Recently, I received four media sample wines from Spain, each hailing from a distinct and renowned region: Rueda, Rías Baixas, Rioja, and Sherry. Inspired by this diverse selection, I decided to prepare one of my favorite classic Spanish dishes, Paella Negra, to explore how well it would pair with each of these exciting wines.. In…
Tag: Rioja
A Taste of Bodegas El Coto Rioja
These easy drinking wines offer terrific quality for the price, and would be welcome at in my glass and at my table anytime! The Rioja region in Spain was my initial foray beyond the realm of local California wines, and it remains a cherished favorite. I’ve consistently admired the remarkable quality-to-price ratio that Rioja wines…
A Taste of Herminia
As a wine enthusiast, I embarked on my journey into the world of wine many years ago. Surprisingly, I found myself drawn to the wines of Spain over France, with the wines of Rioja being my particular favorite. Not only did they offer a higher quality-to-price ratio, but they were also more accessible and reasonably…
Wine of the Week: 2016 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva
More often than not, my WOTW is a wine that I’m crushing on because of its combination of structure, deliciousness and food friendliness. Sometimes, I chose a WOTW based on the aforementioned factors, and because the wine evokes memorable experience the for one reason or another. That’s the case with the 2016 La Rioja Alta…
Reconsidering Rioja Blanco with the 2008 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia #WorldWineTravel
The #WorldWineTravel group is kicking off 2021 by virtually exploring wine regions around the world, one country or region at a time. Our focus in 2021 will be Spain, and we start in Rioja, the country’s fine wine capital. About Rioja The storied history of the area known as La Rioja dates back 3,000 when…
Grilled Garam Masala Lamb Chops Paired with Bodegas LAN Reserva #WinePW
We love our BBQ here in America and quite often we pair it with American wines. That’s cool, but what about wines from other places in the World? Can they pair just as well, or maybe even better with your favorite grilled fare? The theme for Wine Pairing Weekend blogging group this month is Rioja and BBQ. …
A Journey To Iberia And Beyond for Open That Bottle Night #WinePW #OTBN
Open That Bottle Night 2018 was a splendid five hour affair with memorable wines, food, laughter and fellowship shared with great friends! Of all the wine “days” (Cabernet Day, Chardonnay Day, Champagne Day, etc), Open That Bottle Night (“OTBN”) is my favorite. That’s because it’s a great opportunity for fellowship around food and wine; and making memories with the special…
Wine of the Day: 1970 Bodegas Franco-Españolas Rioja Crianza Bordón
Last weekend we celebrated a friend’s milestone birthday at Boulevard in San Francisco. We dined the “Wine Vault”, a wine inspired semi-private room with a brick lined ceiling that brings to mind dining in an underground cellar in France. As the evening was winding down, our gracious (and generous) hosts asked if we wanted anything…
Wine Country Wanderlust: A Photo Essay
Spring is a great time to visit wine country. There is a rebirth underway in the vineyards. The weather is more agreeable (well at least it is in California, where I’m based;-) It’s less crowded in tasting rooms. And rore hours of daylight mean tasting rooms are open longer. Vineyards are carpeted with brilliant yellow,…
Wine of The Week: 2001 La Rioja Alta “904” Gran Reserva #TempranilloDay
Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. My Wine Of The Week is the 2001 La Rioja Alta “904” Gran Reserva The Winery La Rioja Alta, S.A. was founded in 1890 when five Riojan and Basque families who shared a passion…