Gran Reserva Level

The Vivanco family set out to create a project for all wine lovers, and a way to share their own passion for the Culture of Wine, called Dinastia Vivanco. The Winery makes wines that are great expressions of Rioja, and each of its individual varieties. The Museum covers every aspect of wine culture; vineyard, winery, archaeology and art, as well as the every day actions of opening, serving and consuming wine. The Foundation promotes the Culture of Wine through publications, bursaries and research. Like wine, this is something to be shared.

La Rioja Tourismo aims to provide you with a wealth of information on everything from food to lodging and from hiking to tourism tips in La Rioja. Regardless if you’re a wine professional or simply someone who enjoys a glass of wine, our aim is to share with you a wide range of opportunities for you and your family to enjoy such as cooking classes, ancient dinosaur tracks, unique nature trails along the River Ebro, and the historic Camino de Santiago, just to name a few.

While tracing its roots to the XIX Century, CORTICEIRA AMORIM has become the world’s largest cork and cork-derived company in the world, generating over Euro 450 million in sales throughout 103 countries. CORTICEIRA AMORIM and its subsidiaries are an integral part of a conservationist effort to guarantee the survival of hundreds of thousands of cork trees throughout the Mediterranean Basin. We are proud of our contribution to the correct utilisation of these important forests that represents a key role in the CO2 retention, contributing this way to preserve biodiversity and preventing desertification. We encourage you to learn more by visiting www.amorim.com and informative websites such as www.corkfacts.com or www.apcor.pt.

The philosophy of Raimat has always been to investigate and implement techniques that produce unique and high quality wine. Since the 1970s, Raimat has gained a reputation for starting the “variety revolution”. After careful research, we began to plant new varieties of grapes virtually unknown in Spain; whereby becoming a pioneer in the cultivation and development of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot. The development of these varieties marked the evolution of Raimat. Since then, the winery has always ensured the production of great wines by remaining at the forefront of innovation both in enology and viticulture. Today, we have carried out 120 vintages around the world in California, France, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Germany… and, of course, Spain.

Reserva Level

In 1999, Pedro José Martínez Marín, a young grape grower born in Jumilla, joined forces with Marcial Martinez Cruz, an experienced winemaker, with a clear goal: To produce a world class wine and build up a long term powerful brand. In only 9 years, Casa de la Ermita has become the reference for Jumilla wines, selling approximately 200.000 cases a year in over 40 countries. We are a vibrant and modern winery using the indigenous variety Monastrell, in addition to other varietals such as Tempranillo, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. And as result of our innovative and young spirit, Casa de la Ermita was the first to produce an organic wine in the region, is experimenting with Viognier and Malbec, and is currently developing a low alcohol wine.

On the Esporão Estate, in the heart of the Alentejo, 600 ha of the best grapes have been planted within the extreme embrace of a huge dam. The combination of an extraordinary geology, granites and schists, along with unique climactic conditions, allows for a tremendous variety of fragrances and textures which can be found in the wines. Presently, Herdade do Esporão produces 4 wine brands: Esporão, Vinha da Defesa, Monte Velho and Alandra. More recently, Herdade do Esporão started producing Olive oil, virgin and extra virgin, made exclusively with Portuguese olives and is fully committed to the protection of the Estate’s biodiversity, stated on the signed agreement with Countdown 2010.

Key Note Wineries

Wineries who are donating wines for the Key Note Tasting on Saturday Night:

Bodegas Bentomiz, Bodegas RODA, Bodegas Muga, Bodegas Valdepusa, Dominio de Tares, Niepoort, Casa de la Ermita, Heredade Esporao, Herdade da Malhadinha, Abadia Retuerta, Cortes de Cima,Lopez de Heredia, Luis Pato, Osborne Dominio de Valdepusa, Euldad Massana i Noya, Bodegas Hispano Suizas and Taylors Fladgate.

EWBC Organizers

Catavino.net - The only English Wine blog focusing on the wines of Spain and Portugal. Though the majority of their readership is US based, today more and more people around the globe are finding their site to be a useful place to learn more about Iberian Wines.

The Wine Conversation - Robert McIntosh lives and works in Forest Hill, South East London, blogging about this interesting corner of the capital as well as my thoughts on wine and wine culture. All comments and thoughts are his personal ones and although he does work in the wine business, this is exclusively a personal site.