I’m excited to share my vinous passion with Verve readers, as Head of Fine Wines & Whiskies at Webb’s, New Zealand’s Premier Auction House.
Each month, we’ll uncover exceptional bottles, spotlight hidden gems, and help you discover your next cellar-worthy treasures at Webb’s. It’s wet and cold in Auckland, so naturally, I’m dreaming of Priorat.
This time last year I was falling in love with Spain’s most intense and soulful wine region. But Priorat is just one jewel in a country that’s the third-largest wine producer in the world, with 138 geographically identifiable wine areas. Spain is arguably the best source of everyday-drinking value anywhere, where a bottle with age, character, and pedigree can cost less than your Uber Eats order.
Spain is arguably the best source of everyday-drinking value anywhere, where a bottle with age, character, and pedigree can cost less than your Uber Eats order.
Among Spain’s quality regions, three stand out: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Priorat. Rioja offers classic tempranillo-based reds, barrel-aged to silky perfection. Ribera del Duero brings power and depth, often from high-altitude vines.
And Priorat? That’s where I found magic. Its steep slate hillsides, ancient vines, and family-run bodegas produce wines with remarkable tension, minerality, and soul. Grenache and Carignan lead the charge, but it’s the otherworldly terrain, Catalan hospitality, and the balance between ripeness and restraint in every glass that make Priorat unforgettable. Whether you’re browsing our auction catalogues or a restaurant wine list, Spain deserves a place in your glass. It’s not just a country; it’s a cellar of surprises.
Cheers! | Santé! | Sláinte! | Egészségére! | 饮胜! | 干杯! MARCUS ATKINSON, DipWSET
Head of Fine Wines & Whiskies, Webb’s+64 27 929 5601
marcus@webbs.co.nz
