VINEYARD SPOTLIGHT

España-influenced Dishes and Matching Wines


Baigorri winery in Rioja at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria Mountains.

Baigorri winery in Rioja at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria Mountains.

On a tour of Spanish wineries earlier this year, the Baigorri winery, one of the newest and most modern in the Rioja, stood out. Located at the foot of the Sierra de Cantabria Mountains, the ultra-modern building at first sight appears to be a single glass box with a roofline reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright. Once inside the winery, however, you may be surprised to find that the winery descends seven stories, and all grape and wine movements are powered not mechanically but via gravity.

 

 

Spanish cuisine’s simplicity makes it easy to pair with wine. I was reminded that Spaniards are quite casual diners in cafes, typically starting the meal with tapas and wine while circulating around the restaurant to chat with old friends and make new ones.The variety of tapas is virtually limitless, from olives to cheeses, cured meats and fried squid (calamares fritos) — often consumed with wines like Tempranillo, Granache, Moastrell (Mourvedre) and Bobal.

Chorizo sausage, sliced thinly and cured to deliver the perfect tang, is a perfect finger food to go along with a bold, fullbodied red, like the stateof the-art gravity-flow, Samaniego, Rioja winery’s 2007 Bai Gorri Crianza (100 percent Tempranillo, aged 18 months in French oak, $21.99), and the Utiel-Requena, Valencia winery’s 2010 Bodegas Sierra Norte Temperamento, (100 percent organically grown Bobal grapes from 60 year old vines, aged 8 months in new French oak, $12.99). Both the 2007 Bai Gorri Crianza and the 2010 Bodegas Sierra Norte Temperamento vintages received 90 point ratings from Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar. (IWC).

Gazpacho, the liquid salad, goes best with a white.The same can be said for Paella, a saffron rice dish combined with white fish, shrimp, squid and clams. My favorite vegetable dish was the thick, soft and buttery, white asparagus spears from El Navarrico.

With all these dishes, try the 2011 Bodegas La Val Orballo Albariño, ($14.99) – a refreshing white, full of citrus notes with smoky wood notes.The wine recently received an “Outstanding” rating (18.5/20 points) from the Decanter Magazine, and Robert Parker’sThe Wine Advocate rated 90 points.

For dessert, try Turrón, a traditional sweet of Contributed Arabic origin, made primarily from almonds and honey.The Spanish Almond Nougat is the traditional Christmas treat in Spain and best enjoyed with a flute of chilled Cava.The Dominio De La Peseta Brut Cava, ($9.99), made using the traditional méthode champenoise, is an excellent choice with frisky and persistent tiny bubbles.

Buen Provecho!

You can reach Stephen Simms at stephens@swspotlight.com


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