Wine with Leslie: Spain is my favourite destination for food and wine

This week I want to focus on quality wines that are also great value.

People tell me I have the best job and it’s tough to argue the point. I won’t make any fortunes or get to buy any sports cars, but I do get lots of travel to eat and drink very well.

Given their culinary reputations you might think that France or Italy would be my pick, but much as I love them, I think Spain is my favourite destination for food and wine pleasures.

Spain charmed the world through their soccer team in recent weeks and that World Cup win is as good an excuse as any to talk about the joys of eating and drinking in Spain.

Firstly, my apologies if you are expecting tasty wines under €12, Spain has plenty of those, but this week I want to focus on quality wines that are also great value. Do feel you can take a chance on inexpensive Spanish reds and whites however, they rarely disappoint.

The three wines below are from three brilliant wine regions, Rias-Baixas/Galicia, Rioja and Priorat. Galicia is Celtic so I feel at home there, they have some of the best seafood in the world, delicious empanada savoury pastries, Spain’s best cheese, padrón peppers and other delicacies. You already love albariño but watch for godello and treixadura whites and some intriguing reds.

Priorat is a land of steep vineyards, mountain villages and silky complex wines; home to one of only two DOCa wine regions (Rioja is the other). There are also great restaurants including Quinoa in Falset where I ate one of my best ever Spanish meals washed down by Mas d’en Gil reds and whites, see below.

Finally Rioja for pork and lamb, aged fine wines and the wonder of the Frank Gehry Marqés de Riscal hotel– although the food was better in the Posada Mayor in LaGuardia. Viva España, campeones del mundo!

Rós Rosé, Navarra, Spain, €18.74

This rosé was created by O’Brien’s Wine Director and resident Master of Wine Lynne Coyle along with Sonia Costa of Lagar de Costa in Rias Baixas (her albariño is benchmark).

From the rare ancient red skinned espadeiro grape blended with albariño for texture this is floral and lively with pomegranate fruits, a gorgeous balance of fruit and freshness and the perfect summer drink.

• O’Briens

Mas D’En Gil ‘Bellmunt’ Priorat, €30

From biodynamic grapes made by the brilliant Marta Rovira Carbonell in beautiful Priorat. One of my favourite red wines from anywhere, and worth every penny.

This actually costs half what most of her less talented neighbours charge, Priorat is a notoriously difficult region to make wine.

Pure red fruit aromas, full and rich, earthy truffle hints and a soft, dark-fruited, beguiling finish. A silken gastronomic wonder.

• Wines Direct Athlone & Mullingar, winesdirect.ie

Marqués de Riscal Reserva Rioja, Spai, €18-20

Sometimes you want the classics and they don’t come more classic than this Rioja house founded in 1858. Look up Riscal’s Frank Gehry-designed hotel, it’s stunning.

On offer in SuperValu at €18 and Dunnes at €20, both brilliant prices for perhaps the quintessential Spanish red wine.

Toasted oak aromas mixed with spice and dark red fruits, blackberry and plum fruits on the palate, elegance, complexity and structure.

• SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, widely available.

Lusca Vineyard Fine Perry, 8.5% ABV, 75cl, €29

David Llewellyn runs Ireland’s best-known vineyard in Lusk, Co Dublin, growing grapes, apples and pears. The wines are tasty and available online, and so is this excellent perry.

Aromas of sweet pear and baked apple, a lively but creamy mousse, crisp pear flavours, lingering pear juice notes and a pleasing pear skin tang on the finish.

Delightful and a fine substitute for sparkling wine (which David also makes).

• Wine Centre Kilkenny; wineonline.ie