From Ribera del Duero to Tokaj: The Global Journey of Vega Sicilia With Pablo Alvarez

From Ribera del Duero to Tokaj: The Global Journey of Vega Sicilia With Pablo Alvarez

From Wine Talks with Paul K. by Paul K from the Original Wine of the Month Club

April 2, 2026 · 46 min · Episode 507

About this episode

Pablo Alvarez shares insights into Vega Sicilia and the evolution of Spanish wines during a lunch at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

It is impossible to speak of the wines from Spain...at least the famous ones, without speaking about 1.) the Ribero del Duero and 2.) Vega Sicilia. When Wine Talks was asked to join a lunch at the Berverly Hilton Hotel and sit with Pable Alvarez, we responded with "Yes, please." Pablo Alvarez is the kind of guest who logs 135 days a year circling the globe, sharing bottles and stories that most of us only dream of tasting. You will come away with far more than just a sense of Spanish terroir—you'll get a rare look into the evolution of Vega Sicilia, Spain's most iconic and enigmatic winery, through the eyes of the family now behind its legacy. Alvarez demystifies what sets Spanish wines apart, charting their rise from unsung regions of Europe to an era where Spanish labels are now coveted on international shelves—and in the cellars of those in the know. You'll follow the Douro as it cuts through a tapestry of chalky soils and storied vineyards, and with it, unravel why only a fraction of Vega Sicilia's land becomes wine worthy of the name. Terroir isn't just a patch of dirt here—it's the collected wisdom of generations, old clones with hidden stories, the philosophical tug-of-war…

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