Vinoteca Barbechera Tapas & Wine Bar: Madrid, SPAIN

Date:  mardi 21 decembre 2010

Location:  C/ Gravina 1

28004 Madrid, Spain

http://www.vinoteca-barbechera.com/index.html

This wine bar shocked me with its down to earth, totally unpretentious environment and delivery of some of the most excellent tapas. I kind of remember sitting in high stool around glass tables that were resting on wine barrels, something like that.  Service is a little rough, but just remember that for the price and quality of tapas and wine tastings - honestly you will give a shit less about the service.  Trust me.

 

I am always in search of wine bars and amazing cocktails.  For my first night in Madrid, my local Spanish friend who knew very well that I am a self proclaimed oenephile, took me to Vinoteca Barbechera.  I was impressed with the way the thousands of bottles of wines were organized throughout the wine bar from floor to ceiling;  they definitely had some old beauties that I would love to get my hands on.  The place felt like a characteristic old wine shop.  It definitely smelled like one, with the moist, musty smell of wet wine corks in the air. 

The Spanish wines by the glass were plentiful to choose from, and were all very affordable.  The tapas were exquisite - everything looked unique, savory, delicious.  Too bad I had feasted all day long on tapas already at work.  I wasn't particularly hungry, yet knew that I had better taste something for the sake of having a tasting experience.  I am very glad that I did. 

We shared just three glasses of wine, and two small tapas plates.  The tapas plates to come are forever etched in my palate's tasting memory.   The first was a tuna belly served on top of grilled red bell pepper and toast.  Each bite was savory, fatty, oily, tantalizing my taste buds when I thought I could eat no more.  The second tapas dish was FOIE GRAS with a pear and fig reduction compote.  O_M_G_!!!!.  Let me tell you - the Spanish love their foie gras.  And they are veerrrryyy, very good at it.  I tasted the best foie of my life here at the vinoteca.  In this little, casual, totally non-pretentious wine bar that serves excellent tapas.  

Final price tag for two for the evening:  Total $35 Euros, for the both of us.  Heh.