The supple, ripe Barón de Barbón has remained our bestselling Rioja since the early 2000s. That’s decades of popularity and loyal customers coming back for more. The Daily Express even claimed on its release that it’s “what true Rioja is all about.” The talent behind this contemporary, fruit driven red is the infectiously keen Javier Murúa. His father Julián owns Bodegas Muriel (a winery Julián's father established in 1926) in Rioja’s superior Alavesa. We’ve known the family well for years now, so much so that Javier calls us up after the vintage so we can get the top pick on their finest vats.

With its easy going, ripe red berry flavours and fragrant vanilla character, this supple Rioja is great on its own or with grilled meats or tapas.

Classic Rioja fans will love this red, with all its moreish, silky, ripe berry fruit tempered by toasty spice. No wonder the late Spanish expert John Radford listed Primicia among his top 20 Rioja bodegas. It’s a family estate, founded by three brothers, and has over the years won many awards. This 2021 is made from 100% strawberry-scented Tempranillo, from mature, low-yielding vineyards.

Winemaker Fernando Domingo matured the wine in American oak barrels for four months – just enough to flatter the fruit with gentle toasty spice and hints of vanilla, while letting plenty of exuberant, youthful fruit character shine through. A delight on its own, this wine is spot on with garlic chicken, lamb chops with rosemary or a selection of tapas.

When Señor Andrés Ruberte began making wine from the gnarled old vines of his small estate, the rest of the region was, for the most part, supplying wine in bulk. Theirs was used to add body, depth and colour to lighter reds of France and Spain. However, Andrés had an unshakeable belief in the potential of his wines and decided to set out on his own. This pioneering spirit paid off.

Today Campo de Borja is considered one of Spain's most highly prized regions. And the winery that started with Andrés continues to thrive. Indeed husband and wife team, Miguel and Susana, are local heroes. Regularly picking up awards for their old vine Garnachas. Perla Rosado is their quintessential summer rosé. Full of delicate flavours and subtle elegance.

Casa Primicia is one of the oldest buildings in Rioja Alavesa – in the 15th century it was where the Church collected tithes. In 1985 the Madrid brothers bought it and converted it into a winery. A host of prestigious awards soon followed, including the ‘Grand Prix d’Honneur’ at Vinexpo in Bordeaux. Grapes for this wine come from a beautiful 40-year-old vineyard and a good vintage.

Winemaker was Fernando Domingo (he trained under great oenologist Don Manuel Ruiz Hernández), who aged the wine in American and French oak barrels for 18 months, the rest in bottle, to obtain the perfect balance of subtle spice and deep fruit. A superb Rioja Reserva with red berry notes, cocoa, vanilla and toasty oak. Excellent with tapas, lamb or rice dishes.

In the last decade, the crisp, pure and characterful whites of Spain’s Galicia have come to the fore, Albariño in particular. Especially in the excellent subregion of Rías Baixas. Located a stone's throw from the Atlantic, the vines here are cooled by ocean breezes. This means the grapes ripen slowly and that slower pace means more aromatics, greater depth of flavour and a lovely freshness. Taste all that in this sprightly Selección Especial Numerada 60, with its tang of the sea.

It’s a special bottling, just for our customers, from the fresh 2021 vintage too. Offering striking lemon and lime zip, while balancing floral hints, minerality and white stone fruit, it makes an elegant glass on its own or partner to salads, paella or fresh fish.

His secret? He's Bordeaux born and trained at First Growth Château Haut Brion. His aim was to make Grand Cru Classé wines in Rioja, so he chose only high altitude vineyards, the highest in all Rioja.

So grapes ripen slowly, with great finesse and intensity. Visit his winery, up in the clouds – it's cold! Salix Alba is a new release for him and very special.

It uses grapes solely from El Pisón, a tiny location where the famous Artadi bodega gets grapes for its £260 a bottle wine.

Ageing in all new French oak lends the finishing touches to this sumptuous red. A special dinner red.