I read press releases as soon as they arrive. Promise. I do. I seldom get excited about wine awards, or indeed industry awards from far off places. You know the kind .... Winner of Obscure Medal for Most Obscure Wine in the Newest Wine Region Ever. I like judgements that have been awarded closer to home. Perhaps its just my cynical and questioning nature that makes me inherantly suspicious of accepting, carte blanche, recommendations that by their nature cannot take any account whatsoever of our local history, cuisine, likes and dislikes. Don't get me wrong. A Gold Medal is a Gold Medal and no-one can deny it. Does this mean we should buy it? Does this mean we will like it?
So, last week I read with a great deal of interest a well worded release from Vicente Gandia extolling the following:
I like Valencia and I like Spain. I have fond memories of learning why and how a region like Valencia, and the wider Levante, has worked hard to shake off its image of being a supplier of bulk shipments and wine concentrates. Every time I lecture on Spain I show an age old slide from an early WSET lecture series showing how Valencia protected it's bulk wines from the heat of the sun. Back in the 1970's there wasn't much more happening. Bobal was sweet and Tempranillo was baked. Delicate white wines were being put together on some hillsides in Utiel Requena but the market expected thick and sweet. That was Valencia! Watching regions change over time is why I visit wine fairs - Bobal in Valencia, Sagrantino in Montefalco, Tannat in Uruguay....... 'Valencia Watching' has been fruitful. (sorry..) Bobal is now very interesting, Tempranillo is world class and blends from the region are quite simply very, very drinkable. Still and all the Press Release was put back down.
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| Wine Storage Valencia 1980 |
Then local agents, Cassidy Wines, resent the release and reminded us that they were agents for a few of the wines made by wine maker Luis. The message now came close to home. It took on meaning in a commercial and useful sense. I had a look at three of his wines. I was really impressed. Well made, definite hearts of classy fruit and really assured winemaking, excellent presentation and very good value. This is modern Spain showing well. This is why Spain is indeed a Rising Star of the world of wine.
Now, when I think of the Gandia Press Release I think Quality, Available, Value and, oh yes, made by an Award winner!
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| Luis Garcia : Vicente Gandia well worth a look. |
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