Spanish Wine Festival

On 30th September and 1st October, the Danish capital was the backdrop to the 3rd edition of ‘Spansk Vinfestival – Vinos auténticos’, an initiative organised by the daily newspaper, Ekstra Bladet, and sponsored by Wines from Spain and the Spanish Foreign Trade Agency Office at the Spanish Embassy in Copenhagen The event was targeted at Danish wine professionals, but also had a special interest in targeting consumers.

Those present —more than 1200 people along the two days— enjoyed a friendly atmosphere in which major Danish Spanish wine importers offered tastings featuring 200 wines from first-class Spanish bodegas from almost every Spanish appellation and protected geographical indication In addition, the event also boasted a Cava Bar and a Sherry Lounge, two specific areas where the characteristics and diversity of both types of wine were showcased.

The programme was rounded off with five masterclasses: two of which were devoted to Cava and were graced with the presence of Joan Amat and Rosó Gabarró (chairman and marketing manager of the Instituto del Cava, respectively), accompanied by speaker Sergi Castro i Solé. Masterclasses were also given on Sherry ‘The New Spain’, and on some of the wines made by Peter Sisseck at the Dominio de Pingus bodega

In an event focusing on premium Spanish wines it is only natural that a taste of Spanish cuisine be included on the programme, and in this case, as might be expected, it was presented in the form of Tapas. The Tango Food Club — owned by Argentinean Gustavo Cordes, with prestigious Catalan chef, Sergi Benages at the helm in the kitchen — was in charge of the Tapas Bar, one of the most popular attractions of the event thanks to a magnificent collection of ‘designer aperitifs’.

To all of which must be added the huge success of the tasting event targeted at the newspaper’s Wine Club members in which around 40 young Danish wine enthusiasts were treated to a wide range of Spanish wines.

Thomas Svensson, the event organiser, acknowledged that at the moment Spanish wines are not as well-known in Denmark as French or Italian wines. However, he is convinced that Spanish wines do have a promising future, and maintains that interest is increasing rapidly thanks to their excellent value for money and the allure of native grape varieties.

The 2012 edition of the ‘Spansk Vinfestival – Vinos auténticos is planned for the 28th and 29th September next year.

Do you know FORVM vinegar?

Then you have to discover the great wines that are the base in this vinegars, today I meet my good friend Albert from the company CELLERS AVGVSTVS . FORVM  located in the town of Tarragona by the east coast of Spain (just south of Barcelona) The wines of this small producer are extremely good and always great value for money with special focus on the chardonnay wine and the super interesting wine made of 100% cabernet franc that will age beautifully for the next 6-7 years.

I love when people know what they are doing and have the greatest passion for the land and the products that they produce, all in all these people are just farmers with a special gift to bless us all with good wines.

The flagship wine is the TRAJANVS reserva made with the blends of 40% Cab S 40% merlot and 20% Cab franc.  The three grape varieties were harvested on the last days of September (Merlot one week before) and they were elaborated separately of the selected grapes from the oldest vines, in the estate “Les Deveses”, just in front of the Mediterranean sea.

The grapes first had a cold maceration during 48 hours and then fermented at 27ºC during 14 days in stainless steel tanks. The intense maceration lasted two more weeks (28 days in total).

In March 2006 the wine was sent to first year oak barrels, where it made the malolactic

fermentation and there it remained until the end of 2007 (21 months total), moving it to different barrels after the first 10 months. In January 2008 the “coupage” was made and got ready for bottling.

 Albert thank you!

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regards from the sommeliere

Fine de Cognac & Thé

  
For the end of the year, the cold end of the year, Hennessy teamed up with the tea house maison de Thé Théodor and designer Mathieu Lehanneur for the creation of cocktails Fine de Cognac & Tea – including exclusive accessories for a limited edition.

Hennessy Cognac has developed a new concept around Fine de Cognac and tea, in collaboration with Thé Théodor and Mathieu Lehanneur.

The concept comes with four seasonal recipes for cocktails. Designer Mathieu Lehanneur created a whole tea set for this limeted edition.

The price of a Hennessy Fine de Cognac with cocktails recepies « Fine de Cognac & Thé » will be at 45 euros, and the carafe decanter limited edition with an infuseur by Mathieu Lehanneur will have a price tag of 250 euros, including a tea infuser.