Christopher Cannan EuropvinCatavino has singlehandedly made an immense contribution to the understanding and introduction of modern communications to the world of wine in Iberia
My entire life has been surrounded by food. The rich smell of simmering meat and the pop of an uncorked wine bottle take me back to family gatherings spent huddled in the kitchen listening to heartfelt laughter among people I love. I equate food to family, to history and to culture. Here in Spain, I […] Continue Reading →
Why is it that every time I write this post, I feel like I am announcing the title for a marvel comics series. In a deep echoing voice, I imagine myself with a cape and megaphone, shouting “Liiiinks Aroouuund theee Weeeeeb!!” while keeping my right hand raised high with a clenched fist as if to […] Continue Reading →
El Bierzo, has been referred to as ‘the gateway to Galicia’ for its lush green valley that gently guides you between two ominous mountains into DO Valdeorras in the southwestern corner of Galicia. Although I’ve only seen small glimpses of Galicia, I can only imagine how stunning this vision must be. But beyond its fertile […] Continue Reading →
Bodegas Peique was created by a handful of family members who were dedicated to cultivating and elaborating quality red wine. The family has been intimately familiar with winemaking for generations, having not only lived in region of the bodega their entire lives, but having also owned, cultivated and elaborated wines for centuries. The name of the Bodega is a reflection of both the family name and their character. Their wines carry the familiar mark, Peique, accompanied by the name “Spiritual”, each one baptized as if part of the family.
Founded in 2000, the Bodega was created with the philosophy of elaborating wines from the native varietial, Mencía, using 40 to 100 year old vines which express the complete terroir of Bierzo. Our philosophy is very different than the Château concept where one only uses grapes located from the vineyards surrounding the Bodega, whereas we rescue and revive the old vineyards throughout the Bierzo to elaborate the single variety (Mencía).
Ok so it’s been awhile since our last Rooftop Tasting, but we’re back. I’m still not a fan of editing, so if any of you out there want to help with that send us a note. We’d love to have some help with it. Otherwise, in this episode we taste a couple of wines from […] Continue Reading →
The end of May’s Virtual Wine Tasting of the Albariño varietal ended yesterday with some fantastic contributions from both people who have been commenting quite regularly like Richard, Bill, Sonadora and Dr. Debs to newcomers like Huevosconvino and John. To all of you who are participating, Ryan and I would like to throw out a […] Continue Reading →
Cuatro Pasos 2003 – Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo(8/2/2006)100% Mencía, This medium-high intensity, garnet hued wine spends 2 months aging in the barrel (75% French oak and 25% American) and a minimum of 8 months in the bottle. Reminiscent of fresh fruit such as cherries and red plums, accented with the coconuts, vanillas, and smoky […] Continue Reading →
Martin Sarmiento 2003 – Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo (8/2/2006)The difference that 6-8 months in the barrel makes, comes out in the smoky, meaty, black pepper aromas of this full bodied wine, and the cherry liqueur fruity tones. Very good integration between the fruit and the wood, and herbal and licorice undertones.
Catavino evolved from the wanderings of an American couple who craved a radical change in perspective. In 2005 they quit their jobs, moved to Spain and dug deep into the local gastronomy.
As time passed, they expanded their focus to include Portugal, whereby sharing the heart and soul of Iberian food, wine and culture. We invite you to follow our adventures via our blog or, for those who'd like to experience Spanish and Portuguese gastronomy themselves, we'd like to offer you our firsthand tips on travel and our expertise in organizing food and wine tasting tours (coming soon!)
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