We were in the middle of the World Cup, and Spain, on the pitch, wasn't shining. So I told myself: let's go see where Spain never disappoints. In the glass.

A wine giant

Spain is one of the planet's major producers and has the largest vineyard area in the world, nearly one million hectares. Plenty of quantity, certainly, but above all, plenty of quality: from elegant, long-lived reds to fresh, modern whites.

The captain: Tempranillo

If Spain were a team, he would be the captain. Tempranillo makes great the two most famous regions: Rioja, more elegant, with red fruit, leather, and vanilla, and Ribera del Duero, darker and more muscular. But keep an eye on Priorat, in Catalonia, one of the country's most prestigious appellations. There, Garnacha and Cariñena rule, on slate soils called llicorella, giving birth to deep, mineral reds with a very strong character.

Surprises on the bench

Whites are the real discovery. Albariño from Rías Baixas, in Galicia, fresh and saline, smells of the Atlantic. Cava, the Catalan traditional method sparkling wine, offers quality at a very honest price. And then my passion: the Canary Islands. Volcanic wines, on black lava soils, often from ancient vines never touched by phylloxera. Listán Blanco and Listán Negro, with a minerality and smoky note you won't find anywhere else. These are wines that tell the story of the volcano.

How to start

Start with a Rioja Crianza with cured meats and grilled food. When you want more power, a Ribera del Duero or a Priorat with a stew or aged cheese. Albariño with crustaceans and raw fish, a white from the Canary Islands with a seafood risotto. And if you want to be a true connoisseur, a dry Sherry with olives and jamón: the quintessential Spanish aperitif.

Come and taste them. By the glass, you can take your tour of Spain one glass at a time. Coravin Wine Bar, Via Carlo Maderno 23, Lugano. Cheers!