A Tantalizing Taste of Spain in Old New York |
Bodegas Bilbainas Winery in Rioja
There are about 170 languages spoken in New York City, and with those foreign tongues has come an amazing array of wines and culinary specialties from around the world. The wines of Spain have come on strong in recent years, finding their way onto wine store shelves and restaurant wine lists in an ever greater variety.
A great way to appreciate Spanish wines is to accompany them with specialties that have been crafted by Spain's food artisans for hundreds of years. A wine tasting event on Tuesday night offered an opportunity to do just that.
Best of Spain Boutique
The setting was the best boutique for Spanish delicacies in the Big Apple, Despana on Broome Street in Lower Manhattan. There are mouth-watering displays of artisanal cheeses and cured meats, including the hard-to-find Jamon Iberico, also called Pata Negra. Just the thing to create a craving for some of the eatery's tantalizing tapas!
Hosting a tasting of wines from Spain, Despana treated guests to a buffet of cured meats, raw milk cheeses, and olives, while trays of tapas were generously offered. Wines made with a reverence for Spain’s long traditions were poured with the winemakers themselves on hand to offer guidance and answer questions.
Vina Pomal Reserve 2004
Diego Pinilla is the head winemaker for Bodegas Bilbainas, maker of Vina Pomal. He earned his first agricultural degree in Pamplona, and studied further in France. After winemaking stints in Spain and France he broadened his expertise by working in Australia, California, and Chile. He became the head winemaker for Bodegas Bilbainas in 2007.
Mr. Pinilla was pleased to suggest his winery’s Vina Pomal Reserve 2004, made from 100% Tempranillo grapes. He says it is an authentic Rioja, “really the personality of Rioja.” Sipping offered a medium-bodied red with dark fruit falvors. Subtle spice tones come from aging in oak barrels from Allier, France.
It is highly recommend you enjoy Mr. Pinilla's authentic Rioja with delicious food, and at about $21.00 a bottle, it is an excellent choice to bring to a dinner party.
Sustainable Rioja
Environmental responsibility coupled with respect for tradition are central to the philosophy behind Mr Pinilla’s winemaking. Irrigation methods and the annual amount of water used are strictly regulated. He said, “We don’t use pesticides in our vineyards.” Instead, pheromones are used to control insects. And, he added, “Our fertilizers are mainly organic.”
For further information on the food and wine cited above, go to:
Despana, The Finest from Spain
To follow American Feast on Facebook go to: American Feast on Facebook
To follow American Feast's Founder on Twitter go to: Jeff Deasy on Twitter
For information related to the purchase of advertising space and editorial coverage on the American Feast web site call Jeff Deasy toll free at 877-332-7875 or email him at jdeasy@americanfeast.com
