Happy new year! After a cold snap over the holidays, January has been turning out some perfect days for heading to the beach. With that in mind, we’re posting a throwback to a delicious Miami Beach restaurant, Mareva 1939, which offers Spanish food with a comprehensive list of natural wines and vermouth.
Move over sugary cocktails on Miami Beach! Mojitos are no longer the only game in town. Isn’t that a relief? (Although, we do love Mojitos, too.)
If you’re looking for something a little more interesting to drink on Miami Beach, head over to Mareva 1939 Spanish restaurant located at the National Hotel, and explore their low-intervention, organic, and biodynamic wine list.
Mareva’s Director of Food and Beverage, Alejandro Delgado, does a great job sourcing a diverse collection of wines from across Europe and South America. His focus is on wines made by organic and biodynamic practices. Call them “natural” wines, or whatever makes you comfortable. The point is, he built the list to include wines made with the lowest amount of intervention or with thoughtful practices.
Mareva 1939 Spanish Food & Natural Wines
Start your night here with a palate-opening flight of vermouth. Indeed, there is a colorful flight of four different tastes of vermouth that can entice your appetite. From something with a bit of sweetness to mouth-puckeringly bitter, this flight is a unique way to begin your evening. It’s not easy to find a vermouth flight in Miami. So, if you’re interested in this type of tasting, Mareva is the spot to dine.
Beyond vermouth, there’s a whole list of sparkling, whites, reds, and rosé from producers you may already know, like Bodvár from France or Trapi del Bueno from Chile. Many others are ripe to explore.
How about a glass of Ameztoi Txakolina with Cantabrian anchovies and Boquerónes, or paired with Spanish octopus with potato cream? The night never starts badly when Conquilla Brut Rosé Cava is on the table. Try the Albamar Albariño with the lobster and seafood rice. Fresh, with crisp acidity, and lemon citrus, this wine perfectly complements the dish.
For reds, choose from bottles of Garnacha and Mencia, in addition to Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon – better for the carne dishes like braised short ribs or ribeye.
Even Sherry made it on the list. Specifically, guests can enjoy La Cigarrera Manzanilla, El Maestro Sierra Oloroso, or a sweet Moscatel. Though not always present, Sherry represents an important component of any Spanish restaurant wine list.
After dinner, stop by the chic Art Deco Bar 1939 inside the National lobby, then head next door to the Sagamore Hotel to visit our friends at Water Lion wine bar. You’re in for a night of some interesting wine drinking on Miami Beach, guaranteed!
Mareva 1939 Natural Wine Thursdays
Summer 2022: Until August 31st, Mareva 1939 is offering “All About Natural Wine Thursdays.” From 5PM-12AM on Thursdays, enjoy $7 wine by the glass and 50% off select bottles.
For more Miami Beach restaurants and wine lists, visit our Dining page.
Jacqueline is a professional wine + travel writer, radio host, wine columnist, and consultant based in Miami, FL.
She is the monthly “Vino” columnist for Biscayne Times newspaper, a guest host covering the drinks segment on Linda Gassenheimer’s podcast show, “Food, News, and Views,” and Star Wine List’s Miami Ambassador.
Jacqueline is a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist & WSET 3.
