When my husband’s family goes to Italy for Christmas, Jamon is never missing. Served reverently on a large platter, after having been cooled and aired out, it is passed and eaten immediately. Hence, in the spirit of fantastic flavor, we brought Cecina from Leon – a sublime experience. I was accustomed to ordering it in […]
Cecina de Leon: Mouthwatering Cured- Smoked Beef from Spain Read More »
Granted, our new writer is more focused on articles related to lactose based beverages, but soon, he’ll be craving a wide range of flavors, textures and aromas. Hence, it is with great pleasure we announce our son: Mica Douro Opaz, born July 25th at 3:39am weighing 3.095 kg and 49.5 inches long, a squishy, delightful
Catavino Welcomes a New Writer to Our Team!! Read More »
The term ‘natural wine’ means so much to a few, and absolutely nothing to many, and no matter your feelings (usually love or hate) about the phrase, and the wines themselves, everyone can agree it’s a hot topic in the wine world and one that needs ever more explanation and exploration. But hold on, aren’t
Natural Wine in Spain: A Fast Growing Trend Among Consumers or a Passing Fad? Read More »
The past few years have been good to the Ribera del Duero wine region in North Central Spain; but much like Sonoma in California wine country, it has had to contend with a more popular older sibling, Rioja. That said, given the region’s much deserved recent international notoriety, things are changing. On a recent trip
Top 10 Reasons to Visit Ribera del Duero Read More »
Fire up the barbecues and grab your friends. No, it is not Memorial Day weekend or a celebration of the first day of spring. Winter marks the time of year when Cataluña celebrates the almighty calçot. It is no secret that Catalans love to party, and the annual calçotada is just one more excuse to
The Calçotada: From Spain to Your Backyard Read More »
The following effervescent legend is sponsored by our friends at CellarVie Wines which, with 400 wines from 16 countries, is a great place to buy Champagne and Cava online. Sitting just below the Christmas tree, my nephew and I cuddle tightly in a ball, as I sip upon a glass of Cava. Snuggling deep into
Elves, Fireworks and Festivities: How Bubbles found their Way into a Cava Bottle Read More »
Amidst the periphery of the northeastern Iberian coastline lies one of the jewels in the Spanish crown – Mallorca (often spelt Majorca by English speakers). For years, I longed to visit the Balearics and only recently did that wish become reality. One luxurious week on an island in the Med. Would it be the experience I
Part 1: Mallorca: The Jewel of the Mediterranean Read More »
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
How to Fall Deeply in Love with Portugal and Spain Read More »
Editor’s Note: For more information on the style of this post, please read “Wine as a Backdrop“. Wine has been known as a gentle social lubricant that can facilitate any conversation. It has the healing power to make the lips loose and the spirit open. Mind you, I’m not condoning the over consumption of wine,
In Vino, Veritas: In Wine, There is Considerable Truth Read More »
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
A Glutton’s Guide to Spanish Culture Read More »
Before we dive into this article, I’d like to invite you to play with me for a moment. Imagine that I’ve placed three buckets of red paint infront of you named: Burnt Orange, Fire Engine Red and Sunburst Yellow. Each of these vary slightly in vivacity, purity and tone, and your job is to mix
The Assemblage: The Art and Science Behind Blending a Cava Wine Read More »
Editorial Note: Fabio Bartolomei from Vinos Ambiz is not only a self-proclaimed natural winemaker in Spain, but he’s also a friend. Having recently attended the Natural Wine Fair in Barcelona (wrap-up article here) a few weeks ago, getting into a rather lively debate about the true definition of natural wine, we asked Fabio if he wouldn’t
Natural Wine: Is It a Friend, Foe or Fabrication? Read More »
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.
Salón de Vinos Naturales (3 Edición): What Classifies as “Natural Wine”? Read More »
Whenever I fall in love with a region while on vacation, as I did with Catalonia, I want to re-create that experience once I return home. Drinking the wines and savoring the cuisine can accomplish that. However, despite having tried many Cava wines in U. S., I often find myself gravitating towards sparkling wines from
Looking for Love in Cava: The vast difference between quality and value-priced Cava Read More »
The History of Mixed Spanish Cheese Our journey has taken us through mountainous terrain and spacious pastures; it has introduced us to the sprightly goat, the demure cow, and the helpless sheep. We have also eaten some of the most amazing cheeses produced in the world today. Our final gaze turns to those cheeses produced
A Foreigner’s Guide to Mixed Spanish Cheese Read More »
