I’m in Rioja, on a short trip with Vintae, a dynamic wine company looking to make authentic wines across several Spanish wine regions. They’re working with organics, marginal vineyards, forgotten vineyards and have a particular focus on Grenache. We’re staying in Logroño, so on the first night it was pretty much obligatory to go tapas bar crawling in Calle Saint Jean and the famous Calle Laurel.
Many of the most authentic tapas joints here serve just one dish. For example, we visited one that specialises in mushrooms, and another that specialises in pigs cheeks (a bit too weird for me). At another we had pigs face (fried, delicious). Wine is cheap – typically you get a glass with each pincho, and it’s less than €2.
Bar Soriano specialises just in mushrooms
How to spot a more authentic joint? Look for the discarded paper napkins on the floor.
Eating is, of course, standing up. And while there are tourists here, the majority of customers are locals.
Pig’s face
Here’s a film of bar crawling in Logroño:
Good report. The Soriano is an absolute classic, the sort of bar that I think is unlikely could exist in other countries.