Spanish Wine And Snack Pairings

We have teamed up with Marqués de Cáceres to curate the proper sips and snacks for a Spanish-themed Sunday, whether or not you are truly there or simply in a European mind-set. From velvety, wealthy Rioja Reserva to crisp, bubbly Cava, their vary of award-winning wines will assist get the tapas get together began.

In Spain, Sundays are sacred. Save for a number of eating places and bars, just about every thing is closed, so as an alternative of operating errands or grocery searching for the week, persons are left with two choices: spend the day at residence or spend the day trip with buddies. Each actions normally contain consuming, consuming, or each on the identical time—to get pleasure from a Sunday to its fullest even has its personal verb in Spanish, dominguear.

After I lived in Barcelona, my favourite Sunday exercise was to fulfill buddies on a terraza to get pleasure from some snacks and a glass of cava or a vermut, vermouth dressed with an olive and a slice of orange. If I used to be actually, actually fortunate, a good friend would possibly invite me over to their home for paella—the Sunday-afternoon holy grail. No matter setting, the sentiment stays the identical, savoring the twilight of the weekend as a brand new week dawns. That can assist you dominguear as greatest you possibly can, I’ve pulled collectively a listing of my three favourite wines from Marqués de Cáceres, an award-winning, family-run vineyard led by proprietor Cristina Forner and primarily based in Rioja.

The Forner household has been energetic within the wine trade throughout Spain and France for the reason that early twentieth century. 5 generations of Forners have realized and perfected the wine commerce, so it ought to come as no shock that once they lastly opened their very own household label, Marqués de Cáceres, it was a booming success. For the reason that Nineteen Seventies, the household has made and internationally exported top-quality Spanish wines, so even if you happen to can’t make it to Barcelona for a calming Sunday afternoon, a bottle (or three) of Marqués de Cáceres may help you dominguear by yourself.

Marqués de Cáceres Cava NV, D.O. Cava

Cava is like prosecco’s drier cousin and is made utilizing the identical fermentation technique as French Champagne. Marqués de Cáceres Cava, like a lot of the cava in Spain, hails from the Catalonia area and is mild and crisp on the palate, which makes it my alternative for kicking off a Sunday gathering. With cava’s crisp, zingy profile it’s time for some traditional Spanish bites that match its power: ham croquettes and a crunchy salad with a daring, punchy French dressing.

Marqués de Cáceres Rosé, Rioja

After the bubbly, it’s time to graduate to one thing a bit bolder, however nonetheless refreshing nonetheless. Enter: Marqués de Cáceres Rosé, from the Rioja area. This luminous, coral-pink wine is constituted of Tempranillo and Grenache grapes however isn’t aged in a barrel, which ensures the flavour stays springy, brilliant, recent, and vivacious. As your domingo carries on, get pleasure from your rosé with a number of completely different tapas that contain a contact extra nuance, like a heat potato salad flecked with chorizo or a calming salmorejo soup (like gazpacho, solely higher). Now would even be a great time for a chunk of Spanish tortilla.

Marqués de Cáceres Crianza, Rioja

End on a excessive notice, as a result of the most important dishes deserve the boldest pairings. With delicate notes of spice and juicy purple fruits, this Marqués de Cáceres is constituted of Tempranillo grapes which can be grown in chalky soil and aged for a yr in oak barrels. Take into account trying a paella, the crown jewel of any Spanish Sunday properly spent. Don’t be intimidated: With some steerage, paella isn’t powerful to grasp. Under are some choices whether or not you like meat or seafood—simply omit the meat if it’s a vegetarian model you’re after. At this level, you’re in all probability full, and this Crianza is the proper wine to sip because the solar units on one other week.

Our buddies at Marqués de Cáceres have been producing positive Spanish wines for many years, and it has been a household affair all alongside. 5 generations of Forners have finessed the winemaking course of for luscious Rioja Crianza, vibrant Verdejo, and extra conventional wines from the center of the Rioja, Rueda, and Ribera del Duero areas of Spain. Be taught extra concerning the wines and the place to search out ’em right here.