When did you first become interested in wine?
Ever since I was a little boy, I have loved wine. It is a part of the culture. Spain is a country of wines and it is natural if you are a Spaniard to get used to wine at a young age.

What brought you into the wine business?
First of all, because I love the wine and working here gave me the opportunity to combine my passion with my professional career. When they asked me to join the group here at Bodegas Aragonesas, I didn't doubt my decision for a minute.

Do you have a favorite varietal or region?
Besides Campo de Borja? In general terms, most of the wines we enjoy in Spain are of excellent quality, so there is wine for every occasion-- an Albarino from DO Rias Baixas, the Rioja Reservas, and of course the famous Garnachas from Campo de Borja.

If you don't order wine at a restaurant or bar, which beverage do you choose?
The last time I was in France, I fell in love with Armagnac. It has such strong flavors but can be a very enjoyable drink. Here we also have a good variety of liquors. It depends on the occasion as well. If I want something with a meal, I enjoy a good glass of champagne. But the most important thing is that wine gives you the opportunity to savor something with friends.

What's your best wine-drinking memory? What was the occasion?
I had the opportunity to drink wine with many experts in the wine industry, during a session in which we cooked and went through wines from California to Autralia, to France and Spain. Testing all of the different flavors of all the regions in the world gives you an appreciation for how big the wine world is and how much there is still left to discover in wine.

In your opinion, which country, other than the U.S., makes the best wine? Why?
Many countries have made very good wine but wine is foremost a liquid that depends on where it is coming from, its terroir. And there are amazing pieces of art from all over the world. If I have to say, in Spain, we have a wide variety of wine from Pedro Ximenez from the South, to the roses in Navarra and red wines made from Garnacha in Aragon. Some of the Verdejos are also remarkable.

What is the first thing someone learning about wine should know?
The first and most important thing that someone has to learn when taking his first sips is that there are only two kinds of wine: the wines that you like and the ones that you don't. Then you can coach and learn more about the wines you like to figure out what it is that you like.

What are some of your favorite food and wine pairings?
To delight your palate you need to look for contrasts between flavors, and if you like the food and you like the wine, you will probably like them both together even more. The harder part is pairing the customer to the wine so that we can make a great match between what the customer wants and what we have to offer in our wines.

What wines should no home be without?
I always have and always bring a bottle of Fagus. It is a sure bet. You can bring it to a dinner with friends or to a lunch with a girl and you will never be disappointed by the reaction.