THE SCIENCE OF PAIRING WINE
We all know that balanced, structured reds from Ribera del Duero pair perfectly with steak, and that crisp verdejo wines from Rueda are seafood’s best friend — but why exactly do they work? Master Sommelier and Ribera del Duero and Rueda wine ambassador, Alex LaPratt tells you how wine affects your palate, whether enjoying a red or white. If you’d like to go further in your understanding, Ray Isle of Food & Wine magazine provides a more detailed explanation, explaining why certain wines go with food flavors. You’ll also find some interesting videos, including one from Spanish wine expert, Marnie Old.
OTHER RIBERA AND RUEDA STORIES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
THE SPANISH WINEMAKING REGIONS TO WATCH
Who knows more about wine than sommeliers? Perhaps The Somm Journal, a publication that’s written for these denizens of restaurant wine cellars. In the current issue, Master Sommelier Brahm Callahan describes his visit to Ribera del Duero and Rueda as regions where the wine’s “flavor profiles match quite a bit the American palate.” Callahan was impressed how Rueda’s agriculture is moving toward more organic and biodynamic techniques. In Ribera del Duero, he got to taste 20-year-old wines to get a sense of the consistency of the region. These are certainly some of the reason Somm Journal says they are “Spanish Winemaking Regions to Watch – Now.”
RIBERA Y RUEDA: WHERE TO STOP ON THIS EPIC SPANISH WINE TRAIL
When Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate recommends a tour of a region, people start getting out their maps. In this article, writer Lane Nieset calls Ribera del Duero and Rueda “the Napa and Sonoma of Spain.” She writes that these high-altitude regions offer “the ideal environment for acidic and balanced reds from grapes like Tempranillo, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet, as well as crisp, bone-dry whites produced with Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc grapes.” The recommended wine trail features “boutique wineries, castles, molecular-fueled tapas bars, monasteries-turned-five-star-hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants.” What more incentive do you need? Let’s all start packing!
RIBERA Y RUEDA IN THE NEWS
RYR IN NYC’S BEST TAPAS RESTAURANTS
Whether you call them tapas, pintxos or just plain old snacks, the question of what to drink alongside them still stands. So when New York magazine food critic Adam Platt toured some of the best tapas bars in New York, we went the extra mile to highlight some perfect RyR pairings each restaurant’s wine list offers.
STUDY ABOUT HOW BEING A MOM CHANGES THE WAY THEY DRINK WINE
Is there a correlation between family size and how much wine moms drink? According to VinePair, there is, and they have the market research to prove it. The conclusions are not necessarily what you think.
Ribera y Rueda Wine