Lavinia in Madrid's Salamanca is the largest wine retailer in Europe with 4,500 references in the cellar, plus a tasting bar at the back where 30 by-the-glass references pour from 10 to 22 euros.
Food program: Tasting room plates
Tip: Closed Sundays. The tasting bar (at the back) opens with the shop; the by-the-glass list rotates weekly.
Address: Calle Jose Ortega y Gasset 16, 28006 Madrid
Vinos Jose Pascual on Calle Castello in Madrid's Salamanca is the wine-bar-and-shop since 1948, with 350 references on the cellar, 25 by-the-glass and tablas of conservas, jamon iberico and queso.
Signature pour: Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, by the glass
Wine focus: Spanish wines, 350 references
Food: Tablas, conservas
Tip: Closed Mondays. The by-the-glass list rotates weekly; ask the staff for the current Ribera del Duero recommendations.
Casa Salvador in Madrid's Chueca has poured the vermut de grifo and Madrileno wines since 1941, with a wood-panelled dining room, bullfighting posters and a daily-changing pizarra of seasonal plates.
Signature pour: House vermut by the glass
Wine focus: Vermut de grifo and Madrileno wines
Food: Tapas, raciones
Tip: Closed Mondays. The Sunday lunch is the major weekly meal; cocido madrileno on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Taberna Tempranillo on Cava Baja in Madrid's La Latina is the wine-bar headline of the Cava Baja crawl, with 200 by-the-glass Spanish references and a daily-changing pizarra of tapas and tablas.
Signature pour: Mencia from Bierzo, by the glass
Wine focus: Spanish wines, 200 references
Food: Tapas, tablas
Tip: Walk-in only; the bar fills up Sundays during the vermut crawl. The pizarra changes daily; ask for current Mencias.
Vinos Jose Pascual on Calle Castello in Madrid's Salamanca is the wine-bar-and-shop since 1948, with 350 references on the cellar, 25 by-the-glass and tablas of conservas, jamon iberico and queso.
Signature pour: Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, by the glass
Wine focus: Spanish wines, 350 references
Food: Tablas, conservas
Tip: Closed Mondays. The by-the-glass list rotates weekly; ask the staff for the current Ribera del Duero recommendations.
El Pulpito on Plaza Mayor in Madrid is the Galician wine bar and tasca with 80 by-the-glass references, pulpo a la gallega and the daily-changing pizarra of Galician and Asturian wines.
Signature pour: Albarino from Rias Baixas, by the glass
Wine focus: Galician and Asturian wines
Food: Tablas, conservas
Tip: Closed Mondays. The terrace on Plaza Mayor seats 12; the inside dining room is wood-panelled and small.
La Venencia on Calle Echegaray in Madrid is the 1930s sherry bar where Hemingway drank manzanilla. The room pours only sherry, the prices chalked on the wood counter; no photos, no tip-jar.
Signature pour: Manzanilla en rama from Sanlucar
Wine focus: Andalusian sherries (fino, manzanilla, oloroso, palo cortado, pedro ximenez)
Food: Conservas, mojama
Tip: Cash only. No photographs (rule since the 1930s). The bar serves five sherry styles and three conservas; nothing else.
La Fisna on Calle Amparo in Madrid's Lavapies is the natural-and-biodynamic wine bar since 2014, with 120 by-the-glass references and a focused daily-changing pizarra of seasonal plates.
Signature pour: Comando G by the glass
Wine focus: Natural and biodynamic Spanish wines
Food: Tapas, small plates
Tip: Closed Sun-Mon. The by-the-glass list rotates daily; the pizarra changes by season. Owner Antonio pours personally.
