Fall into a taste of Priorat
Year 14, No. 19
Highlights: Tasta Porrera, Priorat 2024 | DO Tarragona 2024
Greetings to all and greetings to fall!
That lovely, chilly nip in the air has slithered its way into these shorter days all of the sudden. It’s thankfully been joined by some much needed rain, albeit in parts of Eastern Spain they’re seen far too much and our hearts go out to the people who continue to be affected by the flooding that came to pass in Valencia.
While the sheer quantity of water is in some ways, terrifying, the cold is not that much of a surprise and is to be expected given that this is the time of year when the pigs would be butchered traditionally as in the days when there was no refrigeration, the meat is less prone to spoiling.
And while Beaujolais found all its double-edged glory in the ‘Nouveau’ wines of yore, in Spain you also find these very new wines released, apparently to be paired with freshly-slaughtered pig?
But a key event that happens in the Priorat region this time of year is Tasta Porrera. It’s a great celebration of the more than two dozen wineries and projects that call this small village home, with a party that lasts far, far into the night.
Given the unpredictable weather in recent years, it’s rather important to ask, how do you know if it’s a good vintage from DOQ Priorat? The answer is a great deal simpler than you might think and here’s a guide to understand it.
Additionally, we’re playing a bit of catch up here in terms of regular newsletter releases (the US elections were clearly going to suck all the air out of the room for awhile) so there’s also the bonus DO Tarragona Report to read as well.
On that note, if you happen to be looking for something to watch for a distraction, do look at this review of Widow Clicquot. (*)
And of course, with American Thanksgiving (yes, hi there Canada!) a scant two weeks away, it’s always important to review the definitive wine guide (*) to the event.
Drink well, be well.
-Miquel
(*) Free to read
The Featured Report
Tasta Porrera 2024
It’s one of Priorat’s best events and as it takes place in the cooler weather of the fall, it gives good reason to celebrate the red wines of the village. Also included is a new Tasting Report on wines that weren’t tasted in the larger Priorat report that came out previously.
DO Tarragona 2024
This is one of the Catalan wine regions that’s not as well known given that it spans a very large area and has yet to find a hallmark identity. Despite this, the whites and rosés are showing a good deal of promise as shown in this recent report.
And now this
In case you missed it, one must ask, is it possible to have wine tasting without waste? (*) You never know if you don’t try!
There’s been a rather large upset in terms of a high court annulling (*) the new denomination of origin that was created for the Viñedos de Álava/Arabako Mahastiak producers in Basque Country.
A sparkling Ancestral wine from Corpinnat?!! Yes indeed, it is apparently possible and the winery Torelló made it happen.
If you’re starting to feel in the need of a holiday gift for a wine person, then you might want to have a look at the VinVoyage (*) which is an innovative solution to having wine on the go.
It’s always good to know the solid white wines out there and Lafou in Terra Alta has really been knocking it out of the park year upon year with their Els Amelers wine.
And lastly, Ramón Bilbao in Rioja both celebrated with 100th anniversary recently and crowned the first ever Spanish Wine Master! (*)