Talk-A-Vino

When it comes to wine, I never admit that I have favorites – I always say that I like them all. But deep, deep inside, I know that this is a little bit of a lie (just a tiny one, seriously) – it is Spanish wines I’m very particular to in many cases. Spain has the biggest area of the vineyards planted, and it is third wine producing country in the world, so you can imagine that there is quite a bit to learn about Spanish wines.

So, what I’m trying to tell you is this. If you are interested in learning about Spanish wines, and you live in a close proximity of Greenwich, CT, you are in luck! Barcelona Wine Bar and Restaurant in Greenwich, CT is offering to take you on the tour of four different regions in Spain, during the course of four evenings in March. Here is the description of the Passport Through Spain program from the Barcelona’s press release:

“Jet set through Spain in the best way imaginable with a glass (or several) of wine, expertly prepped tapas and the rustic, and warm environment of Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant in Greenwich, CT.  Each one hour class in the series (there are four in total) will focus on a particular Spanish region, history behind the wines and the food that best accompanies them prepared by Chef Michael Lucente.  These wine classes are designed to enlighten and inspire both the novice and enthusiast. Wine Steward, Jose Valverde will guide you along the way, with tips and tricks for successfully pairing your wines with local food.

The series will take place each Wednesday during the month of March beginning on March 5th at 7:00pm. The first wine-pairing class covers the Rioja region best known for its Old World style and their well-aged red wines. The second covers Galicia (March 12th), a seaside region. The third class on March 19th covers Montsant/Priorat, known for its powerful, elegant and complex wines and the last class on March 26th  will focus on the Valencia region.

Attend one class or attend them all. With the first class you attend, you’ll receive a Barcelona Wine Bar & Restaurant passport. Each time you attend a class, your passport will be “stamped” and you receive a complimentary tapa token to redeem on your next visit. Attend all four classes in the series and receive a [$100] gift certificate for two people.  Each class is $35 per person (plus tax and gratuity) with a maximum of 20 people attending. Reservations can be made by contacting rsvp@barteca.com.”

If you think about it, you will pay $140 for the four classes, and you will get four tapas tokens plus a gift certificate for $100 – which means that you will have great fun education basically… for free. Remember – there are only 20 seats available for each class, so don’t delay!  Also, as Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, in case you are still thinking about the present, the gift of wine education might be just it! ¡Salud!