Millo Vello - A Wine Lover’s Restaurant

      For those of us who believe that the wine with our food is as important as the food itself take heart.  There is a restaurant in Barcelona, Spain whose owner is as passionate about his wines as he is about the quality of the food he serves.  The restaurant is Millo Vello, where savoring delicious food, “prepared for the wine” is an exciting taste experience awaiting everyone.   

This friendly, neighborhood restaurant, not far from the hustle and bustle of La Ramblas will delight the most discriminating palate with such titillating international fare as a mouthwatering, meatless Moussaka, baked slowly for two hours, a platter of tender slices of Tuna Sushi Carpaccio, Salmon or Monkfish Carpaccio plus some enticing Catalan specialties of grilled squid with luscious black rice or bacalao (salt cod) with asparagus and more. 

The wine list at Millo Vello is an exciting, virtual wine tasting tour of Spain with wines from Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Penedes, Cataluña, Bierzo and also wines from lesser known wine producing regions.  These wines are not only excellent examples of their regions they are also blended with some intriguing combinations of grapes.  For example, a robust red wine made by Finca Villacreses, blended with Tinta Fina, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. From my favorite Spanish wine producing region Ribera del Duero, there is a complex Garnacha, Merlot and Mazuelo from winemaker Mas Rabell, and a seductive combination of Garnacha and Merlot produced by Embruix to name just a few.      
            One could not hope for a restaurateur with as much knowledge and passion for wine as Manuel Salgado.  His philosophy is simple.  “I am only satisfied when both the food and the wine are enjoyed— not one without the other.”   His devotion to serving the right wine with his dishes is such that he often adjusts recipes based upon the wine someone orders with their food; a rare restaurant practice I personally experienced.  “I cook for the wine.”   He said smiling sheepishly when I mentioned a difference in the seasoning of my black rice dish from that listed on the menu description.

Manuel “grew up with the grape”, making wine on his family’s vineyard in Verin Spain.  This is where his “love affair” with wine began.  As the youngest son of three, he started working in the family vineyard at the tender age of four with his father; who to this day still tills the soil with a horse drawn tiller.  Today, his knowledge and reputation as an oenophile is such that he is often sought out by wineries in Spain for his opinion of their wines.

           There are many fine restaurants in Barcelona that I have enjoyed and written about.  Some are noteworthy for their food others for their wine and still others for their outstanding service or ambiance.  Few are as memorable as Millo Vello for both food and wine.

 Olé Manuel!

Millo Vello

CALLE SARDEÑA, 48-62

 08005 Barcelona, Spain

METRO MARINA