Back in February I took part in Vila Viniteca's Cata por Parejas, a competitive blind tasting with a huge reputation in Spain and a growing international following. Now in its 18th year, simply getting into this tasting requires a fast finger when tickets go live, much like a music festival. The tastings alternate between Barcelona and Madrid, and I have taken part in the competition four times over the last decade. This tasting is for teams of two, and I have always taken part with my fellow Master of Wine, Alvaro Ribalta, since he first asked me to join him when we were first year students on the program. 125 teams take part, with the tasting split into a first round of seven wines, with the top ten pairs going through to a final round that same day after lunch, tasting through another seven wines. We had made the final once before, but were unable to secure a podium finish. The rewards are significant, not only significant kudos from within the wine trade and beyond, but third place takes 5,000, second 10,000 and first 35,000 euros. Vila Viniteca do an incredible job putting the tasting together, so much so that there is an audience watching the tasting, TV cameras and all (though I'm not sure it's the most interesting spectator sport). There is a separate tasting that takes place between the rounds, and the location is always a stunning setting: when in Barcelona it is right next to the beach in the grand hall of the Casa Llotja de Mar.
“Spain’s northern, Atlantic Ocean–influenced winegrowing zones were virtually unknown to most wine lovers only a decade ago, but things have changed dramatically. Some of Spain’s most sought-after, high-quality and highly allocated red wines come from Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra… Today, collectors are chasing down small-production, Mencia-based Bierzos and Ribeira Sacras with the zeal of Burgundy aficionados” – Josh Raynolds, Vinous (March 2019)
