TheMay 28 2019 Event: D.O. Rueda Wine Tasting

The Date and Time: Tuesday May 28,2019  7Pm to 9PM

The Event: D.O. Rueda Wine Tasting

The Venue: Patria, King Street

The Target Audience: wine writers, influencers, clients.

The Availability/Catalogue: There were 24 or so wineries showing their wines, but only a few had Ontario representation. These were in the main square. Along the glassed-in perimeter there were the other wineries that wanted reps but had only two people pouring all the wines. Here, the wines were arranged by aroma and body-weight, ending with barrel fermented wines.

The Quote/Background: Bruce Wallner, MS, was along to provide helpful commentaries. Rueda produces mainly white wines, and exports widely. The authorized white grapes used are Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viura.

The Wines: I did not taste every wine. All wines are DO Rueda. MARQUES DE RISCAL RUEDA DO  (LCBO +36822) is the only one available at the LCBO stores for $13.35. It turned up among the wines NOT repped. But I tasted it anyway. HIJOS DE ALBERTO GUTIERREZ DE ALBERTO DORADO NV    $42 was a semi-sweet dessert wine that I did not taste.

 

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

-Menade Verdejo 2018 $19.95  The Living Vine  [my FAVE of the evening]

-Finca Montepedroso Verdejo 2017 Rueda DO  $20.99 Licensee STEM WINE GROUP

-Palacio de Bornos Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $15.95 J. Cipelli

-Palacio de Bornos Verdejo Sobra Lias 'La Caprichosa' 2017 $21.95 J. Cipelli

-Bodegas Rueda Perez Vina Buron 2018 Verdejo70%/Viura30% $12.95 Lic Reif

-Bodegas Protos Verdejo 2017 Barrel Fermented   [not repped!!]

-JAVIER SANZ VERDEJO 2018 LCBO +533561  $19.05 Majestic

-JAVIER SANZ SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018 LCBO +533579 $19.05  Majestic

 

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

-Palacio de Bornos Verdejo 2018 $15.95 J. Cipelli

-Bodega Gotica Badajo 2018 DO Rueda $14.95 Licensee Rouge et Blanc

-Bodega Gotica TrasCampanas 2018 DO Rueda $17.95 Licensee Rouge et Blanc

-Bodegas Rueda Perez Vina Buron 2018 Verdejo $13.95 Lic Reif

-Bodegas Rueda Perez Jose Galo Verdejo 2018 $11.65 Reif

-Bodegas Verdeal Verdejo Ayre 2018  ~ $18    Bespoke

-Bodegas Verdeal Verdejo 500 Flores 2018   price?  Bespoke

-Bodegas Verdeal Verdejo 500 Flores 2017   price?  Bespoke

 

Unrepped Wineries, approx. CAD retail

 

HIJOS DE ALBERTO GUTIERREZ   

      -DE ALBERTO VERDEJO 2018    $20

    -MONASTERIO DE PALAZUELOS VERDEJO 2018    $15

CASTELO DE MEDINA   

      -CASTELO DE MEDINA VERDEJO 2018    $20

    -CASTELO DE MEDINA VERDEJO VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA 2017      $25

    -CASTELO DE MEDINA SAUVIGNON BLANC VENDIMIA SELECCIONADA 2017    $25

PAGO TRASLAGARES   

      -TRASLAGARES VERDEJO 2018    $18

    -TRASLAGARES SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018    $20

BODEGAS FELIX SANZ   

      -VIÑA CIMBRÓN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2018    $26

    -VIÑA CIMBRON VERDEJO 2018    $26

    -VIÑA CIMBRON VERDEJO SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL 2017    $26

HERRERO BODEGA   

      -ERRE DE HERRERO VERDEJO 2018       $21

    -ROBERT VEDEL CEPAS VIEJAS    $30

    -POUR JANINE VERDEJO    $23

 

The Food: Food was outstanding, with planks and boards of Spanish cheeses and housemade sausages and meats. There were platters of apps, plus their stunning paella (clams, mussels, shrimp, fish, etc.).

The Downside: prices were not that easy to obtain, especially from those wineries that were seeking reps. The PR firm went out of their way to nail down what prices they could; I appreciated that effort. Also, it was so dark – which made it difficult to read labels or other fine print (such as vintage date).

The Upside: Rueda wines are not that well-known, and they are a pleasing alternative to other white wines. It was a good learning experience for me.

The Contact Person: giuliana@glocommunications.ca; jessica@glocommunications.ca

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

 

Chimo! www.deantudor.com