Wines in Spain

[daveflores]

I am just beginning my first semester in the School of Hard knock's Wines 101 course, and will be traveling to Barcelona, Spain in mid June. I am very interested in trying some of their best stuff (red preferably), but most of the travel books and magazines I read suggest only proper wines to match certain food. I am looking for the best red wine, native to Spain, (preferably in the Barcelona area) that I could enjoy while deamericanizing myself in a little bar in Las Ramblas. Any suggestions?

[Thomas]

Dave,

You will get as many opinions as there are Spanish wine drinkers among us. In my experience, the best thing to do in Europe is to try a variety of wines--why not? Don't limit yourself to what others tell you is good, you are in Spain, drink all the different kinds of Spanish wines you can get your hands on, and when you do, ask questions about the wines you like.

Incidentally, a lot of times you will find that house wines in European restaurants are truly good wines.

[hotwine]

That's good advice. Be persistent with your questions, Dave. House wines are normally served in carafes, so you won't be shown the bottles with their labels unless you ask to see them. And when you encounter a wine that you like, be sure to ask where you might buy some of it. You might find that it's made just down the road, or even in the restaurant's own cellar. Take notes, and show your appreciation for the food, the wine, and the answers to your questions. Exhibit a genuine interest and desire to learn, and you might find some wonderful local treasures.