Always thinking about pairings.
Not in a “I feel like having a few gildas with walnuts and a glass of wine because I deserve it” kind of way—although that too.
I eat walnuts in between bites, so the flavor fades and each mouthful starts from zero.
I like going out for a walk around Salamanca, my city. Walking without rushing, looking at shop windows, and letting the aperitif find you.
A few weeks ago, I stopped in front of a display case full of gildas: shiny olives, anchovies, piparras, perfectly assembled pickles… and that promise of simple pleasure that says so much about the way we eat and drink.
The gilda: small, intense, and full of character
The gilda is a small bite, but it says it all. Salt, acidity, a touch of heat, and plenty of umami.
That’s why wine isn’t just any accompaniment—it’s a fundamental part of the experience.
Depending on the ingredients—anchovy, white anchovy, prawn, octopus, cheese—the pairing changes. Fresh white wines with good acidity, sparkling wines that cleanse the palate, or even very light reds with little to no oak can work, if the gilda calls for it.
The key is to taste, adjust, and enjoy without rigid rules.
Wine, aperitifs, and wine tastings in Salamanca
These are the kinds of combinations I work with in the wine tastings in Salamanca that I organize as part of my Lavetonia project.
Tastings designed to discover wine through everyday life, through what we eat and share—without unnecessary technical jargon or solemnity.
Because wine is better understood when it’s paired with something real, familiar, and flavorful.
When it’s tasted calmly, talked about, and experienced as part of a complete moment.
I’ll tell you where to find the gildas in Salamanca
Because yes, that walk ended with going inside. And this is what I tried.
The shop is called Embutido Sánchez Marcos.
They come from a family lineage dedicated to cured meats, a tradition they have blended and enriched with the spirit of the classic old-style grocer.
Un sitio donde el aperitivo se toma en serio, donde las gildas están bien hechas, bien equilibradas y con producto que se nota desde el primer bocado.
It’s on Azafranal Street, number 4, near the Liceo Theatre, just to help you place it.
One of those places that doesn’t need big explanations: you look at the bar, you look at the display case, and you know your pairing will be in good hands.
An extra that always adds up
And if the gildas leave you wanting more, there’s also cured meats. The good kind. The kind that’s sliced thin, shared, and makes “just one more glass” happen effortlessly.
And yes: yummy, yummy.
Lavetonia: enjoying wine from Salamanca
From Salamanca, at Lavetonia, I create wine-centered experiences born from moments like this: a well-thought-out pairing and the desire to enjoy without hurry
Wine tastings in Salamanca are the perfect excuse to learn, discover, and above all, share.
A way to round off your visit to the city.
Because in the end, the best pairing isn’t only in the glass or on the plate, but in the moment itself.
Sometimes, you don’t need anything more. Don’t you think?
