Martinez Wines

I’m a generous kind of person. What can I say it’s the type of girl I am. So I’m feeling the need to spread a little love. So how can I resist a quick stop at Martinez Wines?
Ilkley is awash with great shops and I must admit Martinez Wines is definitely up there with the best of them. It’s a great shop, packed obviously with wines and all sorts of treats. To my delight I also found a cheeky bottle of Frangelico liqueur. To those not aware of the joys of this beverage, it’s a quite stunning hazelnut number that is pretty hard to track down. Trust me to like expensive and hard to find Italian drinks. It’s a bit like the men I look for as well.
Armed with so much choice, I asked for some advice on top tipples and got a very knowledgeable and friendly man to help me find a cracking bottle of red for my dad. Everything they stock goes through a rigorous tasting process and they were happy to tell me that all the staff are involved in the tastings. They even have wines from Lebanon and more spirits than you can shake a stick at.
If you’re looking for that special drink or to indulge yourself on a Saturday night then they have the stock and staff to help find a delightful drink. Excellent.

This place has to be one of the best wine and drinks specialist place I’ve been to in a long while. There are many reasons to visit here, and I will try to ensure I list them all, but whichever reason you pick you must come and visit the shop at least once.
The shop is literally filled with a beautiful and specialist selection of fine wines, rare spirits and delicious foreign beers. I bought my boyfriend a selection of four different bottles — two different types of Alhambra, one was a cerveza extra reserva 1925 which tasted like a delicious pilsner, the other a cerveza especial which tasted darker and more like an Indian beer, an Erdinger Dunkel and a pilsner which I’ve forgotten the name of! All four, which I of course sampled, were delighful!
Then there are the staff. They know their stuff, and their signage doesn’t lie — there is no hard sell! It’s the worst thing to go in for a browse and receive hassle, but you can rest assured that there will be none of that in here. In fact my friend and I ended up having a bit of a natter with the chap in there who suggested places to go for walks in Ilkley and let us know of a wine tasting event on the 23^rd March in Ilkley! (If you’re interested it’s £10 in all you can taste and will serve tapas! £5 goes to running costs, £5 goes to charity — see you there!)
All in all this place is a great shop to go for a special bottle, a natter, and generally a nice time. I’m told, by their lovely shop assistant, that they will soon be opening a bar and wine-​tasting cellar in the downstairs of the building so watch this space! I’m so there when it opens!
Awesome stuff.

Martinez is just the sort of wine store you’d expect to find in a posh little place likely Ilkley.
Near the world famous Betty’s, it has a similar reputation of class and expense, and the owners and staff of this independent place really know their stuff about wine.
I actually went in here with my wine-​obsessed parents, and even they were struck by the range (and price) of some of the stuff on offer. With wine from every region of every country you’d expect (France, Australia, Argentina) and some you wouldn’t expect (Lebanon) they offer any true wine lovers and absolute haven and are only too keen to recommend the wine that fits your bill.
The rather exotic name doesn’t do this image any harm either.