Today, the Barrio de la Estación Tasting brought together more than 3,500 wine and gastronomy fans from different origins in this enclave of Haro (La Rioja), consolidating itself, in its fifth edition, as the leading food and wine event in Spain for combine the great Rioja wines from Barrio de la Estación with the best Michelin gastronomy in this historic environment, the largest concentration of century-old wineries in the world.
This event, promoted by CVNE, Bodegas Bilbaínas-Viña Pomal, Gómez Cruzado, La Rioja Alta, SA, Muga and Bodegas RODA, reinforces its commitment to haute cuisine, with six Michelin-starred projects, as perfect allies of fine wines. range, and with a record response from the public, with all tickets already sold in December 2023. The Barrio de la Estación Tasting is conceived as a celebration to enjoy wine and gastronomy as a culture, with a program that extends during A whole day, with music and activities in wineries in an enclave of valuable architecture.
The twelve wines selected for this fifth edition reflect excellence in viticulture and enology, as well as the diversity of styles and production approaches that coexist in the wineries of the Barrio de la Estación, generating a legacy that is part of the history of wine. Spanish: from CVNE, Imperial Reserva 2019 and Monopole Clásico Reserva 2020; from Bodegas Bilbaínas – Viña Pomal, Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 2015 and La Vicalanda Blanco 2022; from Muga, Torre Muga 2019 and Flor de Muga Rosado 2022; from Gómez Cruzado, Viña Dorana 2017 and Montes Obarenes Magnum 2017; from La Rioja Alta, SA, Viña Arana Gran Reserva 2016 and Viña Ardanza 2017, and from Bodegas RODA, RODA 2020 and RODA I 2019.
In this fifth edition, the most brilliant, with a greater number of Michelin star restaurants present, the wines of the Barrio de la Estación – which have accompanied the revolution in Spanish cuisine in recent decades – have joined forces with big names of a new generation of chefs who energize the country’s gastronomy: Ikaro, Nublo and Ajonegro, Michelin stars from La Rioja; El Serbal, Michelin-starred gastronomy in Cantabria, and Cobo Estratos and Erre de Roca, both Michelin-starred projects in Castilla y León. Added to this is the cuisine of Alberto Toribio from the Delicious Gastronomía catering. The sweet creation of La Cata del Barrio de la Estación has been signed by the master pastry chef and chocolatier Juan Ángel Rodrigálvarez, from his project Kankel Bean to Bar. In addition, the ‘gourmet’ gastro area of the event has allowed you to taste a pantry of artisan products and sustainable, representative of the best flavor of their territories.
The versatility in the pairing of the great Rioja wines
The Barrio de la Estación Tasting has thus offered a journey through the pantries of La Rioja, the Basque Country, Castilla y León, Cantabria, Ecuador and Mexico and a journey through the cultures, experiences and influences of the chefs who have participated in the fifth edition. The ‘travelers’ of La Cata del Barrio de la Estación have been able to enjoy, therefore, iconic wine brands from the Barrio de la Estación, some with a century of history, with the wealth of gastronomic proposals with different accents, reflecting the versatility in the pairing of great Rioja wines and its excellent understanding with cuisines of diverse roots.
In parallel, the wineries have opened their doors to carry out activities that demonstrate the link with the wine culture they treasure. At CVNE, the ‘Tunnel of aromas’ experience to awaken the relationship between wine and the senses; in Gómez Cruzado, ‘Tasting of white varieties’ to show the richness of the Rioja varietal catalogue; in La Rioja Alta, SA, ‘The artisan racking by candlelight’, to enjoy the magic of this delicate artisanal work live; at Bodegas Bilbaínas-Viña Pomal, ‘El Degüelle, a sample of know-how in the traditional production of sparkling wines; in Muga, ‘Tonelería: taming and toasting of the barrel’, to learn about the craftsmanship in the production of barrels with which to obtain wines of unique character, and in Bodegas RODA the photographic exhibition ‘Maridajes’ of the Foto Colectania Foundation to explore the common link between the work of different photographers and diverse themes.
In the commitment to the internationalization of La Cata del Barrio de la Estación, this edition was attended by a delegation from ‘The Wine Society’, one of the most prestigious wine clubs in the United Kingdom, with which the wineries traveled to the territory. British in 2023.
The starting point of La Cata del Barrio de la Estación was the musical tasting conducted yesterday, Friday, June 14, by the writer and wine critic for Robert Parker’s publication ‘The Wine Advocate’, Luis Gutiérrez, who traveled throughout seven decades, dating back to 1962, through eight iconic wines from the Barrio de la Estación wineries. Wine and music were the vehicle to awaken memory and travel through time.
The Barrio de la Estación, the main wine tourism destination in Rioja, receives more than 160,000 travelers a year, which contributes to the development and promotion of the territory. This century-old enclave, the gateway to Rioja, can be enjoyed all year round, with joint experiences such as the Barrio Estación Tours or the Barrio Estación Passport.
The Barrio de la Estación Tasting has the support of the Government of La Rioja and the Haro City Council, as well as the sponsorship of Cartonajes Santorromán, Argraf, Ramondín, Berthomieu – Ermitage Tonnellerie, Víctor y Amorim, Irundin, Agua 22, Ecotelia – Sorigué, AUDI – Rioja Motor and RIEDEL Euroselecció. Likewise, Fusión Vínica, Bucher Vaslin – Enolviz, Estuchería Vargas, Hideco, EMESA, AUBOCASSA Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Embutidos G. Sobron Martínez, Celebona 1960, Queso Los Cameros and the Council of Organic Agricultural Production of La Rioja (CPAER) collaborate. ).
