'s a lot more food friendly than some of the heavier, oakier Riberas.\n\nRibera is one of Spain\'s most expensive regions and this is a lot of wine for 18 euros. At <a title=\"\" href=\"http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/dominio+atauta+ribera+del+duero+parada+atauta/2009/usa\" target=\"_blank\">winesearcher.com</a> there are several options to buy it for 30$ on up here in the US.\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Wine review: Parada de Atauta 2009','Parada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero. This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it\'s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth. It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain. Here in the US I\'ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price. Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...','inherit','open','open','','775-autosave','','','2012-12-02 01:09:49','2012-12-02 01:09:49','',775,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/02/775-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(780,1,'2012-12-02 01:05:57','2012-12-02 01:05:57','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8235507098\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8235507098_3a00891967_z.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354410367918.9456\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"317\" height=\"395\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Parada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero.  This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it&#39;s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth.  It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain.  Here in the US I&#39;ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price.  Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...</p>\n\n <!--more--><p>Dominio de Atauta has always been one of my favorite wineries in Ribera del Duero. These wines buck the current trend of extraction and heavy oak that is still dominate in the region, offering a fresh, terroir-driven style.   In my earlier <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/03/12/wine-rating-dominio-de-atauta-2005/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Domino de Atauta\">blog article</a> I wrote about the basic Domino de Atauta cuvée and mentioned the single vineyard wines.  These wines can be quite austere and tannic at first and need lots of time.  That 2005 basic Atauta I review in the 2009 article is drinking youthfully still today and is really beautiful!  I had a chance to try the 2009 single vineyard wines and the basic cuvee in Oct 2012 and they were amazing but wound as tight as a drum!</p>\n\n<p>I was really pleased to see the Parada out at such a great price point.  It&#39;s so accessible and drinkable comparable to its big brothers....the 2009, on the market now, is perfectly delightful!  Intense red fruit, a bit sweet, touch of spice, approachable tannins, but with that freshness that vineyards planted at over 3000 ft will give you.  The fruit intensity comes from old vines...there are no vineyards less than 60 years old at the winery.  </p>\n\n<p>It would be great with any red meats or any roasted meats, poultry or vegetables.  At 13.5% alcohol and with only 12 months in French oak, it&#39;s a lot more food friendly than some of the heavier, oakier Riberas.  </p>\n\n<p>Ribera is one of Spain&#39;s most expensive regions and this is a lot of wine for 18 euros.  At <a href=\"http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/dominio+atauta+ribera+del+duero+parada+atauta/2009/usa\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\">winesearcher.com</a> there are several options to buy it for 30$ on up here in the US.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine review: Parada de Atauta 2009','Parada de Atauta is the new entry-level wine from Dominio de Atauta in Ribera de Duero. This Spanish Tempranillo wine is fresh, attractive, with sweet fruit; it\'s an approachable wine but also has some good intensity and depth. It really is great value from this fairly expensive Spanish wine region, only 18 euros in Spain. Here in the US I\'ve seen it online for 30 dollars, which is a pretty good import price. Parada del Duero is my new favorite value Ribera del Duero...for more detail read on...','inherit','open','open','','775-revision-3','','','2012-12-02 01:05:57','2012-12-02 01:05:57','',775,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/02/775-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(782,1,'2012-09-30 03:56:01','2012-09-30 03:56:01','[contact_form]','Contact','','inherit','open','open','','18-revision-3','','','2012-09-30 03:56:01','2012-09-30 03:56:01','',18,'http://planetavino.net/2012/09/30/18-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(783,1,'2012-12-02 19:12:29','2012-12-02 19:12:29','[si-contact-form form=\'1\']','Contact','','inherit','open','open','','18-revision-4','','','2012-12-02 19:12:29','2012-12-02 19:12:29','',18,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/02/18-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(784,1,'2012-12-02 19:15:20','2012-12-02 19:15:20','[si-contact-form form=\'1\']','Contact','','inherit','open','open','','18-revision-5','','','2012-12-02 19:15:20','2012-12-02 19:15:20','',18,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/02/18-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(786,1,'2012-12-02 19:39:13','2012-12-02 19:39:13','[si-contact-form form=\'2\']','Contact','','inherit','open','open','','18-revision-6','','','2012-12-02 19:39:13','2012-12-02 19:39:13','',18,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/02/18-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(787,1,'2012-12-03 22:49:43','2012-12-03 22:49:43','','wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-3-2012-1724-jpg','','','2012-12-03 22:49:43','2012-12-03 22:49:43','',788,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(788,1,'2012-12-03 22:50:29','2012-12-04 02:50:29','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominated in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn&#39;t tire you out...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>The appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona.  The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena (Carignan) and the wine gets 14 months in French oak.  The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare!   The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.</p>\n\n<p>The labels are very creative and change every year....fun!   The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros!  I&#39;m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','publish','open','open','','wine-review-lequilibrista-20092010','','','2013-05-03 22:33:08','2013-05-04 02:33:08','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=788',0,'post','',0),(789,1,'2012-12-03 22:49:44','2012-12-03 22:49:44','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','788-revision','','','2012-12-03 22:49:44','2012-12-03 22:49:44','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(790,1,'2012-12-03 22:49:44','2012-12-03 22:49:44','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn&#39;t tire you out...read on for more...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>The appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona.  The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena and the wine gets 14 months in French oak.  The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare!   The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.</p>\n\n<p> The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros!  I&#39;m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','inherit','open','open','','788-revision-2','','','2012-12-03 22:49:44','2012-12-03 22:49:44','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(791,1,'2012-12-03 22:50:26','2012-12-03 22:50:26','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn&#39;t tire you out...read on for more...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>The appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona.  The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena and the wine gets 14 months in French oak.  The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare!   The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.</p>\n\n<p> The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros!  I&#39;m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','inherit','open','open','','788-revision-3','','','2012-12-03 22:50:26','2012-12-03 22:50:26','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(792,1,'2012-12-03 22:52:02','2012-12-03 22:52:02','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn&#39;t tire you out...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>The appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona.  The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena and the wine gets 14 months in French oak.  The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare!   The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.</p>\n\n<p> The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros!  I&#39;m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','inherit','open','open','','788-revision-4','','','2012-12-03 22:52:02','2012-12-03 22:52:02','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(793,1,'2012-12-03 22:52:36','2012-12-03 22:52:36','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominated in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn&#39;t tire you out...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>The appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona.  The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena and the wine gets 14 months in French oak.  The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare!   The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.</p>\n\n<p> The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros!  I&#39;m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','inherit','open','open','','788-revision-5','','','2012-12-03 22:52:36','2012-12-03 22:52:36','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(794,1,'2012-12-03 22:58:57','2012-12-03 22:58:57','','l\'Equilibrista blog thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','lequilibrista-blog-thumbnail','','','2012-12-03 22:58:57','2012-12-03 22:58:57','',788,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/lEquilibrista-blog-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(795,1,'2012-12-03 23:01:58','2012-12-03 23:01:58','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" /></a></div>\nThis Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book! Two styles of Garnacha have dominated in Spain: big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles. Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone. This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes. It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...\n\n<!--more-->\n\nThe appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona. The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena and the wine gets 14 months in French oak. The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare! The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.\n\nThe labels are very creative and change every year....fun! The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros! I\'m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.\n\n&nbsp;','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','inherit','open','open','','788-autosave','','','2012-12-03 23:01:58','2012-12-03 23:01:58','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(796,1,'2012-12-03 22:54:00','2012-12-03 22:54:00','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominated in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn&#39;t tire you out...</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>The appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona.  The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena and the wine gets 14 months in French oak.  The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare!   The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.</p>\n\n<p>The labels are very creative and change every year....fun!   The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros!  I&#39;m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','inherit','open','open','','788-revision-6','','','2012-12-03 22:54:00','2012-12-03 22:54:00','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(797,1,'2012-12-03 23:00:54','2012-12-03 23:00:54','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354575029846.7312\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-3-2012-1724.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"267\" /></a></div>\r\nThis Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book! Two styles of Garnacha have dominated in Spain: big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles. Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone. This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes. It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThe appellation is the general DO Cataluña though the vineyards for this wine are located just outside Barcelona. The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cariñena and the wine gets 14 months in French oak. The wine has great balance and the 2010 went really well with a challenging tapas meal, which included seafood, egg dishes, wild mushrooms, and steak tartare! The 2009 I tried at a wine show and it fared well amongst some much more expensive wines.\r\n\r\nThe labels are very creative and change every year....fun! The wine retails for about 14 euros and in restaurants in Madrid you can find it for the maxing price of only 22 euros! I\'m working on finding it in the US and will be back with an update when I do.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Wine Review: L\'Equilibrista 2009/2010','This Catalan Grenache blend is delicious, food-friendly, easy to drink and really light on the pocket book!  Two styles of Garnacha have dominate in Spain:  big, bold, fruit bombs and lean, mineral, more austere styles.  Both are delicious, but neither are for everyone.  This wine walks the line beautifully between the styles; it offers friendly fruit, but with good freshness and some nice mineral notes.  It feels like a big wine but doesn\'t tire you out...read on for more...','inherit','open','open','','788-revision-7','','','2012-12-03 23:00:54','2012-12-03 23:00:54','',788,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/788-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(798,1,'2012-12-04 06:35:44','2012-12-04 06:35:44','','wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-4-2012-018-jpg','','','2012-12-04 06:35:44','2012-12-04 06:35:44','',800,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(799,1,'2012-12-04 06:35:46','2012-12-04 06:35:46','','wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-oct-31-2012-2300-jpg','','','2012-12-04 06:35:46','2012-12-04 06:35:46','',800,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(800,1,'2012-12-04 06:36:38','2012-12-04 06:36:38','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129623.3008\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"390\" height=\"232\" /></a></div>\r\nOne of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I\'d love it. And love it I did...it has all I\'m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter! It\'s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn\'t. I\'m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThere are two branches of Arzàbal right next to each other. One is smaller and more cozy, the other is larger and has a more fashionable vibe. We ate at the cozy one, though the other would be more fun for tapas or drinks either before or after dinner. Also the larger branch has an enviable position overlooking Retiro park and has a nice terrace in fine weather.\r\n\r\nThe menu is extensive and it\'s hard to make a choice among so many tempting offerings. Very helpful is that you can order most things in half portions so as to try more! We only ordered half portions and found them to be good value and quite generous. Odd by Madrid standards is that much of the menu is available to take away.\r\n\r\nThe meal starts with a fun, quirky ceremony...the waitress arrives with a giant, size of basketball giant, vat of top notch French butter for you to attack with your butter knife. Delightful fun in virtually butterless Madrid! <span style=\"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);\">Dangerous as you can fill yourself up too quickly. </span>\r\n\r\nThe wine list is quite expensive and very interesting, including a decent selection of foreign wines. Prices are quite good. We had a fun, good value Grenache blend, L\'Equilibrista, which you can read more about <a title=\"L\'Equilibrista 2010 wine review\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/wine-review-lequilibrista-20092010/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\r\n\r\nWe had four dishes, two were very good, two were outstanding. The sautéed wild mushrooms and the steak tartare were both delicious, though not mind blowing. The truffles eggs with fried portaoes, a delightful variation of a typical Spanish dish was one of the best I\'ve ever had. The grand sounding Patatas a la Importancia was a delightful dish that had the best cigala (Dublin Bay prawns) tails you could imagine eating. More details and pictures on these two below...\r\n\r\nArzàbal is located in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid, close to the east side of the park. There are two locations: (cozy) Doctor Castelo 2, tel: +34 915 572 691 or (fashionable) Menéndez Pelayo 13, tel: +34 914 095 661. It is quite a popular place so for a sit down meal, reservations are a must. There are two seatings in the evening, one is early at 9 and tends to be emptier, so that works well for visitors. You can reserve online at the <a title=\"Taberna Arzábal\" href=\"http://www.arzabal.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website</a> for most days. For tapas and drinks you can just stop by.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804760\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129612.7375\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8243804760_1ca2c39b07_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"356\" height=\"430\" /></a></div>\r\nThe most truffely truffled eggs and fried potatoes! You could smell them as they left the kitchen. Spanish comfort food taken up a notch. So lovely!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804734\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129679.9543\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8243804734_2a960601f7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"385\" height=\"324\" /></a></div>\r\nPatatas a la Importancia con Cigalitas. The potatoes in their soupy goodness are just a frame for the exquisite cigala tails. Cigalas are best translated as Dublin Bay Prawns and resemble mini lobsters. They are shockingly expensive and though delicious, I am frequently, underwhelmed. These were some of the most amazing bites! The tails were removed from the shells, before being lightly grilled...they were only just barely done inside, melted in the mouth, with amazing flavors of sea and smoke.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129607.0273\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"344\" height=\"442\" /></a></div>\r\nThe cozier of the two Arzàbal restaurants, the one I preferred for a sit down dinner. But for tapas and drinks, the larger, more lively branch next door would do nicely.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"></div>\r\n&nbsp;','Taberna Arzábal in Madrid: Butter and Truffle Potatoes','One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I\'d love it. And love it I did...it has all I\'m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter! It\'s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn\'t. I\'m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!','publish','open','open','','taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes','','\nhttp://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/wine-review-lequilibrista-20092010/','2012-12-04 06:45:23','2012-12-04 06:45:23','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=800',0,'post','',0),(801,1,'2012-12-04 06:35:48','2012-12-04 06:35:48','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','800-revision','','','2012-12-04 06:35:48','2012-12-04 06:35:48','',800,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/800-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(802,1,'2012-12-04 06:35:48','2012-12-04 06:35:48','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998400.5828\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"390\" height=\"232\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I&#39;d love it.  And love it I did...it has all I&#39;m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter!  It&#39;s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn&#39;t. I&#39;m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas!  Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!</p>\n\n<p>There are two branches of Arzàbal right next to each other.  One is smaller and more cozy, the other is larger and has a more fashionable vibe.  We ate at the cozy one, though the other would be more fun for tapas or drinks either before or after dinner.  Also the larger branch has an enviable position overlooking Retiro park and has a nice terrace in fine weather.  </p>\n\n<p>The menu is extensive and it&#39;s hard to make a choice among so many tempting offerings.  Very helpful is that you can order most things in half portions so as to try more!  We only ordered half portions and found them to be good value and quite generous.  Odd by Madrid standards is that much of the menu is available to take away. </p>\n\n<p>The meal starts with a fun, quirky ceremony...the waitress arrives with a giant, size of basketball giant, vat of top notch French butter for you to attack with your butter knife.  Delightful fun in virtually butterless Madrid!  <span style=\"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); \">Dangerous as you can fill yourself up too quickly. </span></p>\n\n<p>The wine list is quite expensive and very interesting, including a decent selection of foreign wines.  Prices are quite good.  We had a fun, good value Grenache blend, L&#39;Equilibrista, which you can read more about <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/wine-review-lequilibrista-20092010/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"L&#39;Equilibrista 2010 wine review\">here</a>.</p>\n\n<p>We had four dishes, two were very good, two were outstanding.  The sautéed wild mushrooms and the steak tartare were both delicious, though not mind blowing.  The truffles eggs with fried portaoes, a delightful variation of a typical Spanish dish was one of the best I&#39;ve ever had.  The grand sounding Patatas a la Importancia was a delightful dish that had the best cigala (Dublin Bay prawns) tails you could imagine eating. More details and pictures on these two below...</p>\n\n<p>Arzàbal is located in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid, close to the east side of the park. There are two   locations: (cozy) Doctor Castelo 2, tel: +34 915 572 691 or (fashionable) Menéndez Pelayo 13, tel: +34 914 095 661. It is quite a popular place so for a sit down meal, reservations are a must. There are two seatings in the evening, one is early at 9 and tends to be emptier, so that works well for visitors.  You can reserve online at the <a href=\"http://www.arzabal.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal\">website</a> for most days.  For tapas and drinks you can just stop by. </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804760\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8243804760_1ca2c39b07_z.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998317.0503\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"356\" height=\"430\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The most truffely truffled eggs and fried potatoes!  You could smell them as they left the kitchen.  Spanish comfort food taken up a notch.  So lovely!  </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804734\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8243804734_2a960601f7.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998369.0457\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"385\" height=\"324\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Patatas a la Importancia con Cigalitas.  The potatoes in their soupy goodness are just a frame for the exquisite cigala tails.  Cigalas are best translated as Dublin Bay Prawns and resemble mini lobsters.  They are shockingly expensive and though delicious, I am frequently, underwhelmed. These were some of the most amazing bites!  The tails were removed from the shells, before being lightly grilled...they were only just barely done inside, melted in the mouth, with amazing flavors of sea and smoke.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998353.9373\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"344\" height=\"442\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The cozier of the two Arzàbal restaurants,  the one I preferred for a sit down dinner.  But for tapas and drinks, the larger, more lively branch next door would do nicely.  </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Taberna Arzábal in Madrid: Butter and Truffle Potatoes','One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I\'d love it. And love it I did...it has all I\'m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter! It\'s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn\'t. I\'m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','800-revision-2','','','2012-12-04 06:35:48','2012-12-04 06:35:48','',800,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/800-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(803,1,'2012-12-04 06:36:45','2012-12-04 06:36:45','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998400.5828\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"390\" height=\"232\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I&#39;d love it.  And love it I did...it has all I&#39;m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter!  It&#39;s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn&#39;t. I&#39;m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas!  Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!</p>\n\n<p>There are two branches of Arzàbal right next to each other.  One is smaller and more cozy, the other is larger and has a more fashionable vibe.  We ate at the cozy one, though the other would be more fun for tapas or drinks either before or after dinner.  Also the larger branch has an enviable position overlooking Retiro park and has a nice terrace in fine weather.  </p>\n\n<p>The menu is extensive and it&#39;s hard to make a choice among so many tempting offerings.  Very helpful is that you can order most things in half portions so as to try more!  We only ordered half portions and found them to be good value and quite generous.  Odd by Madrid standards is that much of the menu is available to take away. </p>\n\n<p>The meal starts with a fun, quirky ceremony...the waitress arrives with a giant, size of basketball giant, vat of top notch French butter for you to attack with your butter knife.  Delightful fun in virtually butterless Madrid!  <span style=\"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); \">Dangerous as you can fill yourself up too quickly. </span></p>\n\n<p>The wine list is quite expensive and very interesting, including a decent selection of foreign wines.  Prices are quite good.  We had a fun, good value Grenache blend, L&#39;Equilibrista, which you can read more about <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/wine-review-lequilibrista-20092010/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"L&#39;Equilibrista 2010 wine review\">here</a>.</p>\n\n<p>We had four dishes, two were very good, two were outstanding.  The sautéed wild mushrooms and the steak tartare were both delicious, though not mind blowing.  The truffles eggs with fried portaoes, a delightful variation of a typical Spanish dish was one of the best I&#39;ve ever had.  The grand sounding Patatas a la Importancia was a delightful dish that had the best cigala (Dublin Bay prawns) tails you could imagine eating. More details and pictures on these two below...</p>\n\n<p>Arzàbal is located in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid, close to the east side of the park. There are two   locations: (cozy) Doctor Castelo 2, tel: +34 915 572 691 or (fashionable) Menéndez Pelayo 13, tel: +34 914 095 661. It is quite a popular place so for a sit down meal, reservations are a must. There are two seatings in the evening, one is early at 9 and tends to be emptier, so that works well for visitors.  You can reserve online at the <a href=\"http://www.arzabal.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal\">website</a> for most days.  For tapas and drinks you can just stop by. </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804760\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8243804760_1ca2c39b07_z.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998317.0503\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"356\" height=\"430\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The most truffely truffled eggs and fried potatoes!  You could smell them as they left the kitchen.  Spanish comfort food taken up a notch.  So lovely!  </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804734\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8243804734_2a960601f7.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998369.0457\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"385\" height=\"324\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Patatas a la Importancia con Cigalitas.  The potatoes in their soupy goodness are just a frame for the exquisite cigala tails.  Cigalas are best translated as Dublin Bay Prawns and resemble mini lobsters.  They are shockingly expensive and though delicious, I am frequently, underwhelmed. These were some of the most amazing bites!  The tails were removed from the shells, before being lightly grilled...they were only just barely done inside, melted in the mouth, with amazing flavors of sea and smoke.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354602998353.9373\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"344\" height=\"442\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The cozier of the two Arzàbal restaurants,  the one I preferred for a sit down dinner.  But for tapas and drinks, the larger, more lively branch next door would do nicely.  </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Taberna Arzábal in Madrid: Butter and Truffle Potatoes','One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I\'d love it. And love it I did...it has all I\'m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter! It\'s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn\'t. I\'m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','800-revision-3','','','2012-12-04 06:36:45','2012-12-04 06:36:45','',800,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/800-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(804,1,'2012-12-04 06:43:53','2012-12-04 06:43:53','','Taberna Arzabal thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','taberna-arzabal-thumbnail','','','2012-12-04 06:43:53','2012-12-04 06:43:53','',800,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Taberna-Arzabal-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(805,1,'2012-12-04 06:46:28','2012-12-04 06:46:28','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129623.3008\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"390\" height=\"232\" /></a></div>\nOne of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I\'d love it. And love it I did...it has all I\'m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter! It\'s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn\'t. I\'m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!\n\n<!--more-->\n\nThere are two branches of Arzàbal right next to each other. One is smaller and more cozy, the other is larger and has a more fashionable vibe. We ate at the cozy one, though the other would be more fun for tapas or drinks either before or after dinner. Also the larger branch has an enviable position overlooking Retiro park and has a nice terrace in fine weather.\n\nThe menu is extensive and it\'s hard to make a choice among so many tempting offerings. Very helpful is that you can order most things in half portions so as to try more! We only ordered half portions and found them to be good value and quite generous. Odd by Madrid standards is that much of the menu is available to take away.\n\nThe meal starts with a fun, quirky ceremony...the waitress arrives with a giant, size of basketball giant, vat of top notch French butter for you to attack with your butter knife. Delightful fun in virtually butterless Madrid! <span style=\"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469);\">Dangerous as you can fill yourself up too quickly. </span>\n\nThe wine list is quite expensive and very interesting, including a decent selection of foreign wines. Prices are quite good. We had a fun, good value Grenache blend, L\'Equilibrista, which you can read more about <a title=\"L\'Equilibrista 2010 wine review\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/wine-review-lequilibrista-20092010/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.\n\nWe had four dishes, two were very good, two were outstanding. The sautéed wild mushrooms and the steak tartare were both delicious, though not mind blowing. The truffles eggs with fried portaoes, a delightful variation of a typical Spanish dish was one of the best I\'ve ever had. The grand sounding Patatas a la Importancia was a delightful dish that had the best cigala (Dublin Bay prawns) tails you could imagine eating. More details and pictures on these two below...\n\nArzàbal is located in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid, close to the east side of the park. There are two locations: (cozy) Doctor Castelo 2, tel: +34 915 572 691 or (fashionable) Menéndez Pelayo 13, tel: +34 914 095 661. It is quite a popular place so for a sit down meal, reservations are a must. There are two seatings in the evening, one is early at 9 and tends to be emptier, so that works well for visitors. You can reserve online at the <a title=\"Taberna Arzábal\" href=\"http://www.arzabal.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website</a> for most days. For tapas and drinks you can just stop by.\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804760\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129612.7375\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8243804760_1ca2c39b07_z.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"356\" height=\"430\" /></a></div>\nThe most truffely truffled eggs and fried potatoes! You could smell them as they left the kitchen. Spanish comfort food taken up a notch. So lovely!\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804734\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129679.9543\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8243804734_2a960601f7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"385\" height=\"324\" /></a></div>\nPatatas a la Importancia con Cigalitas. The potatoes in their soupy goodness are just a frame for the exquisite cigala tails. Cigalas are best translated as Dublin Bay Prawns and resemble mini lobsters. They are shockingly expensive and though delicious, I am frequently, underwhelmed. These were some of the most amazing bites! The tails were removed from the shells, before being lightly grilled...they were only just barely done inside, melted in the mouth, with amazing flavors of sea and smoke.\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1354603129607.0273\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"344\" height=\"442\" /></a></div>\nThe cozier of the two Arzàbal restaurants, the one I preferred for a sit down dinner. But for tapas and drinks, the larger, more lively branch next door would do nicely.\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"></div>\n&nbsp;','Taberna Arzábal in Madrid: Butter and Truffle Potatoes','One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I\'d love it. And love it I did...it has all I\'m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter! It\'s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn\'t. I\'m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','800-autosave','','','2012-12-04 06:46:28','2012-12-04 06:46:28','',800,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/800-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(806,1,'2012-12-04 06:38:05','2012-12-04 06:38:05','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-4-2012-018.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354603129623.3008\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"390\" height=\"232\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I&#39;d love it.  And love it I did...it has all I&#39;m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter!  It&#39;s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn&#39;t. I&#39;m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas!  Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>There are two branches of Arzàbal right next to each other.  One is smaller and more cozy, the other is larger and has a more fashionable vibe.  We ate at the cozy one, though the other would be more fun for tapas or drinks either before or after dinner.  Also the larger branch has an enviable position overlooking Retiro park and has a nice terrace in fine weather.  </p>\n\n<p>The menu is extensive and it&#39;s hard to make a choice among so many tempting offerings.  Very helpful is that you can order most things in half portions so as to try more!  We only ordered half portions and found them to be good value and quite generous.  Odd by Madrid standards is that much of the menu is available to take away. </p>\n\n<p>The meal starts with a fun, quirky ceremony...the waitress arrives with a giant, size of basketball giant, vat of top notch French butter for you to attack with your butter knife.  Delightful fun in virtually butterless Madrid!  <span style=\"-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); \">Dangerous as you can fill yourself up too quickly. </span></p>\n\n<p>The wine list is quite expensive and very interesting, including a decent selection of foreign wines.  Prices are quite good.  We had a fun, good value Grenache blend, L&#39;Equilibrista, which you can read more about <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/03/wine-review-lequilibrista-20092010/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"L&#39;Equilibrista 2010 wine review\">here</a>.</p>\n\n<p>We had four dishes, two were very good, two were outstanding.  The sautéed wild mushrooms and the steak tartare were both delicious, though not mind blowing.  The truffles eggs with fried portaoes, a delightful variation of a typical Spanish dish was one of the best I&#39;ve ever had.  The grand sounding Patatas a la Importancia was a delightful dish that had the best cigala (Dublin Bay prawns) tails you could imagine eating. More details and pictures on these two below...</p>\n\n<p>Arzàbal is located in the Retiro neighborhood of Madrid, close to the east side of the park. There are two   locations: (cozy) Doctor Castelo 2, tel: +34 915 572 691 or (fashionable) Menéndez Pelayo 13, tel: +34 914 095 661. It is quite a popular place so for a sit down meal, reservations are a must. There are two seatings in the evening, one is early at 9 and tends to be emptier, so that works well for visitors.  You can reserve online at the <a href=\"http://www.arzabal.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal\">website</a> for most days.  For tapas and drinks you can just stop by. </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804760\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8243804760_1ca2c39b07_z.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354603129612.7375\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"356\" height=\"430\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The most truffely truffled eggs and fried potatoes!  You could smell them as they left the kitchen.  Spanish comfort food taken up a notch.  So lovely!  </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8243804734\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8243804734_2a960601f7.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354603129679.9543\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"385\" height=\"324\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Patatas a la Importancia con Cigalitas.  The potatoes in their soupy goodness are just a frame for the exquisite cigala tails.  Cigalas are best translated as Dublin Bay Prawns and resemble mini lobsters.  They are shockingly expensive and though delicious, I am frequently, underwhelmed. These were some of the most amazing bites!  The tails were removed from the shells, before being lightly grilled...they were only just barely done inside, melted in the mouth, with amazing flavors of sea and smoke.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2300.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1354603129607.0273\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"344\" height=\"442\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The cozier of the two Arzàbal restaurants,  the one I preferred for a sit down dinner.  But for tapas and drinks, the larger, more lively branch next door would do nicely.  </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Taberna Arzábal in Madrid: Butter and Truffle Potatoes','One of the nice new restaurant surprises in Madrid this time, my friend Nancy took me here knowing I\'d love it. And love it I did...it has all I\'m looking for: great food at reasonable prices, a fine wine list with reasonable mark ups, good service, nice atmosphere, and a huge vat of French salted farmhouse butter! It\'s a place I could have returned to several times during my trip, and regretted I couldn\'t. I\'m still dreaming of the truffled eggs and those cigalas! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Madrid!','inherit','open','open','','800-revision-4','','','2012-12-04 06:38:05','2012-12-04 06:38:05','',800,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/800-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(808,1,'2012-12-08 22:49:01','2012-12-08 22:49:01','','wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-8-2012-1609-jpg','','','2012-12-08 22:49:01','2012-12-08 22:49:01','',810,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(809,1,'2012-12-08 22:49:03','2012-12-08 22:49:03','','wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-8-2012-1657-jpg','','','2012-12-08 22:49:03','2012-12-08 22:49:03','',810,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(810,1,'2012-12-08 22:49:07','2012-12-08 22:49:07','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1355006947288.531\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\nThe annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain\'s top wineries. José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees. Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThough many could dispute Peñin ratings, there is no doubt that for many Spanish wineries it\'s a sign of having arrived to be included in the Salón de los mejores vinos de España, albeit an expensive honor.\r\n\r\nI was so happy to see Cortijo Los Aguliares there for the first time, also the first time a winery from Ronda, in the Sierras de Malaga area, was included. One of there wines actually rated last year, but they couldn\'t justify the price of participation until this year, when two of their wines qualified. I\'ve been a <a title=\"Cortijo Los Aguilares winery\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/01/12/wineries-in-ronda-cortijo-los-aguilares/\" target=\"_blank\">fan</a> of these wines for years, but it\'s great to see them getting some recognition finally.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1355006947318.334\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"190\" /></a></div>\r\nLots of favorites! Nice cavas from Sumarocca and Raventos i Blanc. Love the slightly rosé cava from Parés Baltà called Rosa Cusiné, 100% Grenache...what fun! The most amazing cavas from Gramona: Argent, III Lustros, Celler Batlle...all so different and unique. Look for more on them later.\r\n\r\nIn whites, the Godello remains a favorite, which the usual standout of Rafael Palacios with his As Sortes and the great value Louro do Bolo. The whole line from the Valdesil winery, from the 8 euro Montenovo to the 25 euro Pezas da Portela...all excellent. The most amazing new Godello for me was the La Pena and the La Pola (Godello blend) from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra. Really cutting edge and shockingly good. Also some great white Grenache from Priorat and some very good old vine Albillo from Madrid.\r\n\r\nDrinking so many reds was tough! Some of my old favorites were still favorites. La Nieta, Culmen, and San Vicente from Rioja, Dominio de Atauta wines from Ribera, Victorino and Alabaster from Toro, Ferrer Bobet, Terroir al Limit from Priorat. All big, delicious, voluptuous reds, with the exception of the more restrained San Vicente and Terroir.\r\n\r\nNew fun reds! Everything from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra. They have an amazing Mencía, but also make single varietals from super local varieties such as Brancellao and Mouraton. Light, savory, delicious, so unique.\r\n\r\nThe Madrid crew. My two stand out wineries continue to impress: Bodegas Marañones and Bernaveleva both make fresh, mineral, aromatic, old vine Grenaches that you will not believe come from vineyards just outside Madrid.\r\n\r\nNew favorite Priorat. Always want to drink Priorat and love to find a new, reasonably priced winery. Alfredo Arribas from Portal del Priorat makes a ton of different wines at all prices ranges with super creative labels. The wines are also very special.\r\n\r\nLots more to write about all these favorites....\r\n\r\nIf you will be in Madrid in Oct/Nov anytime, check for the dates at the Grupo Peñin <a title=\"Grupo Peñin website\" href=\"http://www.grupopenin.com/es/newsletter/junio09/portada_junio09.html\" target=\"_blank\">website</a>; this is an unmissable opportunity for Spanish wine lovers! You can literally taste your way around Spain\'s top wines and meet some of the people behind the wines as well.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','The Peñin Top Spanish Wine Tasting','The annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain\'s top wineries. José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees. Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....','publish','open','open','','the-penin-top-spanish-wine-tasting','','\nhttp://planetavino.net/2009/01/12/wineries-in-ronda-cortijo-los-aguilares/','2012-12-08 22:59:56','2012-12-08 22:59:56','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=810',0,'post','',0),(811,1,'2012-12-08 22:49:04','2012-12-08 22:49:04','','Auto Draft','','inherit','open','open','','810-revision','','','2012-12-08 22:49:04','2012-12-08 22:49:04','',810,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/08/810-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(812,1,'2012-12-08 22:49:04','2012-12-08 22:49:04','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355006947288.531\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain&#39;s top wineries.  José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or   higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees.   Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....</p>\n\n<!--more--><p> Though many could dispute Peñin ratings, there is no doubt that for many Spanish wineries it&#39;s a sign of having arrived to be included in the Salón de los mejores vinos de España, albeit an expensive honor.  </p>\n\n<p>I was so happy to see Cortijo Los Aguliares there for the first time, also the first time a winery from Ronda, in the Sierras de Malaga area, was included.  One of there wines actually rated last year, but they couldn&#39;t justify the price of participation until this year, when two of their wines qualified.  I&#39;ve been a <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/01/12/wineries-in-ronda-cortijo-los-aguilares/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Cortijo Los Aguilares winery\">fan</a> of these wines for years, but it&#39;s great to see them getting some recognition finally.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355006947318.334\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"250\" height=\"190\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Lots of favorites!  Nice cavas from Sumarocca and Raventos i Blanc.  Love the slightly rosé cava from Parés Baltà called Rosa Cusiné, 100% Grenache...what fun!  The most amazing cavas from Gramona: Argent, III Lustros, Celler Batlle...all so different and unique.  Look for more on them later.</p>\n\n<p>In whites, the Godello remains a favorite, which the usual standout of Rafael Palacios with his As Sortes and the great value Louro do Bolo.  The whole line from the Valdesil winery, from the 8 euro Montenovo to the 25 euro  Pezas da Portela...all excellent.  The most amazing new Godello for me was the La Pena and the La Pola (Godello blend) from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra.  Really cutting edge and shockingly good.  Also some great white Grenache from Priorat and some very good old vine Albillo from Madrid. </p>\n\n<p>Drinking so many reds was tough!  Some of my old favorites were still favorites.  La Nieta, Culmen, and San Vicente from Rioja, Dominio de Atauta wines from Ribera, Victorino and Alabaster from Toro, Ferrer Bobet, Terroir al Limit from Priorat.  All big, delicious, voluptuous reds, with the exception of the more restrained San Vicente and Terroir.  </p>\n\n<p>New fun reds!  Everything from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra.  They have an amazing Mencía, but also make single varietals from super local varieties such as Brancellao and Mouraton.  Light, savory, delicious, so unique.  </p>\n\n<p>The Madrid crew.  My two stand out wineries continue to impress: Bodegas Marañones and Bernaveleva both make fresh, mineral, aromatic, old vine Grenaches that you will not believe come from vineyards just outside Madrid.</p>\n\n<p>New favorite Priorat.  Always want to drink Priorat and love to find a new, reasonably priced winery.  Alfredo Arribas from Portal del Priorat makes a ton of different wines at all prices ranges with super creative labels.  The wines are also very special. </p>\n\n<p>Lots more to write about all these favorites....</p>\n\n<p> If you will be in Madrid in Oct/Nov anytime, check for the dates at the Grupo Peñin <a href=\"http://www.grupopenin.com/es/newsletter/junio09/portada_junio09.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Grupo Peñin website\">website</a>; this is an unmissable opportunity for Spanish wine lovers!  You can literally taste your way around Spain&#39;s top wines and meet some of the people behind the wines as well.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','The Peñin Top Spanish Wine Tasting','The annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain\'s top wineries. José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees. Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....','inherit','open','open','','810-revision-2','','','2012-12-08 22:49:04','2012-12-08 22:49:04','',810,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/08/810-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(813,1,'2012-12-08 22:59:03','2012-12-08 22:59:03','','Peñin wine guide thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','penin-wine-guide-thumbnail','','','2012-12-08 22:59:03','2012-12-08 22:59:03','',810,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Peñin-wine-guide-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(814,1,'2012-12-08 23:01:04','2012-12-08 23:01:04','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1355006947288.531\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\nThe annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain\'s top wineries. José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees. Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....\n\n<!--more-->\n\nThough many could dispute Peñin ratings, there is no doubt that for many Spanish wineries it\'s a sign of having arrived to be included in the Salón de los mejores vinos de España, albeit an expensive honor.\n\nI was so happy to see Cortijo Los Aguliares there for the first time, also the first time a winery from Ronda, in the Sierras de Malaga area, was included. One of there wines actually rated last year, but they couldn\'t justify the price of participation until this year, when two of their wines qualified. I\'ve been a <a title=\"Cortijo Los Aguilares winery\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/01/12/wineries-in-ronda-cortijo-los-aguilares/\" target=\"_blank\">fan</a> of these wines for years, but it\'s great to see them getting some recognition finally.\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img id=\"blogsy-1355006947318.334\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"190\" /></a></div>\nLots of favorites! Nice cavas from Sumarocca and Raventos i Blanc. Love the slightly rosé cava from Parés Baltà called Rosa Cusiné, 100% Grenache...what fun! The most amazing cavas from Gramona: Argent, III Lustros, Celler Batlle...all so different and unique. Look for more on them later.\n\nIn whites, the Godello remains a favorite, which the usual standout of Rafael Palacios with his As Sortes and the great value Louro do Bolo. The whole line from the Valdesil winery, from the 8 euro Montenovo to the 25 euro Pezas da Portela...all excellent. The most amazing new Godello for me was the La Pena and the La Pola (Godello blend) from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra. Really cutting edge and shockingly good. Also some great white Grenache from Priorat and some very good old vine Albillo from Madrid.\n\nDrinking so many reds was tough! Some of my old favorites were still favorites. La Nieta, Culmen, and San Vicente from Rioja, Dominio de Atauta wines from Ribera, Victorino and Alabaster from Toro, Ferrer Bobet, Terroir al Limit from Priorat. All big, delicious, voluptuous reds, with the exception of the more restrained San Vicente and Terroir.\n\nNew fun reds! Everything from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra. They have an amazing Mencía, but also make single varietals from super local varieties such as Brancellao and Mouraton. Light, savory, delicious, so unique.\n\nThe Madrid crew. My two stand out wineries continue to impress: Bodegas Marañones and Bernaveleva both make fresh, mineral, aromatic, old vine Grenaches that you will not believe come from vineyards just outside Madrid.\n\nNew favorite Priorat. Always want to drink Priorat and love to find a new, reasonably priced winery. Alfredo Arribas from Portal del Priorat makes a ton of different wines at all prices ranges with super creative labels. The wines are also very special.\n\nLots more to write about all these favorites....\n\nIf you will be in Madrid in Oct/Nov anytime, check for the dates at the Grupo Peñin <a title=\"Grupo Peñin website\" href=\"http://www.grupopenin.com/es/newsletter/junio09/portada_junio09.html\" target=\"_blank\">website</a>; this is an unmissable opportunity for Spanish wine lovers! You can literally taste your way around Spain\'s top wines and meet some of the people behind the wines as well.\n\n&nbsp;','The Peñin Top Spanish Wine Tasting','The annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain\'s top wineries. José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees. Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....','inherit','open','open','','810-autosave','','','2012-12-08 23:01:04','2012-12-08 23:01:04','',810,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/08/810-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(815,1,'2012-12-08 22:49:21','2012-12-08 22:49:21','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1609.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355006947288.531\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain&#39;s top wineries.  José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or   higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees.   Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....</p>\n\n<!--more--><p> Though many could dispute Peñin ratings, there is no doubt that for many Spanish wineries it&#39;s a sign of having arrived to be included in the Salón de los mejores vinos de España, albeit an expensive honor.  </p>\n\n<p>I was so happy to see Cortijo Los Aguliares there for the first time, also the first time a winery from Ronda, in the Sierras de Malaga area, was included.  One of there wines actually rated last year, but they couldn&#39;t justify the price of participation until this year, when two of their wines qualified.  I&#39;ve been a <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2009/01/12/wineries-in-ronda-cortijo-los-aguilares/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Cortijo Los Aguilares winery\">fan</a> of these wines for years, but it&#39;s great to see them getting some recognition finally.</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-8-2012-1657.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355006947318.334\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"250\" height=\"190\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> Lots of favorites!  Nice cavas from Sumarocca and Raventos i Blanc.  Love the slightly rosé cava from Parés Baltà called Rosa Cusiné, 100% Grenache...what fun!  The most amazing cavas from Gramona: Argent, III Lustros, Celler Batlle...all so different and unique.  Look for more on them later.</p>\n\n<p>In whites, the Godello remains a favorite, which the usual standout of Rafael Palacios with his As Sortes and the great value Louro do Bolo.  The whole line from the Valdesil winery, from the 8 euro Montenovo to the 25 euro  Pezas da Portela...all excellent.  The most amazing new Godello for me was the La Pena and the La Pola (Godello blend) from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra.  Really cutting edge and shockingly good.  Also some great white Grenache from Priorat and some very good old vine Albillo from Madrid. </p>\n\n<p>Drinking so many reds was tough!  Some of my old favorites were still favorites.  La Nieta, Culmen, and San Vicente from Rioja, Dominio de Atauta wines from Ribera, Victorino and Alabaster from Toro, Ferrer Bobet, Terroir al Limit from Priorat.  All big, delicious, voluptuous reds, with the exception of the more restrained San Vicente and Terroir.  </p>\n\n<p>New fun reds!  Everything from Dominio do Bibei in Ribera Sacra.  They have an amazing Mencía, but also make single varietals from super local varieties such as Brancellao and Mouraton.  Light, savory, delicious, so unique.  </p>\n\n<p>The Madrid crew.  My two stand out wineries continue to impress: Bodegas Marañones and Bernaveleva both make fresh, mineral, aromatic, old vine Grenaches that you will not believe come from vineyards just outside Madrid.</p>\n\n<p>New favorite Priorat.  Always want to drink Priorat and love to find a new, reasonably priced winery.  Alfredo Arribas from Portal del Priorat makes a ton of different wines at all prices ranges with super creative labels.  The wines are also very special. </p>\n\n<p>Lots more to write about all these favorites....</p>\n\n<p> If you will be in Madrid in Oct/Nov anytime, check for the dates at the Grupo Peñin <a href=\"http://www.grupopenin.com/es/newsletter/junio09/portada_junio09.html\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Grupo Peñin website\">website</a>; this is an unmissable opportunity for Spanish wine lovers!  You can literally taste your way around Spain&#39;s top wines and meet some of the people behind the wines as well.  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','The Peñin Top Spanish Wine Tasting','The annual Peñin top Spanish wine tasting is a great chance to taste to taste all the new vintages from Spain\'s top wineries. José Peñin, a prominent Spanish wine critic, takes the opportunity every fall to release the latest version of his wine guide, as well as showcase all wines rated 94 points or higher. All the usual suspects were there, as well as some pleasant new promotees. Total saturation and way too many big reds, but lots of fun and some nice surprises especially with cavas, whites and some far flung reds.....','inherit','open','open','','810-revision-3','','','2012-12-08 22:49:21','2012-12-08 22:49:21','',810,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/08/810-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(816,1,'2012-10-22 06:06:09','2012-10-22 06:06:09','<h3>¡Winekeeper: Hágase con el sistema domestico de conservación de vino mas completo!</h3>\r\nLa mejor manera de conservar los vinos y servirlos por copas para el sibarita domestico. El regalo perfecto para los amantes del buen vino.\r\n\r\nPlaneta Vino es el importador exclusivo para España de los productos de Winekeeper.\r\n\r\nLos productos de Winekeeper le permiten conservar sus vinos sin perder sus cualidades durante un mínimo de tres semanas.\r\n\r\nExisten tres modelos diferentes que se adaptan a las diferentes necesidades de su día a día.\r\n\r\nPara mantener su vino refrigerado, use el sistema de desconexión rápida para poder desconectar la botella del sistema principal y así guardarla en una cava refrigerada. La presión del nitrógeno se mantiene perfectamente. Para volver a servirse una copa, simplemente conecte de nuevo la botella al sistema principal.\r\n\r\nLlame al 91 310 2855 para mas información.\r\n<h3>The Vintner</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/vintner-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Vintner\" align=\"right\" /></a>El primero, nuestro modelo mas clásico, The Vintner, que permite preservar y servir tres botellas al mismo tiempo.  Ideal para uso domestico.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Sencillo de usar.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño clásico en madera de roble.</li>\r\n	<li>Cilindro de nitrógeno y reductor ocultos en su interior.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar las botellas del sistema para mantenerlas refrigeradas.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75 l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples botellas.</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 325,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>The Noir</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper Noir\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/petit-noir-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Noir\" align=\"right\" /></a>Nuestro siguiente modelo, The Noir, tiene unas líneas mas modernas y puede también preservar y servir tres botellas al mismo tiempo.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Simple to use.</li>\r\n	<li>Ideal para uso domestico.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño moderno, minimalista.</li>\r\n	<li>Cilindro de nitrógeno y reductor ocultos en su interior.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar las botellas del sistema para mantenerlas refrigeradas.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75 l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 340,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>The Keeper</h3>\r\nEl modelo básico, The Keeper, es una versión mas económica que da servicio a una botella cada vez.\r\nIdeal para uso domestico.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><a title=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/keeper-pro.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper Keeper\" align=\"right\" /></a>Sencillo de usar.</li>\r\n	<li>Diseño clásico en madera de roble.</li>\r\n	<li>Sistema de desconexión rápida que permite desconectar la botella del sistema para mantenerla refrigerada.</li>\r\n	<li>El cilindro de nitrógeno es valido para preservar aproximadamente 24 botellas de 0,75l.</li>\r\n	<li>Grifos opcionales para preservar múltiples botellas.</li>\r\n	<li>Precio: 99,00 €</li>\r\n	<li>Opcional: Conector múltiple, precio 30,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h3>Accesorios Winekeeper</h3>\r\n<a title=\"Winekeeper faucet\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet1.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/faucet1.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper faucet\" /></a>           <a title=\"Winekeeper canisters\" href=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters1.jpg\"><img src=\"http://www.planetavino.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/canisters1.thumbnail.jpg\" alt=\"Winekeeper canisters\" /></a>\r\n\r\nTambién podemos proveerle de los cilindros de nitrógeno adicionales que eventualmente necesitara para su sistema.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Precio de la bombona: 16,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nTambién podemos proporcionarle mas grifos sueltos para preservar varias botellas usando solamente una bombona de nitrógeno gracias al sistema de conexión-desconexión rápida.\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li>Grifo: Precio 40,00 €</li>\r\n</ul>','en Español','','inherit','open','open','','323-revision-7','','','2012-10-22 06:06:09','2012-10-22 06:06:09','',323,'http://planetavino.net/2012/10/22/323-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(817,1,'2012-12-14 22:58:40','2012-12-14 22:58:40','','wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-oct-31-2012-2019-jpg','','','2012-12-14 22:58:40','2012-12-14 22:58:40','',819,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(818,1,'2012-12-14 22:58:43','2012-12-14 22:58:43','','wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-nov-2-2012-1638-jpg','','','2012-12-14 22:58:43','2012-12-14 22:58:43','',819,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(819,1,'2012-12-14 22:58:48','2012-12-14 22:58:48','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; \"><span style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\"><font size=\"3\"> </font></span></p><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1361225980973.6118\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"203\" height=\"290\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine bars in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital wine places I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"><!--more--></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><font size=\"3\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1361225980979.0671\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" alt=\"\"></font></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s <a href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\">website</a>. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.    The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine bars in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital wine places I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','publish','open','open','','wine-lovers-madrid-2012','','http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\nhttp://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/','2013-02-18 22:20:55','2013-02-18 22:20:55','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=819',0,'post','',6),(820,1,'2012-12-14 22:58:44','2012-12-14 22:58:44','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355525928869.1584\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"354\" height=\"505\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p> <span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span></p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355525928961.2832\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. http://www.ponceletcheesebar.es/</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of Arzàbal. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision','','','2012-12-14 22:58:44','2012-12-14 22:58:44','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(821,1,'2012-12-14 22:59:12','2012-12-14 22:59:12','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355525928869.1584\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"354\" height=\"505\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p> <span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span></p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355525928961.2832\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. http://www.ponceletcheesebar.es/</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of Arzàbal. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-2','','','2012-12-14 22:59:12','2012-12-14 22:59:12','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(822,1,'2012-12-14 23:00:29','2012-12-14 23:00:29','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355525928869.1584\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"354\" height=\"505\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span><br>\n</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355525928961.2832\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. http://www.ponceletcheesebar.es/</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of Arzàbal. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-3','','','2012-12-14 23:00:29','2012-12-14 23:00:29','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(823,1,'2012-12-14 23:01:08','2012-12-14 23:01:08','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355526063802.174\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" height=\"428\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span><br>\n</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355526063860.2253\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. http://www.ponceletcheesebar.es/</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of Arzàbal. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-4','','','2012-12-14 23:01:08','2012-12-14 23:01:08','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(824,1,'2012-12-14 23:03:01','2012-12-14 23:03:01','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355526176730.4043\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"269\" height=\"384\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span><br>\n</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355526176642.4487\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. http://www.ponceletcheesebar.es/</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of Arzàbal. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-5','','','2012-12-14 23:03:01','2012-12-14 23:03:01','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(825,1,'2012-12-14 23:22:22','2012-12-14 23:22:22','','wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-oct-31-2012-2019-jpg-2','','','2012-12-14 23:22:22','2012-12-14 23:22:22','',819,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-20191.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(826,1,'2012-12-14 23:20:38','2012-12-14 23:20:38','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-2019.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><br>\n</a></div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span><br>\n</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355527192740.153\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s website</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are so,e good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.  </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-6','','','2012-12-14 23:20:38','2012-12-14 23:20:38','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(827,1,'2012-12-14 23:22:24','2012-12-14 23:22:24','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-20191.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Oct-31-2012-20191.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355527346384.394\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"300\" height=\"427\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span><br>\n</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355527346414.3435\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s website</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are so,e good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.  </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-7','','','2012-12-14 23:22:24','2012-12-14 23:22:24','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(828,1,'2013-02-18 22:12:30','2013-02-18 22:12:30','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838419.2346\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" width=\"203\" height=\"290\" /></a></div>\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This is a much-needed update to my 2010 post on good wine bars in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital wine places</span> I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><!--more--></span>\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">1. Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor. My favorite wine bar in Madrid. Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting. These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing. I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too. Go early, they open at 8PM, to get a seat if want to order food. (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </span>\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">2. Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor: Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas. It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more. Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</span>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838392.0544\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" /></span></a></div>\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">3. Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor: Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid. I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent. These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle. If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go. Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine. The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand. My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more. Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late. Love it...a really great concept!</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">4. El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine. There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana. The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center. These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience. </span>\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go! The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample. They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas. Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store! Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel! You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines. Not super cheap but worth every penny. Spectacular! Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. Check my detailed <a title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\">review</a>.</span>\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal: These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros. Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas. See my separate review of <a title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo\'s <a title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\" href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website</a>. </span>\n\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">6. Cava Baja: the best wine street in Madrid. There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass. El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots! Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor. The streets around also have some great places. The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </span>\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n</div>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-autosave','','','2013-02-18 22:12:30','2013-02-18 22:12:30','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(829,1,'2012-12-14 23:30:37','2012-12-14 23:30:37','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p> </p><br>\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); \"><br>\n</p><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); \"><br>\n</p></div>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large; \">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span><br>\n</p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355527346414.3435\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"><br>\n</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s website</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are so,e good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.  </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-8','','','2012-12-14 23:30:37','2012-12-14 23:30:37','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(830,1,'2012-12-14 23:43:36','2012-12-14 23:43:36','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. </span><span style=\"font-size: large;\">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span></div>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">1. Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor. My favorite wine bar in Madrid. Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting. These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing. I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too. Go early, they open at 8PM, to get a seat if want to order food. (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">2. Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor: Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas. It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more. Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</span>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355527346414.3435\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" /></a></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">\r\n</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">3. Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor: Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid. I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent. These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle. If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go. Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine. The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand. My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more. Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late. Love it...a really great concept!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">4. El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine. There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana. The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center. These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go! The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample. They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas. Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store! Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel! You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">5. A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines. Not super cheap but worth every penny. Spectacular! Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. Check my detailed <a title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\">review</a>.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal: These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros. Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas. See my separate review of <a title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo\'s website</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: large;\">6. Cava Baja: the best wine street in Madrid. There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass. El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are so,e good ones, but there are lots! Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor. The streets around also have some great places. </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-9','','','2012-12-14 23:43:36','2012-12-14 23:43:36','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(831,1,'2012-12-14 23:54:34','2012-12-14 23:54:34','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; \"><span style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\"> </span></p><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355529255306.247\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"223\" height=\"318\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. <span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span></font></p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355529255327.964\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s website</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are so,e good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.  </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-10','','','2012-12-14 23:54:34','2012-12-14 23:54:34','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(832,1,'2012-12-14 23:55:37','2012-12-14 23:55:37','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; \"><span style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\"> </span></p><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355529331750.1365\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"376\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. <span style=\"font-size: large; \">For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span></font></p>\n\n<!--more--><p><font size=\"4\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355529331798.221\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de an Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s website</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"4\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are so,e good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.  </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-11','','','2012-12-14 23:55:37','2012-12-14 23:55:37','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/14/819-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(833,1,'2012-12-15 00:20:03','2012-12-15 00:20:03','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; \"><span style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\"><font size=\"3\"> </font></span></p><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355529331750.1365\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"376\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"><!--more--></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><font size=\"3\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355529331798.221\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></font></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s website</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are so,e good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-12','','','2012-12-15 00:20:03','2012-12-15 00:20:03','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/15/819-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(834,1,'2012-12-19 22:54:37','2012-12-19 22:54:37','','wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-19-2012-1753-jpg','','','2012-12-19 22:54:37','2012-12-19 22:54:37','',835,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(835,1,'2012-12-19 22:54:44','2012-12-19 22:54:44','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" /></a></div>\r\nCasa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThey were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain\'s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables. So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine. You don\'t really get preserved tuna until you\'ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" /></a></div>\r\nThe wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.\r\n\r\nMissing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor. To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas. There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork. Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend\'s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo. Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" /></a></div>\r\nAll the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition. These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it\'s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo. You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It\'s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour. <a title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\" href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Web</a>. Closest metro: Quevedo.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Casa Ricardo: Traditional Spanish Tapas in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','publish','open','open','','casa-ricardo-spanish-comfort-food-in-madrid','','','2013-01-25 01:17:03','2013-01-25 01:17:03','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=835',0,'post','',0),(836,1,'2012-12-15 00:50:02','2012-12-15 00:50:02','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; \"><span style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\"><font size=\"3\"> </font></span></p><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355532551634.004\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"376\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"><!--more--></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><font size=\"3\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355532551600.5203\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></font></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s <a href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\">website</a>. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.    The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-13','','','2012-12-15 00:50:02','2012-12-15 00:50:02','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/15/819-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(837,1,'2012-12-19 22:56:15','2012-12-19 22:56:15','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; \"><span style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\"><font size=\"3\"> </font></span></p><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355957775205.9668\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"220\" height=\"315\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"><!--more--></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><font size=\"3\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355957775162.4922\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></font></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s <a href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\">website</a>. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.    The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-14','','','2012-12-19 22:56:15','2012-12-19 22:56:15','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/19/819-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(838,1,'2012-12-19 23:24:22','2012-12-19 23:24:22','','wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-19-2012-1821-jpg','','','2012-12-19 23:24:22','2012-12-19 23:24:22','',835,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(839,1,'2012-12-19 23:24:24','2012-12-19 23:24:24','','wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-19-2012-1821-jpg-2','','','2012-12-19 23:24:24','2012-12-19 23:24:24','',835,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(840,1,'2012-12-19 23:24:25','2012-12-19 23:24:25','','wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-19-2012-1821-jpg-3','','','2012-12-19 23:24:25','2012-12-19 23:24:25','',835,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(841,1,'2012-12-19 22:54:38','2012-12-19 22:54:38','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355957684312.6226\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p>Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid.  All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid&#39;s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics.  Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel.  All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>They were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain&#39;s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables.  So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine.  You don&#39;t really get preserved tuna until you&#39;ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!  </p>\n\n<p>The wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.</p>\n\n<p>Missing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor.  To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas.   There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork.  Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend&#39;s allergies, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo.   Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!</p>\n\n<p>All the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition.  These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it&#39;s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo.  You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It&#39;s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour.  <a href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\">Web</a>.  Closest metro: Quevedo.<br>\n</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Casa Ricardo: Spanish Comfort Food in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-revision','','','2012-12-19 22:54:38','2012-12-19 22:54:38','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/19/835-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(842,1,'2012-12-20 00:17:59','2012-12-20 00:17:59','','Casa Ricardo1 thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','casa-ricardo1-thumbnail','','','2012-12-20 00:17:59','2012-12-20 00:17:59','',835,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Casa-Ricardo1-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(843,1,'2013-01-25 01:18:09','2013-01-25 01:18:09','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" /></a></div>\nCasa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.\n\n<!--more-->\n\nThey were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain\'s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables. So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine. You don\'t really get preserved tuna until you\'ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" /></a></div>\nThe wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.\n\nMissing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor. To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas. There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork. Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend\'s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo. Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" /></a></div>\nAll the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition. These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it\'s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo. You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It\'s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour. <a title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\" href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Web</a>. Closest metro: Quevedo.\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" /></a></div>\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;\n\n&nbsp;','Casa Ricardo: Traditional Spanish Tapas in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-autosave','','','2013-01-25 01:18:09','2013-01-25 01:18:09','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/20/835-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(844,1,'2012-12-19 23:24:27','2012-12-19 23:24:27','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\"></a></div>\n\n<p>Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid.  All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid&#39;s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics.  Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel.  All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.</p>\n\n<!--more--><p>They were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain&#39;s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables.  So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine.  You don&#39;t really get preserved tuna until you&#39;ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!  </p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> The wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.</p>\n\n<p>Missing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor.  To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas.   There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork.  Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend&#39;s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo.   Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p>All the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition.  These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it&#39;s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo.  You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It&#39;s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour.  <a href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\">Web</a>.  Closest metro: Quevedo.<br>\n</p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" class=\"alignnone\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Casa Ricardo: Spanish Comfort Food in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-revision-2','','','2012-12-19 23:24:27','2012-12-19 23:24:27','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/19/835-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(845,1,'2012-12-20 00:19:32','2012-12-20 00:19:32','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" /></a></div>\r\nCasa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThey were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain\'s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables. So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine. You don\'t really get preserved tuna until you\'ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" /></a></div>\r\nThe wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.\r\n\r\nMissing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor. To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas. There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork. Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend\'s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo. Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" /></a></div>\r\nAll the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition. These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it\'s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo. You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It\'s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour. <a title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\" href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Web</a>. Closest metro: Quevedo.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Casa Ricardo: Spanish Comfort Food in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-revision-3','','','2012-12-20 00:19:32','2012-12-20 00:19:32','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/20/835-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(847,1,'2012-12-20 00:20:53','2012-12-20 00:20:53','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" /></a></div>\r\nCasa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThey were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain\'s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables. So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine. You don\'t really get preserved tuna until you\'ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" /></a></div>\r\nThe wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.\r\n\r\nMissing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor. To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas. There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork. Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend\'s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo. Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" /></a></div>\r\nAll the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition. These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it\'s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo. You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It\'s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour. <a title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\" href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Web</a>. Closest metro: Quevedo.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Casa Ricardo: Spanish Comfort Food in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-revision-4','','','2012-12-20 00:20:53','2012-12-20 00:20:53','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/20/835-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(848,1,'2012-12-20 00:23:52','2012-12-20 00:23:52','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" /></a></div>\r\nCasa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThey were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain\'s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables. So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine. You don\'t really get preserved tuna until you\'ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" /></a></div>\r\nThe wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.\r\n\r\nMissing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor. To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas. There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork. Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend\'s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo. Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" /></a></div>\r\nAll the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition. These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it\'s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo. You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It\'s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour. <a title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\" href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Web</a>. Closest metro: Quevedo.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Casa Ricardo: Spanish Comfort Food in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-revision-5','','','2012-12-20 00:23:52','2012-12-20 00:23:52','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/20/835-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(849,1,'2012-12-20 00:30:52','2012-12-20 00:30:52','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" /></a></div>\r\nCasa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThey were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain\'s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables. So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine. You don\'t really get preserved tuna until you\'ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" /></a></div>\r\nThe wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.\r\n\r\nMissing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor. To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas. There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork. Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend\'s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo. Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" /></a></div>\r\nAll the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition. These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it\'s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo. You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It\'s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour. <a title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\" href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Web</a>. Closest metro: Quevedo.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Casa Ricardo: Spanish Comfort Food in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-revision-6','','','2012-12-20 00:30:52','2012-12-20 00:30:52','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/20/835-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(851,1,'2012-12-20 01:04:25','2012-12-20 01:04:25','','Casa Ricardo1 thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','casa-ricardo1-thumbnail-2','','','2012-12-20 01:04:25','2012-12-20 01:04:25','',0,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Casa-Ricardo1-thumbnail1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(852,1,'2012-12-20 00:33:19','2012-12-20 00:33:19','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469660.8525\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1753.jpg\" width=\"353\" height=\"207\" /></a></div>\r\nCasa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThey were out of menestra the day we were there, but always get the menestra...one of Spain\'s best dishes, a medley of the freshest sautéed and fried vegetables. So we settled on the ventresca and pimiento salad....simple as are most Spanish salads to let the ingredients shine. You don\'t really get preserved tuna until you\'ve had ventresca...you can just eat it straight out of the can!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469743.7263\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-1821.jpg\" width=\"286\" height=\"213\" /></a></div>\r\nThe wine was the white, Rueda, and perfectly delicious with all of our dishes.\r\n\r\nMissing those vegetables, we ordered the habas con jamon, lovely baby fava beans with chunks of ham for flavor. To satisfy my fried cravings, we ordered the huevos con patatas. There are a million variations of this ultimate Spanish comfort food....always with some type of fried pork. Here it was lovely blood sausage, or morcilla but due my friend\'s allergie, we swapped chistorra, a sausage similar to chorizo. Delicious! Perfect fluffy egg, with crispy edges, slightly greasy, salty potatoes, rich pork....so satisfying!\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469759.188\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18211.jpg\" width=\"288\" height=\"215\" /></a></div>\r\nAll the dishes are shared as is usual in the best Spanish tradition. These are the types of simple foods Spaniards eat at home....it\'s easy to feel at home in a place like Casa Ricardo. You get a real sense of history eating in a pace founded in 1935 and the people are very welcoming. It\'s a little out of the touristic center but in a real Madrid neighborhood and worth the small detour. <a title=\"Casa Ricardo Madrid\" href=\"http://casaricardo.net/\" target=\"_blank\">Web</a>. Closest metro: Quevedo.\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355959469721.1772\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-19-2012-18212.jpg\" width=\"281\" height=\"210\" /></a></div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Casa Ricardo: Spanish Comfort Food in Madrid','Casa Ricardo, in the Moncloa district of Madrid, is one of those old fashioned places, tiled walls, bull-fighting memorabilia, local clientele, that really represents the spirit of Madrid. All the new, fashionable places with their upscale tapas, their fusion cuisine, and their multi-page wine list are re-inventing Madrid\'s culinary scene....but sometimes you have to get back to basics. Luckily for every one of those new-tangled palaces, these are still ten Casa Ricardos...these places are what still gives Madrid that truly Spanish feel. All the traditional comfort foods are there, fried in vast quantities of good olive oil, and your drink options are only beer, red or white.','inherit','open','open','','835-revision-7','','','2012-12-20 00:33:19','2012-12-20 00:33:19','',835,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/20/835-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(853,1,'2012-12-20 01:06:43','2012-12-20 01:06:43','','Wineandshrimp thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','wineandshrimp-thumbnail','','','2012-12-20 01:06:43','2012-12-20 01:06:43','',0,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Wineandshrimp-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(854,1,'2012-12-19 22:57:18','2012-12-19 22:57:18','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto; \"><span style=\"-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);\"><font size=\"3\"> </font></span></p><div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838419.2346\" class=\"alignleft\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"290\"></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid.  Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging.  Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it&#39;s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"><!--more--></font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">1.  Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor.  My favorite wine bar in Madrid.  Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting.  These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing.  I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too.  Go early, they open at 8PM,  to get a seat if want to order food.  (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">2.  Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor:  Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas.  It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more.  Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</font></p>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"\"><font size=\"3\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838392.0544\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\"></font></a></div>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">3.  Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor:  Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid.  I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent.  These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle.  If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go.  Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine.  The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand.  My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more.  Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late.   Love it...a really great concept!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">4.  El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine.  There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana.  The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center.  These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience.  </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go!  The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample.  They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas.  Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store!  Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel!  You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5.  A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines.  Not super cheap but worth every penny.  Spectacular!  Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61.  Check my detailed <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\">review</a>.</font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal:  These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros.  Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas.  See my separate review of <a href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo&#39;s <a href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\">website</a>. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\">6. Cava Baja:  the best wine street in Madrid.  There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass.  El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots!  Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor.  The streets around also have some great places.    The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n</div><p> </p>\n\n<p><font size=\"3\"> </font></p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-15','','','2012-12-19 22:57:18','2012-12-19 22:57:18','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/19/819-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(855,1,'2012-12-20 01:08:25','2012-12-20 01:08:25','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\"></p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838419.2346\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" width=\"203\" height=\"290\" /></a></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><!--more--></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">1. Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor. My favorite wine bar in Madrid. Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting. These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing. I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too. Go early, they open at 8PM, to get a seat if want to order food. (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">2. Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor: Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas. It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more. Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</span>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838392.0544\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" /></span></a></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">3. Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor: Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid. I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent. These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle. If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go. Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine. The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand. My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more. Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late. Love it...a really great concept!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">4. El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine. There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana. The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center. These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go! The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample. They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas. Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store! Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel! You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines. Not super cheap but worth every penny. Spectacular! Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. Check my detailed <a title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\">review</a>.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal: These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros. Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas. See my separate review of <a title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo\'s <a title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\" href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website</a>. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">6. Cava Baja: the best wine street in Madrid. There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass. El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots! Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor. The streets around also have some great places. The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-16','','','2012-12-20 01:08:25','2012-12-20 01:08:25','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/20/819-revision-16/',0,'revision','',0),(856,1,'2012-12-21 17:38:18','2012-12-21 17:38:18','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: -webkit-auto;\"></p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838419.2346\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" width=\"203\" height=\"290\" /></a></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><!--more--></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">1. Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor. My favorite wine bar in Madrid. Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting. These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing. I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too. Go early, they open at 8PM, to get a seat if want to order food. (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">2. Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor: Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas. It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more. Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</span>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838392.0544\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" /></span></a></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">3. Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor: Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid. I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent. These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle. If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go. Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine. The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand. My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more. Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late. Love it...a really great concept!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">4. El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine. There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana. The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center. These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go! The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample. They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas. Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store! Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel! You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines. Not super cheap but worth every penny. Spectacular! Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. Check my detailed <a title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\">review</a>.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal: These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros. Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas. See my separate review of <a title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo\'s <a title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\" href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website</a>. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">6. Cava Baja: the best wine street in Madrid. There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass. El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots! Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor. The streets around also have some great places. The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-17','','','2012-12-21 17:38:18','2012-12-21 17:38:18','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/21/819-revision-17/',0,'revision','',0),(857,1,'2012-12-21 17:38:59','2012-12-21 17:38:59','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/84220010@N06/8273797370\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838419.2346\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8273797370_9bd969b077_b.jpg\" width=\"203\" height=\"290\" /></a></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.</span>\r\n\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><!--more--></span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">1. Casa Lucas at Cava Baja 30, near Plaza Mayor. My favorite wine bar in Madrid. Not only because the wine selection by the glass is excellent and the tapas outstanding, but especially because the service and the welcome is unfailingly warm and inviting. These guys are awesome! My favorite tapas are the Cariñena tosta, the Arroz cremoso, the carpaccio de pulpo and canelonis de curry….really unique and delicious food…but really anything on the menu is amazing. I tend to order wine by the bottle and they always have new and great recommendations…but by the glass is great too. Go early, they open at 8PM, to get a seat if want to order food. (Make sure you don’t confuse them with the famous Casa Lucio across the street…very pricey…definitely not my favorite!) </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">2. Taberneros at Calle Santiago 9, near Plaza Mayor: Excellent wines and excellent tapas in a gorgeous setting, though the service is never what it is in Casa Lucas. It has remained one of my favorites over the years…love the cecina, the scallops, the potatoes and eggs with truffles and many more. Great selection of dessert wines by the glass…very hard to come by in Madrid. One of my favorite Spanish dessert wines by the glass, a botrytis Chardonnay, Caligo, is usually available by the glass here.</span>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><img class=\"alignnone\" id=\"blogsy-1355957838392.0544\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Nov-2-2012-1638.jpg\" width=\"383\" height=\"286\" /></span></a></div>\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">3. Mercado de San Miguel, also right by Plaza Mayor: Really beautiful renovation of a historic market into a market/tapas place and one of the most popular places in Madrid! One of my long time favorites. It is not perfect, can be overcrowded, and sometimes it can be closed for private events, but Pinkleton, the wine bar in the Mercado has some of the best wines in Madrid. I love to go there with my friends…we usually order by the bottle, but the by-the-glass selection is excellent. These guys know their stuff and can recommend a great bottle of wine for a good price…almost always have an English-speaking staff member. We rarely spend more than 20€ for a great bottle. If you like the bottle you can even buy one at a reduced price to go. Grab a table and go around the market and get a few tapas to go with your wine. The cheese stand is outstanding as is the olive stand. My personal favorites are the Sorlut oysters at the oyster stand and the cheese stand....but there is so much more. Lots of choices at different price ranges. Open till very late. Love it...a really great concept!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">4. El Corte Ingles Gastronomic Space: El Corte Ingles will be on your radar if you are at all interested in shopping while you are in Madrid, but even if not, stop by for some great food and wine. There are various of these now...the original one I recommended is in El Corte Ingles Goya but there is a much bigger one in El Corte Ingles Castellana. The newest and most convenient to many visitors to Madrid would be in El Corte Ingles Callao, right by Sol in the center. These gourmet areas combine tapas with restaurants for a total Spanish gastronomic experience. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Great selection of wines and gourmet food to sample and you can buy it all to go! The selection avries depending on the store, but there is the oyster and champagne bar, the gourmet hamburger stand, the cheese and jamon vendor....also some decent wines and beers to sample. They even have a corkage concept…you can get a bottle from the wine section and for 3 euros over retail price they will open it for you to enjoy with your tapas. Open 7 days a week…only limitation is that it closes at 10PM or 11PM depending on the day....and it is in a department store! Not too crowded...which you will appreciate after the Mercado de San Miguel! You can do your shopping and then sample great wine afterwards!</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. A new favorite is the Cheese Bar from the folks at Poncelet, one of my favorite cheese stores. Beautiful space, amazing selection of artisanal cheese and wines. Not super cheap but worth every penny. Spectacular! Also a bit off the beaten tourist track up on Calle Abascal, 61. Check my detailed <a title=\"Poncelet Cheese Bar Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/10/14/cheese-heaven-in-madrid/\" target=\"_blank\">review</a>.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">5. Laredo and Taberna Arzàbal: These are off the beaten track a little on the east side of Retiro Park, near Ibiza or Goya metros. Great restaurants, but also great places to stop for nice wines by the glass and fantastic tapas. See my separate review of <a title=\"Taberna Arzábal Madrid\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/2012/12/04/taberna-arzabal-in-madrid-butter-and-truffle-potatoes/\" target=\"_blank\">Arzàbal</a> or check Laredo\'s <a title=\"Taberna Laredo Madrid\" href=\"http://www.tabernalaredo.com/\" target=\"_blank\">website</a>. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-size: medium;\">6. Cava Baja: the best wine street in Madrid. There are lots of great tapas areas but this street has the largest concentration of bars with good wine selections by the glass. El Tempranillo, Orixe, and of course, Casa Lucas, are some good ones, but there are lots! Very centrally located right by Plaza Mayor. The streets around also have some great places. The places are open for lunch, closing around 5ish and then reopen at 8 or 830. </span>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Wine Lovers Madrid 2012','This is a much needed update to my 2010 post on good wine places in Madrid. Madrid is still a challenging wine place....getting better, but challenging. Great tapas and easy-drinking quaffable wines to wash them down abound, but if you are visiting and really want to explore some of the better wines it\'s still not easy. For wine lovers visiting Madrid there are a few vital stops I would recommend....the top two being Casa Lucas and the Mercado de San Miguel.','inherit','open','open','','819-revision-18','','','2012-12-21 17:38:59','2012-12-21 17:38:59','',819,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/21/819-revision-18/',0,'revision','',0),(858,1,'2012-12-28 07:07:29','2012-12-28 07:07:29','','wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-27-2012-2350-jpg','','','2012-12-28 07:07:29','2012-12-28 07:07:29','',859,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(859,1,'2012-12-28 07:07:33','2012-12-28 11:07:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1356678453597.3389\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water. So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general. I have had to accept it is Spain\'s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello. This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor. What a lovely gift it turned out to be! Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!</p>\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nThe winemaker, Jose Antonio López, formerly of well-known wineries Lusco and Morgadio, is dedicated to careful site selection, respectful vineyard practices and non-interventionist winemaking.....all these factors shine through in the wine. Many of these are not a given in the area where the yields are some of the highest in Spain and where vineyard practices are not always stellar.\r\n\r\nOne years of lees contact, followed by a year of bottle aging, has given it tremendous roundness, richness, complexity, while preserving the freshness, all a recipe for an Albariño that can age. Most Albariños should be drunk within a couple of years even though the grape has potential for more, this is one of the happy exceptions. This 2009 still has tremendous freshness and youthfulness. Stony and yeasty aromas blend with intense lemon and a surprising touch of tropical pineapple. The mouth is surprisingly full and the lemon finish was very long. Rare for an Albariño and always one of my tests was that it was still pleasant even much warmer. This is an Albariño that can be matched with so much more than the typical shellfish....I had it with my Christmas dinner and it was great with the sweetish city ham and it\'s glaze, the scalloped potatoes and Brussels sprouts!\r\n\r\nBehind the name and label are lovely stories. According to the label, Tricó is the unexpected youngest child born long after his siblings, who has much to learn from their experience and who usually remains at home to care for his aging parents. The pretty label is a drawing done in 1938 by Jose Antonio\'s mother of her childhood 1938. It all makes for a nice wine package.\r\n\r\nThe value is great on this wine....about 14€ in Spain and between 19-23$ here in the US.....a littlepricer than most Albariños I recommend but so worth it!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Wine Review: Tricó Albariño 2009','This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water. So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general. I have had to accept it is Spain\'s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello. This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor. What a lovely gift it turned out to be! Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!','publish','open','open','','wine-review-trico-albarino-2009','','','2013-05-03 22:05:43','2013-05-04 02:05:43','',0,'http://planetavino.net/?p=859',0,'post','',0),(860,1,'2012-12-28 07:07:33','2012-12-28 07:07:33','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1356678453597.3389\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water.  So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general.  I have had to accept it is Spain&#39;s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello.  This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor.  What a lovely gift it turned out to be!  Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p> The winemaker, Jose Antonio López, formerly of well-known wineries Lusco and Morgadio, is dedicated to careful site selection, respectful vineyard practices and non-interventionist winemaking.....all these factors shine through in the wine.  Many of these are not a given in the area where the yields are some of the highest in Spain and where vineyard practices are not always stellar.  </p>\n\n<p>One years of lees contact, followed by a year of bottle aging, has given it tremendous roundness, richness, complexity, while preserving the freshness, all a recipe for an Albariño that can age.  Most Albariños should be drunk within a couple of years even though the grape has potential for more, this is one of the happy exceptions.  This 2009 still has tremendous freshness and youthfulness.   Stony and yeasty aromas blend with intense lemon and a surprising touch of tropical pineapple.  The mouth is surprisingly full and the lemon finish was very long.  Rare for an Albariño and always one of my tests was that it was still pleasant even much warmer.  This is an Albariño that can be matched with so much more than the typical shellfish....I had it with my Christmas dinner and it was great with the sweetish city ham and it&#39;s glaze, the scalloped potatoes and Brussels sprouts!  </p>\n\n<p> Behind the name and label are lovely stories.  According to the label, Tricó is the youngest child born long after his siblings, who has much to learn from their experience and who usually remains at home to care for his aging parents.  The pretty label is apparently a drawing done by Jose Antonio&#39;s mother of her childhood pueblo.  It all makes for a nice wine package.</p>\n\n<p> The value is great on this wine....about 14€ in Spain and between 19-23$ here in the US.....a littlepricer than most Albariños I recommend but so worth it!  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: Tricó Albariño 2009','This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water. So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general. I have had to accept it is Spain\'s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello. This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor. What a lovely gift it turned out to be! Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!','inherit','open','open','','859-revision','','','2012-12-28 07:07:33','2012-12-28 07:07:33','',859,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/28/859-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(861,1,'2012-12-28 07:14:41','2012-12-28 07:14:41','','Trico albarino thumbnail','','inherit','open','open','','trico-albarino-thumbnail','','','2012-12-28 07:14:41','2012-12-28 07:14:41','',0,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Trico-albarino-thumbnail.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(862,1,'2013-01-16 06:36:01','2013-01-16 06:36:01','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\"></div>\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\" href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignleft\" id=\"blogsy-1356678453597.3389\" alt=\"\" src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" width=\"200\" height=\"308\" /></a></div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water. So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general. I have had to accept it is Spain\'s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello. This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor. What a lovely gift it turned out to be! Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!</p>\n<!--more-->\n\nThe winemaker, Jose Antonio López, formerly of well-known wineries Lusco and Morgadio, is dedicated to careful site selection, respectful vineyard practices and non-interventionist winemaking.....all these factors shine through in the wine. Many of these are not a given in the area where the yields are some of the highest in Spain and where vineyard practices are not always stellar.\n\nOne years of lees contact, followed by a year of bottle aging, has given it tremendous roundness, richness, complexity, while preserving the freshness, all a recipe for an Albariño that can age. Most Albariños should be drunk within a couple of years even though the grape has potential for more, this is one of the happy exceptions. This 2009 still has tremendous freshness and youthfulness. Stony and yeasty aromas blend with intense lemon and a surprising touch of tropical pineapple. The mouth is surprisingly full and the lemon finish was very long. Rare for an Albariño and always one of my tests was that it was still pleasant even much warmer. This is an Albariño that can be matched with so much more than the typical shellfish....I had it with my Christmas dinner and it was great with the sweetish city ham and it\'s glaze, the scalloped potatoes and Brussels sprouts!\n\nBehind the name and label are lovely stories. According to the label, Tricó is the unexpected youngest child born long after his siblings, who has much to learn from their experience and who usually remains at home to care for his aging parents. The pretty label is a drawing done in 1938 by Jose Antonio\'s mother of her childhood 1938. It all makes for a nice wine package.\n\nThe value is great on this wine....about 14€ in Spain and between 19-23$ here in the US.....a littlepricer than most Albariños I recommend but so worth it!\n\n&nbsp;','Wine Review: Tricó Albariño 2009','This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water. So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general. I have had to accept it is Spain\'s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello. This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor. What a lovely gift it turned out to be! Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!','inherit','open','open','','859-autosave','','','2013-01-16 06:36:01','2013-01-16 06:36:01','',859,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/28/859-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(863,1,'2012-12-28 07:11:20','2012-12-28 07:11:20','<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: none;\">&nbsp;</div>\n\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><a href=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img src=\"http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/wpid-Photo-Dec-27-2012-2350.jpg\" id=\"blogsy-1356678453597.3389\" class=\"alignleft\" width=\"200\" height=\"308\" alt=\"\"></a></div>\n\n<p> This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water.  So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general.  I have had to accept it is Spain&#39;s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello.  This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor.  What a lovely gift it turned out to be!  Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!</p>\n\n<!--more--><p> The winemaker, Jose Antonio López, formerly of well-known wineries Lusco and Morgadio, is dedicated to careful site selection, respectful vineyard practices and non-interventionist winemaking.....all these factors shine through in the wine.  Many of these are not a given in the area where the yields are some of the highest in Spain and where vineyard practices are not always stellar.  </p>\n\n<p>One years of lees contact, followed by a year of bottle aging, has given it tremendous roundness, richness, complexity, while preserving the freshness, all a recipe for an Albariño that can age.  Most Albariños should be drunk within a couple of years even though the grape has potential for more, this is one of the happy exceptions.  This 2009 still has tremendous freshness and youthfulness.   Stony and yeasty aromas blend with intense lemon and a surprising touch of tropical pineapple.  The mouth is surprisingly full and the lemon finish was very long.  Rare for an Albariño and always one of my tests was that it was still pleasant even much warmer.  This is an Albariño that can be matched with so much more than the typical shellfish....I had it with my Christmas dinner and it was great with the sweetish city ham and it&#39;s glaze, the scalloped potatoes and Brussels sprouts!  </p>\n\n<p> Behind the name and label are lovely stories.  According to the label, Tricó is the unexpected youngest child born long after his siblings, who has much to learn from their experience and who usually remains at home to care for his aging parents.  The pretty label is a drawing done in 1938 by Jose Antonio&#39;s mother of her childhood 1938.  It all makes for a nice wine package.</p>\n\n<p> The value is great on this wine....about 14€ in Spain and between 19-23$ here in the US.....a littlepricer than most Albariños I recommend but so worth it!  </p>\n\n<p>&nbsp;</p>','Wine Review: Tricó Albariño 2009','This wine blows all my sometimes unfair stereotypes of thin, unsatisfying Galician Albariño right out of the water. So many years of drinking lots of bad Albariño and the frustration of seeing bad wine being made from a very good grape have led me to be a state of resignation about the wine in general. I have had to accept it is Spain\'s most beloved white grape....but I try to seek out the really special ones and often turn to alternative grapes from the area such as Godello. This wine fell into my lap as a gift from a Spanish visitor. What a lovely gift it turned out to be! Rich, more exotic, and fuller than most, it also offers the best assets of a great Albariño, piercing acidity and wonderful minerality!','inherit','open','open','','859-revision-2','','','2012-12-28 07:11:20','2012-12-28 07:11:20','',859,'http://planetavino.net/2012/12/28/859-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(864,1,'2013-01-09 20:51:43','2013-01-09 20:51:43','','wpid-Photo-Dec-31-2012-1914.jpg','','inherit','open','open','','wpid-photo-dec-31-2012-1914-jpg','','','2013-01-09 20:51:43','2013-01-09 20:51:43','',865,'http://planetavino.net/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/wpid-Photo-Dec-31-2012-1914.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),