Castilla Y Leon wines of Spain Roadshow presented wines from producers from this country’s largest wine-producing region. Set in the lavish dining rooms of Mercat a la Planxa at Chicago’s historic Blackstone Hotel, Autograph Collection bordering Grant Park in the Loop, the wines presented their distinctive character in an equally stunning location.
Presented with the restaurant’s distinctive modern interpretations of classic Spanish cuisine of creative Catalan-inspired tapas in a swanky setting overlooking the park, the wines were brilliant.
Participants experienced their finest wines and products, including Iberian ham and regional cheeses. They dove into the deep traditions and vibrant history that make this region unique. A seminar and a walk-around tasting allowed those in attendance to experience exceptional wines from the region’s renowned DOs, such as Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro, and Bierzo.
The days experience began with a tasting seminar, “Explore the diversity of Castilla y León Wines” lead by the sommelier Christian Shaum, Wine Director at Jose Andres Group.
Castilla y León’s rich cultural history dates back more than two thousand years, as evidenced by its six Unesco world heritage sites. These include the medieval city walls of Avila, the Roman Aqueduct in Segovia, and Atapuerca, an archaeological site rich in Bronze Age and Stone Age artifacts. It may be that wine production in the region pre-dates even the Roman occupation, which began in the 1st Century BC.
Red wines rule in Castilla y León, and the Tempranillo grape variety is unquestionably the king. It is known here by various synonyms including Tinta del Pais, Tinto de Toro and Tinto Fino. It is the grape behind all of the region’s finest wines except Bierzo, which makes good use of Mencia. The supporting cast includes the French varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
Castilla y León’s white wines are far fewer in number than the reds, but only marginally less prestigious. They are made mostly from the white grapes Verdejo and Viura.
Wedged between the Cordillera Cantábrica and the Sistema Central mountains, the region occupies a vast plateau about 200km (125 miles) across and between 700 and 1000 meters (2300ft – 3300ft) above sea level. Given this location and the low rainfall, soils here are typically thin and poor. They do become richer in minerals and clays, however, near the region’s rivers, of which there are many.
The most famous is the Duero, which flows on to become Portugal’s Douro. Of Castilla y Léon’s nine DO wine zones, all but one are sited within the Duero River system. Furthermore, three of the region’s most respected wine districts (Toro, Rueda and, of course, Ribera del Duero) are found in the Duero Valley itself.
A self-guided walk-around tour, with stunning views of Chicago’s Grant Park, allowed participants to taste the wines and learn about them at their own pace. The event was the brainchild of the event’s organizer, Colangelo & Partners, an integrated Communications agency specializing in food, wine and spirits, with offices in New York City and San Francisco.
The wines were a perfect accompaniment to the excellent Serrano ham, which was being sliced to order at the event.
All of the wines sampled at Castilla Y Leon are comfortably priced and readily available. For more, visit juntadecastillayleon.es. Drink Responsibly
