Each of our selections is excellent in quality, highly enjoyable and an authentic expression of the terroir where it was created. Each also has a personal story behind it that reflects the passion, dedication and independent spirit of the individuals who created it. [ jump to wines!]

The personal stories are more than just the fulfillment of winemaking dreams, they also exemplify different threads within Spanish wine culture today, and are a big part of why we have decided to work with them. Each adds an exciting, informative—and we think—important voice to the vanguard of today's conversation about Spanish wine culture. We have created a blog at SpanishWineCulture.org to cover these and other voices and threads in more depth.

The other connection between our selections is that there simply aren't many bottles of these wines to go around. Each is a small production wine (from 100 to 4,000 cases per vintage). In the case of our Rare Old Vintage discoveries, they may have been larger production wines when they were released, but due to the scarcity of significantly aged wines in good condition, they have become rarities.

Our selections are exclusively available to wine lovers in the US from our retail wine merchant partners and all retail purchases must be made directly from them. Spanish-Wine-Exclusives is NOT a retail merchant and we are not licensed to sell to the general public.

Our wines are typically 20 to 25% lower priced than wines of the same cost when distributed in a more conventional manner. See our About Us page for more on how we do it. We should also note that our partners offer the following discounts, so it really pays to purchase in volume:

Tinto Fino - 10% discount for 6 (same or mixed) bottles or more
Despaña - 15% discount for same 12 bottle case, 10% for mixed 12 bottle case

We have agreements with each winery for exclusive distribution of the current releases of these wines in the US. Our Rare Old Vintage selections are rare and difficult to source, but there is a remote chance that you may find a stray bottle or two of these wines on the secondary market (as you possibly might for any wine sold in foreign markets).

SPANISH-WINE-EXCLUSIVES' SELECTIONS

Rare Old Vintages We are always in search of caches of well-stored, mature wines—especially from great vintages. Our first two offerings are below. 1982 Añares 1982 is an undisputedly great year in Rioja, and this vibrant Reserva beautifully displays the richness of the vintage. Añares 1982 Reserva Rioja DOCa Red $135.00 Full of aged cherry and strawberry notes with lively earth and tobacco tones, this captivating red is just hitting its peak. Fine acidity and sturdy, ripe tannins buttress the long, smooth finish. From a private collection in the North of Spain. 1964 Castrijo 1964 is arguably the greatest vintage of the 20th century in Rioja, and this complex beauty is a vibrant example of the greatness of the vintage. Click for the full story. Castrijo 1964 Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa Red $170.00 Castrijo is no longer made and is virtually unknown—even to knowledgeable Riojans. These rare bottles offer a look back in history and a captivating taste of this storied vintage. Supplies are dwindling. [more]

Basilio Izquierdo
This innovative personal project from one of Rioja's legendary winemakers revives lost winemaking traditions through expressive old-vine blends and charts new paths in top quality whites from Spain. Click for the full story.

“B de Basilio” 2009 Rioja White $50
One of the most complex and skillfully made barrel-aged whites from Spain. [more]


“B de Basilio” 2007 Rioja Red $50
An amazingly silky, succulent, suave old vine red that revives a lost blend. [more]

Castro de Lobarzán
This small, family winery in the village of Villaza in Galicia makes outstanding, mineral-driven, terroir-oozing wines which reflect their efforts reviving the centuries old wine heritage of the area.
Click for the full story.

Castro de Lobarzán 2010
Monterrei White $20
This Godello-based wine, is layered in chalky minerality and offers a silky blend of pure, ripe fruit, elegant intensity and bright acidity. W&S 93 [more]

Celler la Muntanya
Celler la Muntanya is a powerful vision of winemaking that joins micro-vineyard growers, organic practices, cultural heritage and economic sustainability to create outstanding wines.
Click for the full story.

Albir 2010, White $24
This lively white blend offers a beguiling mix of freshness, complexity and flavorful body. The nose is replete with pear, delicate honeyed apple and melon scents topped with slaty mineral and wild herb tones. Peñin Guide 90/***** [more]

Lliure Albir 2009, White $56
This super low production barrel-aged white is among Spain's elite whites in richness, class and character. Fine pineapple, peach and apricot aromas are interwoven with soft vanilla and delicate anise into mint tones. Peñin Guide 93 [more]

Negre 2009, Red $24
This juicy and flavor rich red offers up the elegant side of Mediterranean wine. Bright ruby purple in color the bouquet is bursting with red cherry flavors along with notes of raspberry, plum and savory aromatic herbs. Peñin Guide 93/***** [more]

Dolç 2009, Sweet White 375ml $39
A remarkably silky and filigreed dessert white. A top note of white flower is followed by a core of pear, apricot and honey scents. Outstanding for those that don't like their dessert wines too sweet. Peñin Guide 92 [more]

Equipo Navazos
Equipo Navazos is the premiere producer of rare Sherries and other limited, cask selections. They started to share cellar treasures among friends, but have since made small commercial releases to extremely high praise in the world wine press. We are very proud to offer "I Think" Manzanilla in the US for the first time. Click for the full story.

"I Think" Manzanilla (drawn April 2012) 375ml, $17
This outstanding "en rama" (in the raw) dry Sherry is pungent with scents of waxy honey, white flower and salty almond. The palate is tangy, vibrant and expansive with underlying yeasty, honeyed richness at the core. The essence of fresh Manzanilla. [more]

Estrela
Estrela is a tiny, family owned winery borne out of tradition and love for the steep, terraced old vine slate vineyards of Amandi in Ribeira Sacra. They have rejuvenated many of the old ways to make a wine of great character. Click for the full story.

Estrela 2011 Ribeira Sacra-Amandi Red $20
A pure and naturally made old vine Mencía-based red, offering layered aromatics, loads of mineral laced fruit and a lively, balanced palate that show off the character of its ancient vineyards. W&S 90 [more]

Horacio Calvente
This enterprising, small family winery is at the cutting egde of winemaking in the rising region of Granada. Both reviving old vine vineyard plots and experimenting with international varietals they are making distinctive high quality wines.
Click for the full story.

Horacio Calvente 2011 Guindalera Single Vineyard Granada Dry Moscatel white
This remarkably fragrant and floral dry Moscatel is from old vine fruit and graced the wine list at El Bulli. Like a bouquet of white flowers on the nose with notes of melon, citrus, white peach and anise. Crisp, fresh and deeply mineral on the balanced palate. Very elegant and sophisticated. [more]

Horacio Calvente 2009 Castillejos Single Vineyard Granada red $34
This exotic, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah based blend is rich, juicy and smooth with deep black currant flavors and chocolate and spice tones. Long and built for aging. [more]

Lazarus Wine
Imagine a wine created by an award-winning winemaker/enology professor with the help of blind winemakers. Not a gimmick, this is a groundbreaking new process called Sensorial Winemaking, in which blind winemakers bring their exceptionally keen perceptions to bare in the myriad decisions that go into making great wine. Click for the full story.

Lazarus “Green Label” 2010 White, VT Ribera del Gállego - Cinco Villas $18
We find this wine to be one of the Spain's finest Viogniers, showing world class quality while offering a distinctively Spanish character. Clear, pale straw color, the nose is fragrant with white flowers, honeysuckle and mulberry leaf scents. [more]

Lazarus “Orange Label” 2007 Red, VT Ribera del Gállego - Cinco Villas $26
Sporting a Braille label, the new vintage of this fantastically fragrant and harmonious wine shows terroir inflected stone and iron minerality, sexy earth tones, chewy ripe cherry fruit and a bright, flavorful finish. W&S 92 [more]

Lazarus “Black Label” 2005 Red, VT Ribera del Gállego - Cinco Villas $38
This captivating red blend is a wild mix of deep red and black fruit flavors combined with terroir driven nuance. On the nose ripe black cherry scents immediately come to the fore, followed by red currant and raspberry notes with touches of vanilla spice. [more]

Orgullo
Orgullo is the project of dynamic and innovative young winemaker Gonzalo Gonzalo, who has delved back into Rioja's history, reviving non-interventionist practices that work in harmony with natural vineyard cycles. Click for the full story.

Gran Cerdo LOT#2010 Red $12
Gran Cerdo is a bright and fruit forward Tempranillo red balanced by smooth, ripe tannins. The palate is juicy, harmonious and highly drinkable; loaded with fresh cherry flavors over strawberry and spice undertones. [more]

Orgullo 2007 Rioja Red $22
Orgullo is a balanced, expressive and terroir driven wine that offers a blast of strawberry and raspberry scents, rich red fruit flavors, nuanced earth tones and soft spice notes. W&S 91 [more]

Vinyes d'Olivardots
Vinyes d'Olivardots “Gresa Expressió” is a terroir-driven wine employing innovative viticulture and is masterfully crafted in a modern style by Spanish winemaking luminaries Sara and José Luis Pérez. Click for the full story.

Vinyes d'Olivardots “Blanc de Gresa” 2011 Empordà White $28
This white blend of very old vine (90-110 years old) from scarcely planted varietals (Garnacha Blanca, Garnacha Rosada and Cariñena Blanca) is full of character and flavor. [more]

Vinyes d'Olivardots “Finca Olivardots” 2011 Empordà Red $25
This lush and forward red features deep berry flavors with a smooth mouthfeel, good acidity, silky mid-palate, and a lively, creamy plum and berry finish with chocolate brownie nuances. [more]

Vinyes d'Olivardots “Gresa Expressió” 2007 Empordà Red $40
This plush, deep and mineral laden wine takes its name from the gray granite/sandy soil its ancient vines are grown in, Gresa. [more]