An impeccable wine list is an essential component of any well-respected and reputable restaurant. Some of the best restaurants in Spain hit the nail right on the head. The wisdom and good taste of the sommelier is evident and appreciated by those that know about wine. And for those who truly take their wine seriously, it is possible that they choose the wine first and then the food to go with it. For those who think this is backwards, consider if you are going to spend more than 50 Euros on a bottle of wine – then certainly it should be the wine that chooses the food! The following is a short list of what are considered to be some of the restaurants with the best wine lists in Spain.
Atrio, Cceres
A true classic, Atrio deserves special mention for not being located in one of Spain’s major tourist hotspots. Located in the city of Cceres, Atrio reigns in Spain with its magnificent wine list. Beautiful like the city it calls home, the restaurant features dozens of Yquem vintages, an extensive list of vintage French champagne, as well as a complete selection of Bordeaux.
El Celler de Can Roca, Girona
30,000 bottles are stored in the 200 square meter cellar waiting patiently to be brought up to one of the tables of what is known by many as the best restaurant in the world. The cellar of El Celler is a project of Josep Roca, one of the brothers who gives life to the restaurant and also considered to be one of the best sommeliers from Spain. Burgundy, Champagne, Riesling, Priorat and Jerez all have a special place in the cellar.
Zalacain, Madrid
Zalacain was the first restaurant to receive three Michelin stars in Spain. It is even more well-known due to its famous sommelier, Custodio Zamora. It has over 1,000 selections and gives special attention to wines of Oporto, not often seen in other wine lists.
Rekondo, San Sebastian
Some five years ago, the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine awarded Rekondo for having one of the top five wine lists in the world. It is said that when Robert Parker, the famous American critic, visited the restaurant in 2012, the sommelier chose for him a Rioja wine from the year he was born. It is service like this that maintains the reputation of the restaurant.
Kaia-Kaipe, Guetaria
About 40,000 bottles and 1,000 selections. A complete collection of French wines and an impressive list of Rioja including very old vintages. Excellent way to celebrate a birthday and find a selection from a particular year.
