A promise is a promise...

When I launched WineSpark , I promised customers that I’d leave no stone unturned in uncovering the world’s best winemaking talent.

And that I'd reward their loyalty with the best prices, compared what they'd pay anywhere else.

One place I absolutely needed to go was Bierzo

Bierzo is a small and historic region in northwest Spain - with a fast-rising reputation.

It’s Spain's answer to Burgundy, where you get smooth and complex reds from the Mencía grape.

The quality here is generally excellent - and this all starts in the vineyard. Over 80% of Bierzo’s vineyards are between 80 and 100 years old - the highest average of any region in the world.

And the prices are starting to reflect this. Raúl Pérez - Spain’s most famous winemaker - sells his top Bierzo bottle for over €1,000.

You’ve got to see it to believe it

Last June, jumping on a tip-off from a trusted friend, I flew over to Spain to meet César Márquez.

I was told in no uncertain terms, that this guy was one of the finest emerging talents in Spain.

I’d also arranged to meet my dad over there, who was doing the Camino.

And it turns out the Camino passes right through Valtuille, César’s village. That worked out nicely!

We meet César outside his winery, and hop in the car for a tour of the vineyards. Bierzo is in full bloom, and there are vibrant green vineyards on rolling hills everywhere you look.

When we get back to the winery, we taste through almost every single barrel. César explains which plot each barrel comes from, and why it tastes the way it does. It’s an awesome experience.

A humble guy with nothing to be humble about

César was born into one of Spain’s most famous winemaking families. His uncle is none other than Raúl Pérez.

In fact he’s worked on his uncle’s wines for years behind the scenes - most of which fetch eye-watering prices.

Some people in César’s shoes would be content to sit back and live off the family’s glories.

There’s nothing complacent about this 35 year-old prodigy

It's clear that César is fiercely determined to make his own name for himself.

So he started his own personal project in 2015, to do exactly that.

At every opportunity he shows me how he's improving the wines. From vineyard decisions, to barrel selection and winemaking techniques.

At one stage he even asks my opinion on one of the barrels - would it be good enough for his top wine. Now I’m used to staying in my lane - winemakers make wine, I sell it - but you could tell he was genuinely using the opportunity to learn and get another opinion.

He's a perfectionist, and a humble one at that.

As we’re leaving the village, we bump into César’s beloved granny (and Raúl’s mum).

Despite no English, she’s most keen to know how my dad (the pilgrim) is getting on.

She also insists we don’t leave empty-handed - and off she goes searching for tins of her homemade chorizo and red peppers.

And I reckon that sums up the family pretty well - the mother of Spain’s most famous winemaker, rummaging in her shed for gifts for her grandson's Irish visitors.

I can see exactly where César gets his humility from.

(The tinned treats were absolutely delicious, by the way).

The wines keep on getting better

César's 2020 wines were a huge hit. They sold out in a flash, despite me having to ration them carefully.

John Wilson in The Irish Times raved about them. As did Leslie Williams in The Examiner.

So the arrival of the 2021s couldn't come quickly enough. And that moment is finally here!

Now’s your chance to try the new vintages - members can reserve their exclusive case here

César told me 2021 was a cooler vintage, so the wines are fresher and more elegant.

And I've managed to secure a brand new white - a Godello from precious 100+ year-old vines.

In the case you’ll get:

• 3x Parajes Mencía 2021 - César’s introduction to Bierzo, and incredible value too. He takes small parcels from all over the region to make this wine - including some hillside sites which sell for big prices elsewhere. This is one for the Pinot lovers
• 2x Valtuille Mencía 2021 - the grapes here are from César’s home village of Valtuille - it’s soft, silky and savoury, like a good northern Rh?ne Syrah. Just gorgeous and under 13% alcohol
• 1x La Salvación Godello 2021 - a stunning oak-aged white from a special 100 year-old plot of Godello grapes, one of the oldest vineyards in Bierzo. Combine the freshness of a good Albari?o and the complexity of a top Chardonnay, and you’re getting there

Form an orderly queue - there’s not much to go around

César is already exporting his wines to 45 countries, such is his phenomenal success. His wines are in high demand.

He loves what we’re doing with WineSpark, and I was able to get double the number of bottles that I got last year.

It’s still only enough to last us until the summer (if that). So if you’d like to try his wines this year, this is your one chance to do so.

Become a WineSpark member for €10 per month with no contract - and enjoy cost prices on César's Bierzo gems and all of our wines.