It isn’t often you go to a wine tasting where the most expensive wine costs $36… and most of the wines being poured cost about $5 or $6 a bottle. Well, wholesale, anyway.

The Spanish Wine Cellar & Pantry event is always fun and loaded with delicious foodstuffs. Although there was no Serrano ham being carved this year, a number of gems in the wine department could be found, including an awesome Tempranillo from Bodegas Verduguez that can be yours for all of 12 bucks. (Again: Wholesale!)

Tasting Report: Spanish Wine Cellar & Pantry 2011

2010 Agricola Castellana Bascarlon Verdejo / $5 / B+ / very tart

2010 Agricola Castellana Apotesosis Verdejo / $5 / B

2010 Agricola Castellana Caballero de Castilla Verdejo / $5 / A- / tropical fruit heavy

2010 Bodegas Casal de Arman Casal de Arman / $8 / A- / big fruit flavors

2006 Maria Alvarez Serrano VX Cuvee Caco / $17 / B / tannic, brash

2007 Maria Alvarez Serrano VX Cuvee Caco / $17 / B-

2009 Belondrade Belondrade y Lurton / $16 / B / fresh melon, off finish

2010 Bodega Vina Costeira Coleccion Costeira Treixadura / $7 / A- / long finish, fruity

2009 Bodega Vina Costeira Coleccion Costeira Treixadura Barrel Fermented / $7 / A- / a barrel-aged Treixadura, oaky touch adds good balance

2010 Bodega Vina Costeira Albarino Ribeiro / $NA / A-

2008/09 Bodega Vinedos Tindeo CALA N.1 / $5 / B+ / soft and easy

2005 Bodegas El Cidacos MdT Rioja / $10 / B

2001 Bodegas Fuenmayor Nocedal Reserva Rioja / $11 / B+ / well aged but hanging in there

2005 Bodegas Fuenmayor Nocedal Crianza / $9 / B / too jammy

2008 Bodegas Olarra Anares Crianza / $6 / B / lots of earth

2005 Bodegas Olarra Cerro Anon Reserva / $12 / A- / big, austere

2005 Bodegas Olarra Summa / $22 / A- / intense, massive, needs time

2004 Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real Reserva / $14 / A- / earthy, rich and balanced

2004 Bodegas Riojanas Vina Albina / $13 / A / even better balance, tops of the tasting

2003 Bodegas Romero de Avila Salcedo Testigo / $9 / B / cocoa and raspberry

2006 Bodegas San Dionicio Mainetes Seleccion / $10 / B+

2005 Bodegas San Valero 8.0.1 / $10 / B- / ultra jammy

2009 Bodegas Verduguez Imperial Toledo Old Vine Selection / $12 / A / has it all, young and alive

2008 Domaines Lupier El Terroir / $12 / A- / spicy, lots of acidity

2008 Domaines Lupier La Dama / $21 / B / bit more tannin, rough

2010 Domino de Punctum Viognier / $6 / B-

2007 Finca Los Alijares Graciano Alta Expresion / $18 / A- / solid fruit, mild

2005 Bodega del Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria Crianza / $18 / A- / more body, firm

2006 Bodega del Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria Dominio de Valdelacasa / $11 / A- / smooth

2005 Bodega del Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria Nexus / $16 / B / lots of jam, too much fruit

2007 Pago Casa Gran Falcata Arenal / $12 / B-

2007 LaFou Cellar LaFou / $27 / A / great structure

2004 Sangenis i Vaque Clos Monlleo / $36 / A- / very dense

2004 Sangenis i Vaque Vall Por / $12 / A- / smoother

2002 Vina Extremena Corte Real Platinum / $20 / A- / smooth, big merlot notes

2007 Wine Innovators Truffle Valley / $18 / B+ / yes, it’s dessert wine with a touch of truffle oil; bizarre but not awful