He’s been making this gloriously mature treasure exclusively for us for nearly 20 years, and only ever ships La Cantera when it’s been aged to smooth, mellow perfection. Javier works under the radar in Cariñena, where wine has been made for 2,000 years. But the region is overlooked in favour of world famous neighbour Rioja, so you enjoy superb value for money here (and, in the case of La Cantera, Rioja style quality). This is made from old vine Garnacha and Tempranillo and has rich, deep red berry flavours softened by years in barrel and bottle.

The cellar itself was founded in 1964 and was key to the area gaining its DO status in 1984.

Today, with the grapes from 150 small-time growers, bent on producing high quality grapes from their small, mountainous plots (the area is very close to the Pyrenees), the winery produces a small range of bright, modern wines.

Their rosado is a blend of Cabernet and Merlot, harvested at night, when it's coolest, and fermented at a low temperature to capture maximum mouthwateringly fresh, ripe berry fruit.

Chill it down and serve – great with chicken, prawn risotto, salads.

The family founded the property as far back as 1637, and have now been making wine for over 40 years. Unusually these days, they make their fizz by the same method as Champagne, with the second fermentation in bottle, and turn each bottle by hand. The wine is then aged for nearly two years on lees (the spent yeasts that created the fizz during the fermentation in bottle) to ensure rich complexity and full body. It’s organic, too! With ripe apple and peach notes and complex toasty length, it makes a very fine apéritif with toasted salted almonds, jamón iberico, olives and other tapas.

Dominio de Los Duques is crafted under the watchful eye of Don Vicente García, a man hugely respected by his winemaking colleagues in Valencia. When the Catalan growers fought to limit the name ‘Cava’ to their own sparkling wines, they offered to make an exception for him. But, instead of accepting, he chose to fight for the rights of other small growers in his region and won! Thanks to Vicente, Cava is now made in over 150 wine regions including his home town of Requena (one of the best), 40 miles from Valencia.

This fine sparkling wine was aged for 12 months to ensure richness and complexity. It has very small bubbles (a sign of quality), a refreshing stone fruit character and elegant floral notes. Serve chilled on its own or with tapas.