If I were to note down all that I’d done in the last few days in activities alone you would be forgiven for confusing me with a grazing cow. I seem to have been eating, non-stop, for days. Much, I hasten to add, as part of some important work that involved getting to know better the wines from Castilla Perelada with an eight-course extravaganza.

The Spanish firm, Castilla Perelada, makes some very good wine indeed in Catalonia; with an impressive 150 hectares of vineyards in the tiny wine appellation called Empordà, situated in the most north-easterly corner, on the border with France. In truth, had I not known about Perelada, I suspect that Empordà might have passed me by entirely.

The wine range is extensive and, because they have vineyards across Catalonia, you’ll find Cavas and Priorat wines in the range too. In fact, the Waitrose ‘in Partnership With’ Cava is made by Perelada and at £8.99 represents good value for money This dining experience was, however, focused on the premium red wines. I will not bore you with a course by course account as I would rather give you the edited highlights.

I often think that if there was one thing I could pack and bring home from Spain it would be croquetas, and these fantastic, deep-fried bundles of béchamel sauce and jamón positively melted in the mouth with a glass of the 2005 5 Fincas Reserva (£12.99). What I really liked about the wine was that the richness of fruit did not come at the expense of elegance and there was real freshness to this blend of Merlot, Garnatxa (Grenache), Syrah, Tempranillo and Cabernet Franc. Frankly, I could have eaten and drunk that combination all day.

When the Asturian white bean stew with chorizo, morcilla (black pudding) and pancetta appeared, I must have morphed into a four-compartment-stomach cow because I demolished it; fabulously creamy beans with all that gorgeous meat. It was perfectly-partnered with the 2005 Cims de Porrera Solanes from Priorat (£17.99) which has to be one of the best-value reds I have tasted in some time.

It was beautifully-balanced with attractively refreshing red fruits and hints of the herbal too. The length of flavour was impressive, which was just as well as I was intent on savouring that bean stew for as long as was humanly possible.

Next up was the slightly more serious 2005 Classic Cims de Porrera Priorat (£36.99) whose concentration sets itself apart from the Solanes. I jotted down spice, caramel and cassis-soaked fruit on my notes before tucking into one of the nicest pieces of suckling lamb (all the way from Segovia) I have ever had the pleasure to eat. It was a real gastronomic delight.

I had tasted how good these wines can be with food and it is perhaps that factor that makes these wines more frequently found on restaurant wine lists than on off-licence shelves. If you see a Perelada wine on the list, give it a go. Alternatively, you will find the wines I’ve described for sale at www.everywine.co.uk To find out more about Sarah and to sign up for her wine postcards, please visit www.wine-talk.co.uk