ICONIC RED WINES OF SPAIN
Have you ever wanted to understand wine like a sommelier? These substantive and informative wine classes are perfect for the beginner looking to think like a pro, or an enthusiast looking to gain more masterful knowledge and wine tasting experience. Join the industry acclaimed, expert wine team of Barcelona Wine Bar as they reveal why these wines “taste the way they taste” with thought provoking facts about the regions, varietals, wine-making technique, terroir and history. Gain wine tasting experience and improve your own ability to decipher special distinctions in every wine you encounter as you explore four of Spain’s most essential red wine producing regions: Bierzo, Ribera del Duero, Priorat and Rioja
Rioja
On two levels, this region is about age. It’s an incredibly old and historic D.O. with a beautiful tendency to extensively oak age its wines. Red and white alike, these bottles celebrate the tertiary possibilities of wine. Set in an amphitheater terrain, protected by mountains, Tempranillo is king, and is flanked by Mazuelo, Ganacha, and Graciano.
Ribera del Duero
In the heart of Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero sits atop the elevated plateau of northern Spain. Stepping back in time, this area of the country is speckled with castles and Roman aqueducts. It has a desert-like continental climate, experiencing massive swings between temperatures both daily and seasonally. Part of the Tempranillo-belt, these wines are bold and muscular, with richly expressive fruit.
Bierzo
The gateway to green-Spain, Bierzo is the part of the country that’s lush with verdant rolling hills with a cooler wetter climate. But what Bierzo is really all about is it’s grape: Mencia, from which it makes wildly complex light red wines. This relatively unknown region is producing some of the most inspiring wines in all of Spain.
Priorat
Priorat is extreme. With an intense Mediterranean sun, steep roman-cut terraces and unforgiving dark slate soils known as llicorella, everything about this region is challenging. The primary varietals are the indigenous Garnacha and Cariñena. These wines are practically heroic: intensely proud and concentrated in every way with stewed inky fruit and ripping tannins.
Finding your wines:
The Wine.com Tasting Set Includes:
- Descendientes de Jose Palacios “Pétalos” – Bierzo
- Emilio Moro – Ribera del Duero
- Vall Llach “Embruix” – Priorat
- CVNE “Viña Real” Crianza – Rioja
OR
Barcelona Wine Bar has an expansive range of wines from these regions. Call in and pick up wine from one or all of these regions to taste along with us. Any Bierzo, Priorat, Rioja, or Ribera del Duero red wine will work perfectly for this class series.
INSTRUCTORS
Gretchen Thomas
Gretchen Thomas has obtained various levels of certifications from WSET, CMS, CSW and NOSA as well as being a certified Spanish Wine Educator from the Wine Academy of Spain, where she scored in the top 15 in the world. She is an award-winning beverage program authority, creator of several small production and custom wines, blender of Libélula Tequila, and currently the VP of Food & Beverage Innovations for Barcelona Wine Bars.
Emily Nevin-Giannini
Emily Nevin-Giannini is an accomplished wine educator and professional, focused on Spanish and South-American wines. She has earned an Advanced Certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, is a Certified Wine Specialist, has a Master Certification in Rioja Wines and is a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist in partnership with the Regulatory Council of Jerez. As Beverage Director, she travels extensively to procure wines for Barcelona Wine Bar, focusing on small producers who are using the highest quality methods.
