LA VINYA DEL SENYOR (El Born)

In the heart of El Born there’s a bar that’s so ravishing, it’s capable of stopping even the hardest wine lover’s heart. The setting is pure Mediterranean romance; think elegant couples sipping flutes of Cava, a sun-kissed terrace, and the backdrop of Barcelona’s most gorgeous Gothic stonework, the church of Santa María del Mar.

Venture inside and you’ll discover a cosy, softly-lit bar lined with mirrors. If you’re here with your lover, climb the rickety antique staircase to the adorable little table for two tucked away in the window overlooking the square.

Loftily named La Vinya del Senyor or “The Vineyard of the Lord”, this wine bar is known locally as the city’s best. As well as the alluring aesthetics, this is a real sommelier’s wine bar with a selection rivaled only by the city’s top restaurants. The twenty wines offered by the glass changes every two weeks, and you can choose to order a small (7cl) or normal (14cl) glass of any of these and create your own DIY wine flight.

The sommeliers are happy to pour you a sample of something if you’re wavering even if you just want a glass. There’s also a tempting selection of much more expensive wines by the glass like Clos Erasmus which are dispensed by Coravin to keep the wine fresh.

Prices may be steeper here than elsewhere, but you get exactly what you pay for. There’s some 350 wines on the list covering everything from legendary Priorat producers and Champagnes down to yummy, modestly priced Riojas.

Most are local Catalan and Spanish wines, but there’s also a very strong international offering for locals in need of a change. All that choice may make deciding difficult, but somehow the well-trained somms seem to know all the wines on the list and enjoy making recommendations. To complement your vinous indulgence, allow them to recommend some of their exquisite cheeses and charcuterie and smugly raise a toast to your own good taste.

#ElBorn