Sarah Ahmed The Wine DetectiveIf you thought the world of wine was elitist or exclusive, check out Catavino. Unafraid to prick the balloon of pomposity and refreshingly open to comments and contributions, the dynamic duo have very successfully broadened the appeal of wine by placing it in its wider social and cultural context.
Editor’s note: All views expressed below are solely that of the author. All good things must come to an end. And it seems sadly appropriate that, after six years, Catavino – a site that mirrored so well all that was burgeoning and metamorphosing in the Spanish wine world – closes its doors just as the […] Continue Reading →
Not surprisingly, I’ve delayed writing this post for weeks, dutifully trying to answer the question, “what happened over the past 6 years and how does one summarize such an experience in one article?” Admittedly, it’s absolutely impossible. To write a one off post on how our lives have changed feels as inconsequential as writing a […] Continue Reading →
When we first moved to Spain, we arrived with almost nothing. Our Spanish consisted of ”hola”, “gracias” and after a couple of days hanging out with other Spaniards, “Vale”, the ubiquitous “ok”. Our friends were back in Minnesota, but we were in Madrid and lucky enough to have a place to live. A fellow TEFL […] Continue Reading →
What is the harvest looking like in Spain and Portugal? Having put in a few calls from across the peninsula, the answers varied tremendously. So rather than interpret it from our standpoint, we felt it would be more appropriate to post information directly from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. However, if you’re a winery […] Continue Reading →
I love Spain, but I love the view of the country that I have in my head from childhood and – democracy and human rights apart – that is how I still want it to be. Whenever I am there I seek out the traditional and the old fashioned, because I like it. Not for […] Continue Reading →
With helmets secured and gears oiled, 198 bicycle riders will push off from Sevilla on Saturday, August 28th, on a 3,352.6km journey that will last 21 days, ending in Madrid. This race, by our calculations, will take them through approximately 15 wine appellations in Spain, while passing by another 5-10 along the way. For the […] Continue Reading →
On Monday night I had the pleasure of attending Petit Comité, a tasting event for artisanal wines organized by Samuel Cano/Vinos Patio, La Cave du Petit Bar degustación and the Observatorio de Vino. Not only was it an incredibly interesting opportunity to try the natural wines made by 6 different winemakers, but it was also […] Continue Reading →
On Sunday, Barcelona was the site of Vila Viniteca´s third annual “Concurso de cata por parejas†(Tasting competition for teams of two). This unique event is open to everyone from sommeliers to rank aficionados of all ages and nationalities and one hundred and twenty teams signed up this time. (Come to think of it, isn´t […] Continue Reading →
The passions of Spain’s past, present, and future run through my veins as sure as great juice flows daily from wine casks around the country. My grandfather was born in Sarrià , a small barrio in the northwestern part of Barcelona, in December 1909 during a time when street violence and church burnings strengthened the influence […] Continue Reading →
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