It opened only a few years ago, but Cork is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and dynamic bars not only in Bilbao, but in the whole of the Basque Country. Its wine by the glass menu is long, varied, international and original —a breath of fresh air in a city where drinking red Rioja is deeply and historically rooted, almost as much as local football team Athletic Bilbao.
Located in a central Bilbao street known to locals as Pozas, brimming with pintxo bars, Cork stocks around 25 whites and 40 reds by the glass, which change every two months approximately.
In this urban mini-estate for terroir seekers, lovers of albariza and fans of rare varieties and cult producers, wines such as Algueira (Ribeira Sacra), Pésico (Asturias) —made with obscure grapes like Verdejo Negro, Carrasquín and Albarín Tinto—, Táganan (made by the young Envínate team in the Canary Islands), txakolis from fine local producers such as Doniene and Itsasmendi or Dönnhoff Riesling (Nahe) are par for the course on the chalkboard at prices ranging between €2.20 - €9.
As well as these oddities, Cork offers wines that are rarely available to sample due to their price thanks to a couple of Coravin dispensers —one for whites and a second one for reds— that Jonathan, Cork’s young and savvy owner, uses frequently. His wine selection changes frequently and there's always something new, different or interesting to taste.
Although it is a wine geek paradise, the non-initiated or anyone "normal” wishing to enjoy some nice wines will not feel uncomfortable at Cork. Jonathan —who worked as sommelier and cellar manager at El Viejo Zortzi, a well known restaurant in Bilbao which belongs to his family— runs the bar very efficiently and is good at selling his selections, which include young and Crianza-style Riojas such as Ostatu and Luberri (both well known locally) or good-quality Rueda whites such as Finca Caraballas, poured form magnum bottles.
In a city like Bilbao, which oozes gastronomy, pintxos are a fundamental part of the ritual of poteo —a traditional form of socializing which involves going from bar to bar with the friends (cuadrilla) to drink small glasses of wine or beer and eat pintxos. At Cork, the counter exhibits a small but good selection of bites such as homemade pasty, just-cooked pintxos, cheese boards and oysters, perfect to pair with the champagne that Jonathan announces on the chalkboard.
Although space is restricted, Cork organizes wine tastings, usually led by Spanish producers. Y.O.A.
