The Wines of the Magician: Raúl Pérez

THE WINES OF THE MAGICIAN: RAÚL PÉREZ

Critics call Raúl Pérez the magician of Spanish wine — and once you’ve tasted what he does with old vines in Bierzo and Galicia, you’ll understand why. He makes more than 200 different wines, rescues vineyards other people gave up on, and has done more than anyone to put Mencía on the world map.

Five wines. Two whites, three reds. Tapas with every glass.

We’ve built the evening like a climb up the ladder — from salty Atlantic whites, through his village reds in Bierzo, to the steep slate terraces of Ribeira Sacra. Along the way you’ll taste exactly why his wines get compared to great Burgundy, at a fraction of the price.

💬 A NOTE FROM MARTHA

“Every week I love bringing you great Spanish wines. As most of you know, I built Martha’s Vineyard around finding bottles that are hard to track down, great value and simply delicious. But if you ask me, the wines of Raúl Pérez are the best of the best. He works magic with Mencía — a grape that’s still underrated and almost kept as a secret among Spanish wine lovers. I can’t wait to share them with you.”
— Martha

🍾 THE LINEUP 🍾

🥂 Ultreia Godello — Raúl Pérez, D.O. Bierzo
We open with white, because this Godello changes minds. Wild yeasts and a year in big old foudres and concrete give it a creamy texture, but it stays bright, mineral and dangerously drinkable.

🥂 Sketch Albariño — Raúl Pérez, D.O. Rías Baixas
A cult Albariño from a tiny parcel around 50 metres from the Atlantic. Flinty, salty and razor-sharp — the most “ocean” white you’ll taste this year.

🍷 Ultreia Saint Jacques — Raúl Pérez, D.O. Bierzo
His calling card. Pure Mencía with no heavy oak — fresh, juicy and named for the Camino de Santiago, which runs right past his vines. This is our baseline for what Bierzo tastes like before we start digging into single vineyards.

🍷 La Vizcaína “Las Gundiñas” — Raúl Pérez, D.O. Bierzo
Now we get specific: one vineyard, planted in 1910 beside the Camino on deep clay. Darker, earthier and silkier than the Saint Jacques — proof that the soil changes everything.

🍷 El Pecado — Raúl Pérez, D.O. Ribeira Sacra
“The Sin.” Half a hectare of century-old vines on granite and slate terraces, made in tiny quantities. Perfumed, elegant and a little wild — the perfect finale.

💎 AND ONE FOR THE COLLECTORS 💎

La Muria comes from Raúl’s vineyard at 1,045 metres — the highest in Bierzo — and has twice been awarded a perfect 100 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Only a few hundred bottles are made. We won’t be pouring it, but we’ll have a very small number available to buy on the night.

YOUR HOST

Martha Ardila has been matching wines with food, people and good moods for more years than she’d care to count. She runs the room like a conversation, not a lecture — she wants to know which wines you love and why, she’ll ask guests to score their favourites and chat about which they preferred, and she makes you feel part of the whole experience. Join in as much or as little as you like. Questions are always encouraged.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

✔ Five Raúl Pérez wines from Bierzo, Rías Baixas and Ribeira Sacra
✔ Tapas pairings with every wine
✔ Expert guided tasting with Martha
✔ A rare chance to buy a 100-point bottle

€50 per person | Limited to 16 guests | 6pm – 8pm | Thursday 5 & Friday 6 November