A singular cellar, five meters tall and tucked into a compact twelve-square-meter space, charms wine lovers with its rarefied atmosphere. The Dining Hall at Madrid’s exclusive Canalejas Gallery invites visitors to sample any of more than 200 national and international wine references housed in a revolutionary tasting machine, a feature that has drawn interest from hoteliers worldwide.
The final corner of the Galería Canalejas, known as the Crazy Gourmets enclave, stands as a temple of gastronomy in the heart of Madrid, just a short stroll from Sun Gate. The venture was launched by six partners—Marianela Olivares, Carmen López, Sergio Quesada, José Antonio de Benito, Marcelo Castiglioni, and David Basilio. It operates as a wine-tasting hub, offering glasses starting at 5.50 euros and bottles priced from 20 euros up to 8,000 euros. An online store is planned for the near future, and the showroom impresses with an automated height cellar that showcases and, of course, allows tasting of some of the world’s finest vintages — a true spectacle for wine enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.
Through a QR code, guests access an interactive menu listing the references from each cellar producer—visible data points include photos, tasting notes, and ideal pairings. The machine displays 24 labels at a time: 52 whites, three rosés, 76 reds, and 23 dessert or fortified wines. The sommelier guides guests through thoughtful pairings, such as carefully selected dried fruits from Lebanon accented with hints of wasabi, truffle, or black garlic.
Preserving wine quality at every step
For the most premium selections, members can rely on the Coravin system, which serves wine without removing the cork, preserving integrity. Its needle passes through the cork to fill the bottle with argon gas, pours the wine at the moment of demand, and reseals when the needle is withdrawn. This method guards the wine against oxidation and maintains its character for longer.
The space boasts the highest density of references per square meter in Spain. The Wine Shop presents a modern, stylish stand in burgundy and gold, with the centerpiece being the colossal automated wine cellar. The project was conceived by six partners, designed by the Seville technology firm Deprom and manufactured by Madrid-based Fridec, enabling access to a vast catalog of wines within a remarkably small footprint at this iconic, tourist-friendly location.
The system operates much like a vending mechanism. Staff select a bottle via a computerized interface, and the pantry rotates to present the chosen reference. In addition to storage at ideal temperatures, the system protects against bacteria with a specialized light. The aromas, colors, and flavors of the wines are illuminated in this corner of the hedonistic Canalejas Gallery, where bottles are treated as precious jewelry. Dion, a lighting system from Luzco, helps preserve the organoleptic qualities of wine by ensuring the lighting does not compromise the liquid’s integrity.