Current State of Rioja Wine

Editor’s Note: Tom Perry is a long-time friend of Catavino’s, not to mention a very knowledgable man. Previously the Director of the Rioja Wine Exporters’ Association, he is currently self-employed as a strategic and tactical marketing consultant for the Spanish wine trade, as a wine educator and speaker on the national and international wine lecture circuit, and importantly […] Continue Reading →

A Snapshot of Tempranillo Producers in Oregon and California

Tempranillo is by far not the most grown grape in California and Oregon, but with a few dedicated producers it will at least be noticed. Let’s celebrate Tempranillo Day on November 8th for those dedicated few who have taken the time and energy to create something amazing from this little “foreign” grape. It is an […] Continue Reading →

Iberian Book Review: Marion Trutter’s “Culinaria Spain”

Culinaria Spain is a coffee table book not really designed for the spots and spills of a working kitchen, and I believe its creators never intended it to lean up against the counter backsplash while you took a whack at fideuà (Fideo). It is part of a series that has raised the bar in the […] Continue Reading →

Grilling Season: How Portuguese Expats Fire it Up and What They Pour to Cool Down

Portuguese expats in the U.S. like to joke that if there’s a waft of sizzling sardines in the air then a fellow immigrant can’t be too far. They’re usually right. Growing up in New Jersey, expats’ grills were hardly ever graced by the usual American fare of hot dogs, hamburgers, porter house steaks, ribs, lobster […] Continue Reading →

The Continuing Spanish Beer Search: Fort – Barcelona Pale Ale

Since we have lived in Terrassa, a small industrial city outside Barcelona, there has been only one place to buy decent beer. Casa Evaristo is a specialty food store in the old part of the city with a wide range of odd ingredients, wines and foods. Sort of a Whole Foods in the way they overprice […] Continue Reading →

Spanish Beer Sucks, but It Might be Improving!

90% of the beer scene in Spain consist of cheap lagers. Nothing wrong with a cheap lager, but after a few, or sipping them for 6 years straight, you go numb from a lack of inspiration and flavor. If made in the traditional way, Lagers present simple flavors that are clean and leave your palate ready for […] Continue Reading →

Senseless Crime: A Priorat Winery is Hit with Vandalism

Not an hour ago, Catalan blogger, Joan Gomez Pallares of Devinis requested that we hit the internets with an important Press Release. Normally, we’re not ones to republish PR’s verbatim, but in this case, we feel you should hear it directly from the winery itself. We tried to call the winery, Terroir al Limit, for […] Continue Reading →

London International Wine Fair, Rioja Hype and Gorgeous Fino “En Rama”

From time to time, life gets a bit hectic when our more lucrative projects take center stage. For those of you who aren’t aware, Catavino is the promotional wing of our business, Vrazon, and although we would love for this to change (hint hint, wink wink), its success is purely driven by the deep-seeded passion […] Continue Reading →

Salón de Vinos Naturales (3 Edición): What Classifies as “Natural Wine”?

A few Sundays ago, I attended the 3rd edition of the Salón de Vinos Naturalesa, an annual event held in Barcelona and hosted by l’Ánima de Vi. We stumbled across L’Ánima de Vi several years ago while wandering the backstreets of Gracia, which features natural wines from Spain, France, and occasionally, various other parts of the world. […] Continue Reading →

Port: Vintage 1827, by Raymond R. Rath

What follows is part two in my telling of the story of Villar d’Allen. If you have not read part 1, please do so now. This story was originally published in 1981 by my Grandfather, retelling his experience opening a Quinta do Noval 1827. I have included footnotes to clarify some points, otherwise, this has been left […] Continue Reading →