IBÉRICO HAM AND WINE PAIRINGS
The Ibérico ham is the absolute jewel of the Spanish cuisine. More than that, many people consider it to be the greatest food item in the world. Very few products, if any, can match the utter deliciousness, amazing aroma and incomparable taste of the best Spanish bellota hams.
Pairing such delicacy with wine can be a tricky business. Generally speaking, when it comes to food pairing there are two possibilites. One may try to complement both products, or instead one can dig into the contrast between flavours and textures.
GREAT WINES UNDER 20 EUROS
When buying wine, the two most important criteria are arguably quality and price.
Though matching both variables is seldom an easy task, we have strived to do so.
Modestly, we are quite happy with the result. A selection of Great Wines under 20€.
RED WINE: YOUNG, CRIANZA AND RESERVA
A distinctive feature of Spanish wines is the fact that, besides their grape variety or place of origin, they are classified according to the amount of time they spent ageing in different kinds of containers.
As is well known, ageing in oak is the most widespread procedure. Nevertheless, over the last years there has been an increase in the use of alternative materials and recipients, such as concrete tanks, clay amphorae or acacia and chestnut wood barrels.
PARKER: RIBERA DEL DUERO, TORO AND RUEDA
Back to work after vacation, we have the perfect solution for beating the holiday blues. Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate's specialist for Spain, has published a couple of pieces with the Duero river as the guiding thread.
The first focuses on the wines of Ribera del Duero, one of Spain's most prestigious Designations of Origin.
The second assesses the rest of the wine regions the river traverses in its passage through the country's geography, such as Toro and Rueda.
MIDSUMMER SPARKLING WINES
The Summer Solstice is here. In our mind, there is no better way to celebrate the beginning of summer than by opening a bottle of wine.
So, here is a selection of 8 unique sparkling wines that will bring a magic touch to our summer nights.
GREAT WINES FROM L'EMPORDÀ
This time we have prepared a selection of great wines from L'Empordà.
These are wines sculpted by the sun, the wind and the soil. Wines made from vines that struggle to survive. Wines grown in a harsh, rugged environment that brings them a unique personality. Wines made from traditional varieties, but also from international ones.
PARKER: PRIORAT AND HIGHLIGHTS FROM CATALONIA
The latest two articles published by Mr. Luis Gutiérrez in Robert Parker Wine Advocate are quite interesting.
The first reviews several highlights from all over Catalonia.
The second dives deep into DOQ Priorat.
After reading both pieces, we have prepared a list of 10 wines with 90+ Parker ratings. Namely, 4 reds, 3 whites and 3 Cavas.
GRENACHES DU MONDE 2018
From April 12th to 14th, the sixth edition of the "Grenaches du Monde" contest was held in Gandesa, in the southern Catalan region of Terra Alta.
The competition's main aim is to identify the best Grenache wines - red and white, both single varietal and blended - produced all over the world.
NEW PARKER SCORES FOR LA RIOJA
Like every year, Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker's correspondent in Spain, has published his assessment of the wines from La Rioja.
This time, Mr. Gutiérrez tasted the staggering number of 723 wines. Needless to say, we cannot offer you the whole list. Nevertheless, we have prepared a selecion of wines ranging from excellent to superlative. Here it is.
BARCELONA VINS NUS 2018 NATURAL WINE FAIR
On the 11th and 12th of February the Vins Nus 2018 Natural Wine Fair was held in Barcelona.
For two days, about 50 wine producers from the whole of the Iberian Peninsula and the south of France presented their new releases to a passionate audience of wine lovers.