Bringing together top Spanish wine producers with the international wine professional through videoconference – Sacramento (California)

September 21, 2009

THE WINE ACADEMY OF SPAIN INCORPORATES VIDEO CONFERENCING INTO ITS WINE TASTINGS IN ORDER TO BRING TOGETHER WINE PRODUCERS AND PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE WHOLE SECTOR.

The Wine Academy of Spain has incorporated a new element into its classic “Iconic Spanish Wine Tastings” that provides major interactivity: for the first time in the Tasting Sessions, the technology of video conferencing (Skype) can take the producer and the vineyard itself to the wine professional, by allowing real time communication.

The first time that this experience took place was in August during the 33rd Annual Conference of the Society of Wine Educators of the United States in the city of Sacramento, California, last month. The Wine Academy led its classic “Iconic Spanish Wine Tasting” with an additional component that sparked amazement and surprise amongst the audience on “having moved” the wine producer and the vineyard directly to the Tasting Room thanks to this technology.

They day began at 8:30am in Sacramento in the presence of 65 wine professionals and 14 unique Spanish wines under the supervision of Esteban Cabezas, supported by Rony Baque, responsible for the broadcast. From the Marques de Riscal Winery in Rioja, in the vineyards of Rioja Alavesa, Pancho Campo MW, together with a select group of Riojan wine producers, among whom were Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia and Fernando Remírez de Ganuza.

The tasting began with Gramona Celler Batalle 1998, when questions were asked about the aging potential of Cavas and also the high range of Cava. Later, the group started on the block of Riojan wines; starting with the most classic styles, with unique gems like Tondonia Blanco 1970, Tondonia 1964 and Riscal 1956, followed by more modern styles like Baron de Chirel 2001 and Ramirez de Ganuza 2004. While the wines were being tasted, the producers seized the opportunity to present personally their wines and to answer questions about their production techniques, the styles in Rioja, many about the Tempranillo grape, and even pulled up a bunch of grapes from the vineyard in order to show off their unique pruning styles.

After this, the tasting continued with the Ribera del Duero, beginning with the most classic winery, Vega Sicilia 1994 and 1995, and with Félix Callejo, where the panel tasted Selección de Viñedos de Familia 2005 (Selection of the Family Vineyards 2005). Here, the winery Oenologist, Noelia Callejo presented her excellent wine, coming from the family’s best vineyard. Javier Ajenjo of Bodegas Conde presented Neo Punta Esencia 2006 and gave a passionate and enthusiastic talk on his project, the team and Rock and Roll. The last wine looked at from this area was Aalto 2005, Javier Zacagnini and Mariano Garcia’s project, which provoked a debate about the new and old Ribera styles.
The next block began with Cachetas 2005, from Vineyard Magaña, as a representative of Navarra´s high quality wines, produced by Diego Magaña and his father. This was followed by Finca Garbet, the iconic wine of Perelada, in Empordá´s zone, a wine of great quality and special interest since a great part of the tasting panel scarcely knew this important wine region. Finally, the tasting ended with two of Andalusia’s unique wines: Amontillado del Duque VORS, of Gonzalez Byass in Sherry, and PX Gran Barquero of Perez Barquero from Montilla-Moriles.

The Society of Wine Educators is a non-profit organization that is comprised of approximately 1,800 wine professionals, ranging from educators and importers to distributors, sommeliers and journalists, whose aim is the training and professional development of its members across a series of qualifications of recognized prestige within the industry. www.societyofwineducators.org

WINE LIST

Cava, Gramona, Celler Batalle 1998
Rioja, López Heredia, Tondonia White 1970
Rioja, López Heredia, Tondonia 1964
Rioja, Marqués de Riscal 1956
Rioja, Marqués de Riscal, Baron de Chirel 2001
Rioja, Remírez de Ganuza 2004
Ribera del Duero, Vega Sicilia 1994 y 1995
Ribera del Duero, Selección de Viñedos de la Familia 2005 Félix Callejo,
Ribera del Duero, Neo Punta Esencia 2006 Bodegas Conde
Ribera del Duero, Aalto PS 2005,
Navarra, Calchetas 2005, Viña Magaña,
Empordà, Finca Garbet, Perelada 2004
Priorat, Vall Llach 2004
Jerez, Amontillado del Duque, VORS, González Byass
Montilla-Moriles, PX Gran Barquero, Perez Barquero Barquero