The Event: A tasting of wines from HGA Bodegas (Galicia), led by Export Director Cornelia Proca, May 1, 2018

The Date and Time: Tuesday May 1, 2018  11AM to 2PM

The Event: A tasting of wines from HGA Bodegas (Galicia), led by Export Director Cornelia Proca.

The Venue: Mad Crush Wine Bar

The Target Audience: wine media, sommeliers

The Availability/Catalogue: most wines are available through the LCBO Discovery stores or online. Bod HGA is repped by AMV-Whiz Trading Ltd.

The Quote/Background: HGA Bodegas had four wineries represented today, with most of their wines at the Spanish Discovery store (Kingsway, at Royal York and Bloor). Ms. Proca took us through the 11 wines from Bodegas Regina Viarum (Sacra Ribeira), Bodegas Altos de Torona and Pazo de Villarei (both Rias Baixis). Home is Galicia in the northwest corner of Spain, abutting both Portugal and the Atlantic. This also turned out to be a mini-albarino and mini-mencia horizontal tasting.

The Wines: 

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Pazo de Villarei "Villarei" 2014 Rias Baixas [albarino] $25.05

-Altos de Torona Albarino 2015 Rias Baixas  $22

-Altos de Torona Albantu Albarino 2016 Rias Baixas  $17.95 Vintages September

-El Ilusionista Verdejo 2017 Rueda [private order]

-Bodega Regina Viarum Expression XII Meses Mencia 2012 Sacra Ribeira $33

-Bodega Regina Viarum Mencia 2015 Sacra Ribeira $25

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-Pazo de Villarei Albarino 2015 Rias Baixas $21.85

-Altos de Torona Rosal 2015 Rias Baixas [albarino 75%, Loureiro et al] $22

-Altos de Torona Godello 2017 Rias Baixas $22 [just bottled, N/A, Private Order]

-Bodega Regina Viarum Via Imperial Mencia 2015 Sacra Ribeira $21

-Bodega Regina Viarum Via Appica Mencia 2015 Sacra Ribeira $21

 

The Food: international cheeses, charcuterie, focaccia, cod and potato croquettes, grilled cheese, deep fried sweetbreads with maple, cauliflower patties.

The Downside: we had no tasting/tech sheets for reference points (prices, availability, vintage).

The Upside: good time of day, good weather.

The Contact Person: corneliaproca@hgabodegas.com; annep@tastesenseltd.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 89

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com