Wines from Spain launches Spanish superstars 2011: Grandes Pagos de España in the US

Representatives from bodegas belonging to the Spanish association, Grandes Pagos de España(Grand Spanish Domaines), from various wine regions, recently travelled to New York restaurant Per Se for the association’s first wine seminar and tasting event held in the US. With stunning views of the Columbus Circle and with Central Park as a backdrop, the Per Se restaurant, owned by chef, Thomas Keller acted as host to the event, which was targeted at presenting the group and its objective of showcasing the excellence of Spanish bodegas de Pago (Domains) on US soil.

Chair, Doug Frost, together with a select group of Spanish winemakers such as Carlos Falcó from Pagos de Familia Marqués de Griñón, Víctor de la Serna from Finca Sandoval, and Javier Zaccagnini from Aalto, led more than 50 high-profile New York wine sector and trade press members in a seminar in which 11 wines were tasted.

“Wines from Spain is proud to present the Grandes Pagos de España association and to highlight the extraordinary joint effort carried out by the participating Spanish bodegas in achieving the common goal of winning recognition for Spanish single-estate wines”, stated Katrin Naelapaa, Director of Wines from Spain USA. “The extensive knowledge of Doug Frost and the other speakers during the seminar was immensely valuable as regards increasing awareness about the exceptional quality of Spanish wines.”

After the seminar, the guests were shown to the restaurant’s main function room where they tasted wines from the association’s twenty-two bodegas. Those attending were also treated to a wide variety of canapés prepared by Per Se’s award-winning gastronomic team, which has earned the restaurant three Michelin stars since 2006. More than 85 prestigious members of New York’s wine sector and trade press attended the event, including Tom Matthews, executive editor at Wine Spectator; Michael Schachner, contributing editor for Wine Enthusiast’s Spanish wine section; Kristen Wolfe-Bieler, editor at Beverage Media; and Josh Greene, editor-in-chief at Wine & Spirits Magazine.

The bodegas taking part in the event were: Aalto, Abadía Retuerta, Alonso del Yerro, Bodega del Jardín, Calzadilla, Can Rafols del Caus, Cérvoles, Dehesa del Carrizal, Enrique Mendoza, Fillaboa, Finca Sandoval, Finca Valpiedra, Gramona, Luna Beberide, Manuel Manzaneque, Mas Doix, Mauro, Maurodos, Mustiguillo, Pago de Vallegarcía, Pagos de Familia Marqués de Griñón, Recaredo and Secastilla.

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