At this time of year, it seems almost inevitable that we should be talking about cheap wines, but that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice quality as well. Our suggestions that follow bring you some of the best Spanish wines at very reasonable prices, and each of them comes with a red seal, which means these wines have the honour of being among the 325 best wines in Spain according to the 2006 Red Seals Guide. Not a bad way to start the year, we’re sure you’ll agree.

If you follow our advice, over the next few weeks you should be able to sample some excellent Spanish wines ... without your wallet being hit too hard.

In each case, we indicate both the grape variety and the time spent in barrel, and we offer you some recommendations about the style so you can see which wine suits your tastes and when (and with what) you should drink it. Of course, we don’t need to emphasise the fact that each of these wines offers exceptional value for money and, as such, are an excellent choice whatever the state of your bank account.

WHITES. Rueda, just getting better and better
The Castilian DO has it all: quality, originality and good prices. In our opinion, Rueda is more and more the place to go to if you don’t want to be disappointed when it comes to choosing a white. The personality of the Verdejo grape gives these wines all the weight it takes to produce a solid, incredibly satisfying drink. Our list of favourites also includes an Albariño from the Rías Baixas.

• José Pariente 2004 (Rueda)
100% Verdejo
One of Rueda’s best Verdejos, this wine is fresh, fragrant and clean, with excellent varietal expression. It has a hint of cool grass to cheer up the winter.

• José Pariente F. Barrica 2003 (Rueda)
100% Verdejo
In its version that has spent time in barrel, this wine gains in complexity and subtlety. There is excellent balance between its smoky and fruity notes, coupled with an acidity that will allow it to evolve for a couple of years. It goes well with more complex dishes.

• Nora 2004 (Rías Baixas)
100% Albariño
Probably the best value for money white in the DO, this wine brings you all the flavour of the Albariño grape at a more than reasonable price for the region. With its fleshy fruit, floral sensations and aromatic herbs, it is full on the palate, fresh and satiny, and a wine of great intensity.

REDS. Tempranillo, Tempranillo and more Tempranillo
Spain’s finest red variety is very much the star of this selection, in which we can find several wines that are all from the same mould: Tempranillos with a short time in barrel (between four and six months) or more serious Crianzas around the twelve month mark. You should combine the younger wines with light, simple dishes and, as the time in barrel increases, look for more complex dishes with a more powerful flavour.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, the highly original Mestizaje from Valencia is a real discovery, a hidden treasure of Spanish wine.

• Valdelosfrailes Vendimia Seleccionada 2002 (Cigales)
100% Tempranillo
12 months in American oak barrels
A mature, sweet red in its prime, this is a perfect combination of ripe fruit, balsamic notes, flavour and freshness.

• Mano a Mano 2004 Tinto (La Mancha)
100% Tempranillo
6 months in French and American oak barrels
The best young red from La Mancha, this is a powerful, concentrated wine, with excellent fruity expression and good discreet woods. This fine Tempranillo has nothing to envy from the more traditional regions.

• Finca Resalso 2004 (Ribera del Duero)
100% Tempranillo
4 months in French oak barrels
An excellent wine, like everything produced by the Moro brothers. We particularly like its combination of floral and fruity notes on the nose, its balance on the palate and its persistent finish. For those of you who don’t want to be without a “great name” on your table.

• Cepa Gavilán 2003 (Ribera del Duero)
100% Tempranillo
12 months in barrel
A more evolved wine with longer in barrel to produce a slightly more serious red. Although no actually labelled a Crianza, this wine competes in the Crianza market and indeed is better than many Crianzas from the region. This is also a wine with heritage, bearing the signature of the Pérez Pascuas family.

• Corpus del Muni Viña Lucía 2003 (Castilla La Mancha)
100% Tempranillo
12 months in French and American oak barrels
A faithful exponent of the new La Mancha (but without DO), this red has nothing to envy from its equivalents in more traditional regions. It has perfect structure and sweet tannins with an abundance of jammy red fruits and pleasant balsams. This is one for any occasion.

• Ramón Bilbao Crianza Limited Edition 2002 (Rioja)
100% Tempranillo
15 months in barrel and the rest in bottle
A Rioja with a modern touch, this in an excellent designed and carefully produced wine that is a model of balance and regularity. Definitely much more than you could reasonably ask of a Crianza from Rioja, this is always one of our favourites.

• Mestizaje 2004 (Valencia)
Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo and Bobal
8 months in French oak barrels
The long list of varieties explains the name of the wine, which in Spanish is being used here as a synonym for a blended wine or coupage. One of the most original Spanish wines of recent years at an excellent price. For those who really want to try something different ...

• Grego Crianza 2002 (Vinos de Madrid)
60% Tempranillo, 30% Syrah, 10% Merlot
12 months in French oak barels
Excellent value for money from this modern, mature red that is very sweet and wraps itself around the mouth, with good concentration and a perfect balance between fruit and wood. Easy to drink, expansive and chewy.

• Pago Florentino 2003 (Castilla La Mancha)
100% Tempranillo
8 months in American and French oak barrels
Another example of how to perfectly combine fruit and wood so that everything is just right; very pleasant and harmonious, with a good concentration of fruit. One of the names from La Mancha that should be welcome on your table.