March: This is typically a month of two halves. The first half includes the final preparation for spring, including planting new vines in areas that are free from frost-danger. Spring does not officially start until the 21st March but the unpredictable variation on temperature has meant this can often come sooner. As the weather warms up in the second half of the month, so does the soil temperature and several things start to happen. The new canes will start to produce sap and the vines will come out of dormancy as the temperature of the soil reaches around 10°C . The winter buds will slowly expand and become woolly, leading to eventual budburst as seen in the picture above. Spring is finally here!
Hello Wine Lovers! It’s snowing whilst I write this, so whilst it does feel unusual to be talking about Spring, it really is just around the corner. A wonderful time for us all living in Barcelona, and a very busy time in the vineyards. To celebrate, there’s another two wine tastings coming your way. The first on the 8th March will be a tasting of modern Garnacha from across Spain, made in a variety of styles. Then, on the 22nd we’ll be heading to north-eastern Italy to see what’s being made in the mountains, the plains and everything inbetween; there’s a lot more to this region than Prosecco and Pinot Grigio! I’m looking forward to seeing you there, hopefully with slightly warmer weather to match!
Events: Maestrazgo Wine Club:
8th March 2018 – The New Face of Spanish Garnacha – 10 spots left – 30 euros p/p
22nd March 2018 – International Wine Tasting: North-East Italy – 10 spots left -30 euros p/p
Articles: I probably spend too much of my time reading online articles about wine. However, as a result I can find and select a choice few to share – here are my three favourites from last month!
1. ‘In praise of lighter vintages’ by Jancis Robinson MW. Being an article based on British-trade tastings, it’s unsurprising to see that Bordeaux and Burgundy are in the spotlight once again. However, the idea of looking at less impressive vintages applies more strongly to Spain than most countries, as our temperatures are usually at the higher compared to other European countries. Warmer vintages still grab the spotlight with their ripe, powerful wines that are often tasted and judged early upon release, but do they hold us up as well their fresher siblings? Time will tell, but my personal preference is often for fresher years. https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/in-praise-of-lighter-vintages
2. ‘Mallorca: Pure Mediterranean Style’ by Amaya Cervera. Completely by chance, this article was published by Spanish Wine Lover just as I started my Spanish Value Experiment with a bottle of wine from Mallorca. As always, their coverage is extensive and detailed, interspersed with commentary from key wine-makers in the region. As Spanish wine continues to spread its wings, it’s incredibly interesting to see what’s going on around the country and no-one explains it better than Spanish Wine Lover. https://www.spanishwinelover.com/learn-298-mallorca-pure-mediterranean-style
3. ‘Cause and effect’ by Andrew Jefford. The wine industry is well placed to have an opinion on the effects of global warming. As farmers of a crop that’s sensitive to even minor fluctuations in weather patterns, it’s quite noticeable how much has changed over the last few decades. Andrew Jefford sums this up nicely, focusing on the fire/hail/frost strewn vintage of 2017 and proclaims it to be ‘the most disaster-strewn years since phylloxera’. I find it hard to disagree with him, and it really is a problem we’ll have to tackle head-on if it’s set to continue. http://www.decanter.com/premium/andrew-jefford-2017-vintage-383485/
Wine of the month: I’m constantly on the look-out for wines of real quality and value; here is my favourite wine of the month
Clos Lojen 2016: With my Spanish Value Experiment well underway, I foresee a month or two of recommending wines with an excellent price-to-quality ratio! Clos Lojen is a 100% Bobal wine, produced in DO Manchuela by Juan Antonio Ponce and sold for an outrageously affordable €6.90. Firm, zesty and incredibly moreish; full of black fruits, violets and herbs. To read the the full write-up of the wine check it out here. I’m not sure if I’ve tried a better wine at this price point – lovely stuff!
Social Media
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That’s it for this months newsletter. I hope you enjoyed it and please, if you have any suggestions or things you would like to see get in touch! Either respond to me here or email to fintankerr@winecuentista.com I can’t wait to see you all soon for more wine, food and good company.
Fintan Kerr