Wines of Spain.- Rioja !!! Wednesday December 11, 2019 – 6:30 – 9:30+ – at Vizcaya Restaurant in South Tampa

Wine and Tapas – $35 (it covers the wine and 3 or 4 Tapas plus any surprises) …after that if you want to explore their menu you ‘re on your own; feel free. It’s good and authentic. It will be fun. Good food pairing!

The wines will be CAVA, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva along with some Spanish Tapas. The wines will be from Rioja and there maybe a Ribera Del Duero in there… But it’s guaranteed to be a good time and a learning experience. 

Reserva: A wine that says reserva on the bottle has been aged for two years; one of these years has to have been spent in oak.

Gran Reserva: These wines are aged for two years in oak and three years in the bottle.

Most Riojas are red, and Tempranillo is the principal red grape used. The native grapes Garnacha Tinta (Grenache in France), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano are also allowed in the blend. The Riojas can be in the elegant Bordeaux style, with hints of vanilla from the oak aging; which is the traditional style characterized by lengthy aging and some sweetness; or, gradually, in a more modern style with less aging, which highlights deep and fresh fruit flavors. All this pairs great with food.

White Rioja wines are usually made from Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasia grapes. Their will be some of that too.

Hope to see you there.