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When you visit a wine exhibition and they tell you that 165.000 wine glasses have been served, among the tastings offered by the exhibitors, this means that lots of wine have been tasted. And I am one of the lucky ones who tasted lots of wines (always with moderation).
I visited the second edition of Barcelona Wine Week, that was postponed due to covid several times and finally took place in Hall 8 of Fira Barcelona in an almost normal face-to-face event.
The event has generated great business opportunities with the visit of more than 18,000 professionals, 20% from 79 countries, mainly European and American. Among the attendees there were 470 major international buyers of strategic markets for the export of Spanish wine invited by the organization, who participated in more than 6,600 meetings with companies.
The figures:
– 10.000m2 net of occupied space
– 650 exhibitors from all the wine regions in Spain
– 800 new references have been presented
Among the wines I tasted, I want to share my top favorites:
– Marta de Baltà by Parés Baltà: Syrah Micro-vinification from old vineyards. With this wine they want to express the complexity and strength of the feminine character. A monographic where Syrah allows the palate to fill the velvet of an infinity of nuances, which could be contradictory but are integrated to form a symphony of flavours and aromas.

It is dedicated to Marta Casas, one of the winery’s oenologists and wife of the third generation of the family.
I also loved their extraordinary rosé Radix.

Celler Batlle by Gramona: it is a bioynamic sparkling wine, intense and complex. Ripe white fruit: peaches, golden apple, quince.  Flashes of aromatic herbs and white flowers, such as laurel and lemon peel. The aging notes are endless: crust of puff pastry, brioche, nuts (such as toasted hazelnuts and almonds).
In the palate the entrance is powerful and with enormous nuances. Balance between maturity and freshness.  Expressive retronasal way that confirms the memories of fruit and its long aging.
Ideal to accompany an entire tasting menu.
Nexus Plus by Bodegas Nexus: no doubt my favorite Cellar in Ribera del Duero, and among their great proposals, Nexus Plus is my top one. Awarded in the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2011 with the vintage Silver medal.

It is bright, intense ruby color with burgundy tones. Medium-high layer perfect to enjoy with gourmet friends.
Elías Mora Crianza: made with Tinta de Toro from the winery’s own vineyards, located at around 800 metres of altitude. After a manual harvest in 20-kg boxes, with a selection of grapes in the vineyard and the winery, they go through a pre-fermentation maceration for 3 days. For the fermentation, there is a seeding with selected yeasts, and a fermentation in stainless steel deposits. Once the malolactic fermentation has ended in these deposits, it is aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Elías Mora Crianza is a mature, powerful and balanced wine. On the nose, the aromas of black fruit stand out, with toasted and slightly spicy notes. In the mouth, it is meaty, with volume and somewhat fresh.
I also loved their fabulous white Rueda wine Contracorriente!.

Anna Espelt Cap de Creus: the sparking wine is made in one of my fave wine regions, l’Empordà, so different from others.

From the windy vineyards of Mas Marés in Cap de Creus. It has been made with hand-harvested monster grapes. Aged with its mothers for four months and in the bottle for another 38 months. You will feel the rock, the north wind, the blue of the sky and the sea and a subtle perfume. Frank and very complex at the same time.
Besides the Zero Waste program Fira Barcelona and Barcelona Wine Week have collaborated with Ecovidrio – which has collected more than 10,000 bottles during the event- and with the Catalan Cork Institute to promote the recycling of bottles and caps.