It is no secret that the province of Pontevedra is one of the places in Spain where wine culture is alive and well. And the best thing is that you can drink very well, not only in fancy restaurants, but also in a good number of bars and taverns, accessible to anyone with a passion or curiosity for this beverage. One of these great little places where wine is a priority, and which we finally got to visit in the summer of 2024, is Derby, in Vilagarcía de Arousa.
Jose Dieste, who took over the 80-year-old restaurant from his father, has made wine the hallmark of Derby. There are over 1700 different wines from 15 countries available to enjoy by the bottle, but Jose also uses a Coravin to serve many of them by the glass. In addition, Jose pours wine from six taps. He rotates wines from small producers, mainly from Galicia, which are available by the glass but also in half-litre and one-litre carafes. Customers can even buy them to take home, just as was customary year ago in most shops and taverns.
The food at Derby is also well worth a visit. It offers a variety of dishes, made with quality ingredients, many of them farm-to-table, and recipes with an innovative touch. As with the wines, the prices are also very reasonable.
The space, welcoming and tight, includes the main dining room, a private dining room and a couple of pleasant outdoor terraces at both entrances to the restaurant to enjoy when the weather is good.
An enterprising fellow, Dieste has also been organising the independent Castes Fair in Vilagarcía de Arousa since 2017. Open to both professionals and individuals, it takes place every year in November (from the 22nd to the 25th in 2024). In addition to the fair, which in 2024 will feature 120 wineries from all over Galicia, the rest of Spain, Portugal, France and Italy, Castes includes a tasting championship in teams, workshops and a competition for the best wines at the fair. Y.O.A.
