Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets IBERIAN Cellar

Los próximos días 10 al 12 de febrero 2010  se celebrará en el Hotel Barceló Montserrat situ La Beguda Baixa (Barcelona) la 6ª edición del Wine Pleasures Workshop.

A diferencia de ediciones anteriores damos la bienvenida a Bodegas Portuguesas al evento y como consecuencia hemos pensado que el titulo del acontecimiento Buyer meets IBERIAN Cellar sea el nombre más apropiado.

Lugar de Celebración

Hemos seleccionado de nuevo el Hotel Barceló Montserrat para celebrar el workshop. Dispone de un salón espacioso para trabajar con luz natural y vistas impresionantes a la conocida atracción turística – la montaña de Montserrat. Además está rodeado de una zona vinícola pero a la vez muy cerca al aeropuerto internacional de Barcelona.

A diferencia de Ferias de Servir el Vino, el Wine Pleasures Workshop permite que tanto la bodega como el comprador se beneficien de la posibilidad de establecer una comunicación previa al evento con la finalidad de concertar entrevistas de mutuo acuerdo. Así tanto la bodega y el comprador tiene parte de su agenda de entrevistas ya hecha con antelación. El resto de las entrevistas se pactan cara a cara durante la cata de vinos el primer día del workshop.

Selección de Compradores

Ya hemos empezado con la selección de compradores haciendo primero hincapié en los compradores ubicados en los países más lejanos de la peninsula tales como EEUU, Canada, México, Brasil, China, Singapur, Japón, Filipinas, India y Malasia.

Después del verano empezaremos con la selección de compradores europeos haciendo más esfuerzo en los compradores de Alemania, Reino Unido y Irlanda, los país nórdicos y los países que forma el conjunto que es Benelux.

Programa de Seminarios en el Workshop

El reconocido blogger Nic Myers abrirá la 1ª edición del WP Workshop Buyer meets IBERIAN Cellar. Nic, considerado uno de los mejores conocedores americanos de la Red Social (Internet 2.0), participará en el WP Workshop en los seminarios “Cómo conseguir nuevo clientes y fidelizar a los que ya lo son con el web 2.0”

El lunes 17 de 09.00 a 10.00 Nic Myers impartirá un seminario para las bodegas participantes en el Workshop: Blogging para Bodegas. Cabe destacar que de más de las 5,000 bodegas en España sólo una docena tiene un blog – una estadística que esperemos cambiará después del Wine Pleasures Workshop 2010.

Comidas y Cenas

Las posibilidades de reunirse con los importadores, se extienden más allá del espacio del workshop, con los numerosos eventos que tienen lugar cada día. Desde la cata de vinos el primer día hasta las siempre populares comidas y cenas con los demás bodegueros y los compradores, todos los participantes encontrarán algo que les resulte interesante.

Inscripciones

Las bodegas interesadas en aprovechar de la tarifa “Early Bird” deberían inscribirse antes del 31 de agosto y así se beneficiarán de un 15% descuento. Plazas limitadas.

A continuación les proponemos dos video reportajes que recogen opiniones de una bodega y un comprador, ambos participantes en el Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish CELLAR 2009:

Vega Privanza (DO Ribera del Duero):

RMB Associates importadores (EEUU, Mexico y Canada):

Wine Pleasures visits Chozas Carrascal (Utiel-Requena)

Everything about Chozas Carrascal exuded heat, literally and figuratively. It was 37o C in early June, but only the vines were standing up to the blazing sun. While we conversed in the cool of the shaded patio and main house, I felt the passion the family had for their vineyard and business, and their natural warmth towards guests.

Chozas Carrascal is a family effort which began about 17 years ago when the Lopez-Peidro family purchased forty hectares of land in San Antonio Requena. They dedicated eleven years to planting and cultivating before deeming the grapes good enough to offer under the Chozas Carrascal name. Their patience and care have begun to pay off – Las Tres, their blend of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and macabeo, was a finalist in a sommelier competition (La Nariz de Oro 2009); Las Dosces, their young red, and Las Cuatro, their young rose, have been listed as two of the best Spanish wines (Guia de Los 300 Mejores Vinos de Espana, 2008-9, Vino y Cata Magazine). Their attention to detail is evident on the grounds of the vineyard and winery, from the rose bushes planted at the end of each row of vines, to the sparkling cleanliness of each room used in the winemaking process.

Their main house, tasting room and cellar are also enhanced with several stylistic features and details – a beautiful chandelier lights the way to their cellar, bottle corks are playfully set into the restroom flooring, and a tour of the partially excavated old wine cellar beneath the house highlights the rich history behind the land. Their cabernet franc is an example of the family’s labor of love and attention to detail. Each bottle is signed by Julian Lopez or his wife, numbered by Julian’s father, and hand labeled by his children.

During my visit I met most of the members of the team, or family, and quickly saw how uniformly motivated they are by their love for Chozas Carrascal. Julian Lopez, owner and manager of the business, was clearly energized by the subject of the vineyard and his plans for the future of the business. Pieter Whaley, their export manager, translated Julian’s quick words and added his own serious sense of enthusiasm. Francesc Giron, or Xesco as he is affectionately called, is the winemaker and answered all our technical questions with good cheer. (The family was proud to tell us that Xesco is also the author of a winemaking manual, “Credenciales de Chozas Carrascal”.) And as Julian is the head of the business, Maria Jose Lopez Peidro, Julian’s daughter and marketing manager, may be its heart. She was our tireless hostess and guide, and passionate about the family’s efforts and her own individual studies to obtain an advanced degree in oenology.

During my visit I met an important guest of the winery’s, Bernadette Gerth of Qualyvines. A Dutch importer of niche and “unusual” wines, she was making her first trip to Chozas Carrascal with her team of interns and half-jokingly making large reservations for several of the wines. Aside from the importance of the quality of the wine, both the family and Bernadette emphasized the importance of the quality of their relationship. Julian is focused on developing longer term relationships with distributors that are also emotionally invested in the winery. Bernadette looks for quality, “different” wines with “style”, but also only partners with wineries that are interested in helping her promote their wines in the Netherlands.  The pair met two years ago at the Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Cellar now named Buyer meets Iberian Cellar for 2010 – a match made in wine heaven, you could say perhaps.

We had the option of trying the wines with a light repast in the airy tasting room or charming outdoor courtyard. After touring the house, enjoying the wines and light conversation, and leisurely dipping our toes in the pool, we were on our way back to Valencia. We discovered that Maria, a young and native Valencian, is an authority on local information and city hot spots. Sadly, we didn’t have time to try her recommendations for sights and nightlife, but my friend and I enjoyed a great paella negro at one of her favorite paella restaurants.

Luckily, for those of us in the States, Chozas Carrascal’s wines are available in a few specialty shops and restaurants (i.e. Jean Georges in New York City)!

Visits are 5 euros per person, and includes a tour of the vineyard, the winery, the main house, wine tasting and light (Valencian) refreshments. You’ll want to allot at least two hours to view and enjoy the premises, wine and company. 

Anne Shih. Wine Travel Writer for Wine Pleasures.

Here’s a video (in Spanish) on how to make a paella from Requena as opposed to one from Valencia. The latter claiming superiority in paella making. What’s your experience with paellas?

Can Bonastre Winery & Wine Resort know about wine tourism

Can Bonastre participated in the 2nd and 3rd editions of Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Cellar and during those two years I was able to see the progress of the construction of the Can Bonastre Wine Resort – it was hard to visualise the end product. In 2007 we took a group of International Tour Operators (FAM Trip) and stayed over night. All participants were very impressed, immedaitely requesting net rates for their clients – mainly for FITS. Wine Pleasures has also used Can Bonastre for wine tourists from the US – long, wide and firm beds guranteed just as the americans like it. Wines are good too. Try the Can Bonastre Blanco (Xarel.lo & Chardonnay) and Nara!

During the oficial presentation of the Anoia (Catalonia, Spain) wine route I stopped Roger, part of the family owning the Can Boanstre winery and resort to see how Can Bonastre and wine tourism in the Penedès was developing.

Yonaton Rochfeld el “Ferran Adría” de Israel y co-dueño del Restaurante Herbert Samuel, Tel Aviv viajará a España para participar en los Wine Pleasures Workshops

Los próximos días 15 al 17 se celebrará en el Hotel Subur Maritim situ Sitges (Barcelona) la 5ª edición del Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Cellar. Este año participarán 35 compradores representando 27 empresas importadoras.

A diferencia de otras Ferias de vino el comprador no viene con “todo pagado” El comprador  financia el coste de su viaje así como una cuota de inscripción. Así la bodega participante esta asegurada de mantener entrevistas útiles y productivas con los compradores.

Algunos de los compradores inscritos son los siguientes: Hacarem Spirits (Israel), Distribuidora de la Peña (Costa Rica y Honduras), Sevenoaks Wines (Singapur), C & J Fine Wines (Manchester), Coriental (El Salvador), Vinos y Tapas (Alemania), Les Champs Ensoleillés (Québec), Casa de Vinos (New York), RMB Associates (Georgia), Petre Spassov (Bulgaria), Esprit Agencies (Ontario), Cappa Vin (Dinamarca), Rui You Lin International (China), Casa Leal (Inglaterra), Janton (Polonia), Esprit du Monde (California), Top Selection (London), AMV  Difusion (EEUU), 71 Vintage (Francia), Vin Kompagniet (Dinamarca), La Cave Club de Vinos (México), Props Holding (Dinamarca), Omniwines Distributing (New York), Rindchen’s Weinkontor (Alemania)…………

Por lo general se puede concluir que existe poco interés por parte de las bodegas españolas en exportar sus vinos mediante el Wine Pleasures Workshop lo cuál es una excelente noticia para aquellas bodegas  que han invertido en el evento y la metodología. Cabe destacar el alto interés  por año consecutivo, que ha habidito por parte de las bodegas de la Comunidad de Valencia (DO Alicante, DO Valencia y DO Utiel – Requena)

Las bodegas inscritas incluyen Solira 2002 (Ribera del Duero), Bodegas Tintoralba (Almansa), La Casa de las Vides (Valencia), Las Cepas (Rioja), Exopto Wine Cellar (Rioja), Vinos de Alborea (Manchuela), Casa Sicilia (Alicante), Maset (Cava), Bodegas Ortiz (Ribera del Guadiana), Coop Terra Alta (Terra Alta), Chozas Carrascal (Utiel – Requena y Cava), Cellers de l’Arboç (Penedès), Vinyes dels Aspres (Empordà), Celler Cedo Anguera (Montsant), Bodegas Roqueta (Pla de Bages), Bodega Santa Catalina (Alicante), Bodegas Señorio de Bocos (Ribera del Duero), Vera de Estenas (Utiel – Requena), Castelo de Medina (Rueda), Montau de Sadurni (Penedès), Pago Casa Gran (Valencia), Maetierra Dominum (Rioja), J.Miquel Jané (Penedès), Ayles Estate (Carinena)…………..

A diferencia de Ferias de servir vino, el Wine Pleasures Workshop permite que tanto la bodega como el comprador se benefician de la posibilidad de establecer una comunicación previa al evento con la finalidad de concertar entrevistas de mutuo acuerdo. Así tanto la bodega y el comprador tiene parte de su agenda de entrevistas ya hecha con antelación. El resto de las entrevistas se pactan cara a cara durante la cata de vinos el primer día del workshop.

Programa de Seminarios en el Workshop

El reconocido blogger y especialista en vino español Ryan Opaz abrirá la 5ª edición del WP Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Cellar. Ryan Opaz, considerado uno de los mejores conocedores americanos de la Red Social (Internet 2.0), participará en el WP Workshop en los seminarios “Cómo conseguir nuevo clientes y fidelizar a los que ya lo son con el web 2.0”  

El lunes 17 de 09.00 a 10.00 Ryan Opaz impartirá un seminario para las bodegas participantes en el Workshop: Blogging para Bodegas. Cabe destacar que de más de las 5,000 bodegas en España sólo una docena tiene un blog – una estadística que esperemos cambiará después del Wine Pleasures Workshops 2009.

Comidas y Cenas

Las posibilidades de reunirse con los importadores, se extienden más allá del espacio del workshop, con los numerosos eventos que tienen lugar cada día. Desde la cata de vinos el primer día hasta las siempre populares comidas y cenas con los demás bodegueros y los compradores, todos los participantes encontrarán algo que les resulte interesante.

Wine Pleasures International Organic Workshop (17 al 19 de marzo)

22 compradores, muchos de ellos viajarán expresamente para conocer la oferta de vinos ecológicos de España participarán en este workshop que, como el nombre lo indica ofrece al comprador conocer vinos ecológicos de varios países. De España sólo participarán las bodegas Los Pinos (Valencia) y Las Cepas (Rioja). 8 bodegas italianos viajarán a España para exportar sus vinos más 3 de Francia.

Misión Inversa para Importadores de Vino

15 empresas que participan tanto en el Buyer meets Cellar como en el International Organic Workshop participarán en la 3ª Misión Comercial a España (15 al 22 de marzo). 

Del 19 al 22 visitarán varias denominaciones de origen. El programa de visitas está aún por determinar pero se espera, por cercanía que hay interés de bodegas en las Denominaciones de Origen siguientes: Penedès, Cava, Terra Alta, Utiel-Requena y Valencia, es decir a zonas con bodegas participantes en el workshop.

Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Italian Cellar

A sugerencia de bodegas italianas particpantes en el Wine Pleasures International Organic Workshop 2008, llevarémos a cabo la 1ª edición del Buyer meets Cellar para bodegas de Italia los próximos días 18 – 20 de mayo en la cuidad de Treviso (Veneto)

 Wine Plesaures Workshops 2010

Para 2010 Wine Pleasures tiene previsto celebrar el International Organic Workshop en Italia y para el Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Workshop y dado el alto interés de bodegas portuguesas en exportar su s vinos se está estudiando incorporar vinos de Portugal en el Workshop – Buyer meets Iberian Cellar? Lugar de celebración en la Comunidad de Valencia?

 Más información: Wine Pleasures

Yoneton Rochfeld, talented Israeli chef to participate in the Wine Pleasures Reverse Trade Mission to Spain

Overlooking the promenade and sea, Herbert Samuel has only recently been opened but is already one of the most popular restaurants in Tel Aviv

Packed from noon-midnight, this new restaurant headed by renowned chef Yonatan Roshfeld, is an absolute success on local standards. After years of working behind the scenes – cooking in private kitchens and composing numerous recipe books – Yonathan Roshfeld, the prince of the Israeli haute-cuisine, has returned with a new, upbeat restaurant that serves mostly first courses. Taking on the meze/tapas tradition and giving it a local interpretation, Roshfeld has created a menu that offers a wide selection of small to medium sized portions (NIS 18 – NIS 80). 

On the menu you will find fresh anchovies with peppers (NIS 18); calamari served with white beans and a warm tahini sauce (NIS 28/ NIS 54); a wide selection of Italian hams and sausages; a chestnut, beans and truffle soup (NIS 28) and many other exciting fish, meat, pasta and other portions. 

The food is very good, but, naturally, different from the kind of portions served at Roshfeld’s mythological and notoriously pricey previous restaurants. Source:  Tel Aviv Guide

The owners of Herbert Samuel restaurant, considered by many to be the best in Israel and one with a very Spanish twist, are now working on their new outlet – a hip Tapas bar devoted exclusively to Spanish food, wine and spirit. As part as their preparations, the Chef and Sommelier will attend Wine Pleasures. Wines they will find suitable are likely to be then imported by Hacarem – Spirits LTD., Israel’s leading wine and spirit importer, which was chosen as the group’s major and strategic wine and spirit supplier.

Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar 15 – 17 March

Wine Pleasures International Organic Workshop 17 – 19 March

Clever Wineries from the Comunidad de Valencia see clear export opportunities at the Wine Pleasures Workshops

The Comunidad de Valencia has 3 Denominaciones de Origen: Alicante, Utiel – Requena and Valencia – all of which will be well represented at the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar. Particpating wineries will be offering interesting blends using grape varieties such as Bobal, Monastrell, Cabernat Franc, Petit Verdot and Garnacha Tintorera for reds and Verdil, Gewurztraminer, Macabeo and Sauvignon Blanc for whites.

Today we feature the Casa Sicilia winery (DO Alicante) who return for a second appearance at the Wine Pleasures Workshop.

Casa Sicilia was founded in 1707, during the period of the third Marquis de la Romana, as a farmhouse dedicated to the production of high quality fruit, wine and oil.

HERETAT DE CESILIA is located in Novelda, Alicante,

240 metres above sea level. It has been a very important agricultural production centre in the area of the Medio Vinalopó for centuries. It owns land throughout the Medio Vinalopó Valley and includes the areas of Mola, Ledua, Sicilia and Alcaydías.

The silty loam soil texture has a high limestone content rich in iron oxides which balance and reduce problems of clorosis.

80 hectares of its own vineyards.

23 of which are planted with different varieties of vines, principally Monastrell, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Macabeo, Moscatel, Sauvignon blanc y Chardonnay and some other varieties which are currently being tried out, such as Petit Verdot, Albariño and Gewürztraminer.

The northern area of the estate is composed of clay and gypsum, associated with a low organic material content which allows good aromatic expressions and ensures the good structure of red wines from this region. The southern area consists of lemon and alluvial gravels from the river.

These light, fresh soils are well suited to the cultivation of white grape varieties.

The mediterranean climate combines with the influence of the continental climate to

delay the maturing process and maintain a low humidity all year around.

The most advanced technologies are applied in the elaboration process to achieve the best hygienic,

homogenisation and quality conditions. With a conical trunk structure and controlled temperature, the 150 Hl. stainless stell fermentation tanks allow greater extraction of the aromas, tannin and colour, which guarantees the optimisation of the whole process. Our elaboration process is based on a maximum respect for the product.

The fermentation process involves manual stirring and the addition of a neutral gas. During the maturing period we keep the decanting to a minimum, adding the oxygen needed using a micro-oxygenation process Finally, the wine is left to age in barrels made of French oak (75%), American oak (10%) and East European oak (15%). These barrels have been toasted differently to give different flavours and are renewed a 25% annual rate The wines bottled at Heretat de Cesilia, are the result of our dedication to the wine growing vocation, its culture and radition and the uniqueness of this region.

Technological innovation has also played a part in the elaboration of high-quality wines in small amounts and with good longevity. The excellence of our wine is a reflection of our endeavour to care for our grapes and production, and is guaranteed by our collaborative agreements with several universities.

These agreements ensure maximum quality due to the inclusion of the best scientific and technological advances in our processes, perfecting the traditional wine growing and development methods.

If you would like to get in touch with Casa Sicilia, please do so through their web site. Alternatively, we still have a few places available for you to meet the wine maker face to face at the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar 2009.

VERA DE ESTENAS (DO Utiel – Requena) at the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar

The Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar looks set to benefit enormously all of the participating Spanish wineries. With the appointment making between buyers and cellars well underway, many wineries are already reporting positive looking appointments.

Most active buyers for setting early appointmnets include RMB Associates (USA), Vin Kompagniet (Denmark), Omniwines (USA), Distribuidora de la Peña (El Salvador), Vinos y Tapas (Germany) and Petre Spassov (Bulgaria).

This year we have just two wineries from the DO Utiel-Requena: Chozas Carrascal (2nd year attending) and Vera de Estenas. Infact Vera de Estenas was, behind Abadal (DO Pla de Bages) the second winery to enrol way back in November 2008.

Vera de Estenas was founded by the Martínez family in the borough of Utiel (Valencia) in the 1940s. Nowadays, the third generation of owners of VERA DE ESTENAS, Mr. Félix Martínez Roda is our General Manager and Head Winemaker.

The cellar Vera de Estenas is located in the heart of one of oldest wine regions of the world:  Utiel-Requena, and produces a wide variety of wines from the autochthonous grapes Bobal and international grapes as Malbec, Syrah, Carbernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.

The whole estate is dedicated entirely to the growing of vines. These range from over a hundred year old Bobal vines to the recently planted ones. All our wines are from hand-harvested grapes grown in our vineyards, crafting in the ageing plant and bottling in the upgraded cellar.

 If you would like to contact Vera de Estenas please do so through their web site or enrol to attend the Wine Pleaures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Cellar and meet the winemakers in person.

MASET, THE CAVA SPECIALIST

Good news for buyers travelling to participate in the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar! Cava is often a preferred wine for buyers and Maset del LLeó have some excellent cavas to consider.

Here’s some background info on the winery: Since 1777, the Maset family is closely linked to the world of wine.  A legacy that resists the pass of time, generation after generation, working in the industry for over 200 years.  As one of the founders of the Cava wine region, Maset, offers a wide range of sparkling wines: Brut, Brut Nature, Semi-sweet, Rose, a variety that has positioned us as the Cava Specialist what allows us to supply any specific demand of each of our customers.   SPANISH WINE AMBASSADORS   The winery produces its prestige wines carefully, only selecting the best grapes and following a strict quality process. Currently, the winery has a wide range of top quality products, wines from the most important regions Currently, Maset is focussing its efforts on the international markets and we are looking forward to contact distributors interested in collaborating with a solid firm and a leader in its market.

Looking to add Cava to your portfolio? Come and visit the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar (15 – 17 March)

RMB Associates Inc to participate in the Wine Pleasures Workshops

Based in two countries: the state of Georgia and Quebec, RMB Associates Inc (Importer of Fine Wines & Spiritis) will be participating in both the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar and the International Organic Workshop this March. Both the President and the Vice President of the company will be attending.

For particpating wineries it’s an interesting importer to meet with as they only currently import wines from Argentina, South Africa, Chile and the USA.

RMB Associates is currently looking for Spanish wine from the Penedes, Priorat and Montsant region. They are looking for pure varietal as well as blend. They are specializing more in the boutique winery as we are looking for quality. Spanish wine are in demand in the US and people are looking to discover their quality. 

If you would like to meet RMB Associates together with many more international buyers then please complete an enrollment form on our the Wine Pleasures website.

Cellar Cedo Anguera (DO Montsant) at the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar

Montsant wines are very popular with international buyers at the Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Spanish Cellar – price – quality is excellent. Past DO Montsant wineries have always been happy with the results of participating in the workshop event.

This year we welcome a new DO Montsant winery to the Workshop: Celler Cedro Anguera located in the village of Darnos. Again this an example of a winery which does not yet export.

The Cellar Cedo Anguera is a family company. It is born in the region of La Serra d´Almos, under the guarantee of origin and quality of a wine Montsant. It comes of a family dedicated to the growing of the vineyard and the olive tree. It has inherited the knowledge of the winegrowing and has adapted them to the new technologies of growing of nowadays. We are always working with effort and dedication to grow the grape and to obtain some quality wines to offer them to the consumers.

In the middle of 2006, the building of the cellar was been started in order to elaborate the typical production of grape. Our cellar lies into the boundary “Sorteta”, nearly the tiy village La Serra d´Almos. The situation of the Cellar allows some exceptional views like the mountains of the Montalt and the Mountain range of the Montsant. The environment is a Mediterranean traditional landscape of vineyards and centenarian olive trees.

The estates grown by the family Cedo Anguera are included in the guarantee of origin and quality of a wine Montsant. These own estates measuring a total of 15 hectares of vineyards, where the varieties of black grape of Carinyena, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah predominate. The selection of the grape are carried out after a rigorous control of ripening process, picking up each variety in its just right ripening, following models of selection.

If you would like to contact this winery please do so through their website or register to attend the Wine Pleasures Workshop: Buyer meets Spanish Cellar. Be the first to import their wines!