Preliminary thoughts and updates on Barcelona these days. Short reviews on hotels, restaurants, wine bars and cocktail bars. Many of these spots will be written up more fully in upcoming blog posts.
A new generation of Rioja winemakers is bringing vineyard, varietal and terroir focus to the region. What these innovators in Rioja have in common is a focus on single vineyards, some planted with old vines. Young winemakers are searching for an expression of terroir–the essence of the vineyard, soil and climate. Vignerons, grower-producers, artisan winemakers or terroiristas are commonly used terms for these new producers.
Rioja doesn’t have Grand Crus, but certain wineries in Spain’s most famous wine region have a reputation for fine wines. Classic Rioja wineries make long-aged immortal wines, while new-style producers focus on single vineyard Tempranillo wines.
Back from some days in Madrid, so some preliminary thoughts and updates on hotels, restaurants, wine bars and cocktail bars.
Priorat may be the star of Cataluña’s wine lineup. International grape varieties have happily been pushed into the back seat by local Garnacha and Cariñena. Producers new and old have sought to make lighter, fresher wines that don’t need years to calm down. The result? Priorat is here to stay as one of the best wine regions in the world.
