As a lover of exquisite flavors and captivating experiences, there are few combinations as enticing and satisfying as the delightful marriage of Spanish and Portuguese wines with their mouthwatering tapas. Join me on a journey through the captivating world of these wines and the tantalizing foods that pair harmoniously with them.
A Culinary Adventure Awaits at This is Food Union in Rochester, MN
Imagine yourself walking into a store where there are endless culinary options, and the sound of clinking glasses. The tasting tables before you are adorned with an array of small plates, each bursting with unique flavors waiting to be discovered. This is the magic of tapas – small dishes that pack a punch and invite you to savor each bite. All of the wines for this event were curated from The Wine Company and are available to order at Jack's Bottle Shop or Tessa's Office for local pickup. All of the food can be purchased at This is Food Union.
Spanish Wines: A Symphony in a Bottle
Cava Let's start our journey and wake up our palate with Cava (sparkling) wine from Spain. For this event we tasted Juvé & Camps Reserva de la Familia Brut Cava 2018. This wine displays notes of green apple, pear, fennel, and citrus. This wine is so food friendly it really pairs well with everything and provides a great palate cleanser when moving from dish to dish.
Godello
Next for a refreshing and crisp option, look no further than Avancia Cuvee de O Godello. Hailing from the vineyards of DO Valdeorras, this white wine exudes citrus, pineapple, peach, and orange blossom notes that paired exquisitely with Sao George cheese, tinned fish, and Spanish olives.
Verdejo
For a delightful and invigorating choice, consider Nisia Verdejo Old Vines. This white wine, originating from the vineyards of DO Rueda, offers more concentrated apple, pear, citrus, fennel, and honeysuckle flavors that perfectly complemented Naked goat (aged hard goat cheese), pear fennel jam, and crackers.
Rosado
Bodegas Muga Rosado , a Rose produced from a blend of Garnacha and Viura, provides a great transition into some more complex flavors and wines. This white wine, originating from the vineyards of DO Rueda, offers more concentrated apple, pear, citrus, fennel, and honeysuckle flavors that perfectly complemented Naked goat (aged hard goat cheese), pear fennel jam, and crackers.
Mencía
This grape is often overlooked for the more popular Tempranillo. MencÍa is much lighter and tastes similar to Pinot Noir. This grape is extremely food friends and works best with tapas as it can be paired with a multitude of things. Avancia Cuvee de O MencÍa displays notes of red berries, spices, anise, and minerality. These flavors were delightful next to Cana de Cabra goat cheese, thyme extra virgin olive oil, and sugared anise tortes.
Portuguese Wines: A Taste of Tradition
Port Wine
No exploration of Portuguese wines is complete without indulging in the velvety richness of Port wine. For this event I chose the Noval 10 Year Tawny Port. This is a beautiful wine with rich notes of dried fruits, spices, and nuts. Paired with fresh figs, Spanish blue cheese, crushed almonds and honey this was a show stopper and was the favorite pairing of the night.
Embark on Your Own Tapas and Wine Adventure
Whether you're a seasoned wine enthusiast or a curious novice, the world of Spanish and Portuguese wines paired with tapas offers a tapestry of flavors waiting to be explored. So grab a glass, savor each sip, and let the culinary adventure begin. Cheers to the perfect harmony of wine and tapas!
Feel free to download the pairing list to recreate your own tapas and wine adventure!
Cheers!
Autumn