I recently read the 1846 short novel The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe. In it, the protagonist Fortunato was so obsessed with finally tasting a cask of Amontillado, that he let his murderer lead him down into a vault and bury him alive. In a way, I was able to feel sorry for him; he was left to die, without being able to have a sip of his desired Amontillado. Continue reading “Montilla-Moriles | Part 2: Tales of Amontillado”
Category: Wine Tales
Montilla-Moriles | Part 1: Climate, Varieties and Soils
People often ask me about my favorite style of wine. This is a tough question for anybody that works in the wine business. It is inevitable that, over time, you tend to love them all. Continue reading “Montilla-Moriles | Part 1: Climate, Varieties and Soils”
Can Ràfols dels Caus
Penedès is located thirty minutes south of Barcelona and is home of some of the finest wines from Catalonia. This region is facing the Mediterranean Sea and is divided in three big areas: High Penedès (near the inland mountain range), Penedès Marítim (along the Mediterranean Sea) and Central Penedès (the plain between these areas). Continue reading
The Basics of Sherry
I will always remember the first time I tried a Sherry. It was a glass of Manzanilla Solear from Barbadillo served during one of the first classes of my Sommelier diploma. The sensation of saltiness, the level of volume, the dryness and the depth of flavors were completely new to me. At that moment I understood what umami taste really meant and since then Sherry became one of my favorite wines. Continue reading “The Basics of Sherry”
A Quick Jump Back in History
Wine is bottled sun; it is the highest expression of a territory, a changing climate and the rhythm of time. It is a drink that has been around humans for almost 7000 years and evolved throughout time to become what it is today. But, how did everything start? Continue reading “A Quick Jump Back in History”
A quick introduction to Spain!
Tapas, flamenco and sangria: those are the automatic descriptors of Spain, but the beautiful Iberian Peninsula has much more to offer! After living in Barcelona for almost three years I absolutely fell in love with the vibrant and festive culture of this country, reflected not only in its people but also in its culinary tradition. Spain is filled with flavors from the ocean, mountains and the unique Mediterranean forest, la Dehesa, combined with the aromas of thyme, rosemary, olives, garlic, peppers… and, of course, wine. Continue reading “A quick introduction to Spain!”
The best wine in the world!
The world of wine is surrounded by countless rules, patterns and opinions. The scores of wine critics like Robert Parker constantly create market trends and great areas like Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Napa Valley, Mosel, Barolo, Priorat and Ribera del Duero are constantly included in the lists of the best and most expensive wines. But among all the possible options, which single bottle is the best wine in the world? Continue reading “The best wine in the world!”
Weingut Keller | “Behind the scenes”
“Welcome to Keller!” – those were the warming words pronounced by Klaus Keller on a cold September morning. It was the beginning of the 2016 harvest and my first day as an apprentice at this family owned winery, located in the lovely and hard to pronounce German town of Flörsheim-Dalsheim. Continue reading “Weingut Keller | “Behind the scenes””
Welcome!
I am Gaby, a Venezuelan and a certified Sommelier from the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy CETT in Barcelona, currently living in Spain. Phew…what a confusing introduction this is.
If you are asking yourself by now: “From Venezuela? Is there any wine in Venezuela?” I will answer with the common phrase: “There is only one winery in Venezuela, but we produce excellent rum and we have the best cacao in the World!” It seems that you must come from a wine producing country if you are a wine professional. I actually find this very funny and sometimes I even ask myself: “Gaby, how did you end up here?” Continue reading “Welcome!”
