Hola Mis Amigos,
Many moons ago, when I was a young man with a full head of hair, I first traveled to Europe, armed with a manilla folder full of letters of introduction from Mr. Kevin Zraly. Some of my younger readers may not know what the heck I'm talking about, so I shall explain. Back in the analog days, when international phone calls cost $20 - $30 (equivalent to twice that today) and mail required a stamp and cameras had film, the only way to "friend" someone was to...well...actually meet them. The only way to let someone know you "liked" them was to tell them. And if you wanted to Link In with someone that was part of your friend's "network," one might carry a letter of introduction. And so it was back in the dark ages. Kevin was in charge of the most important wine program in America and the largest restaurant wine cellar in the world. This packet of letters was indispensable to my early education. While this method of friending and linking in was quite a bit more arduous, it was also treated with a greater deal of gravitas; and the levels of kindness and consideration with which I was treated by some of the greatest winemakers in the world still boggles my mind. There were up-sides to the analog era!
The first stop on my six months of European exploration was Spain. The first foot I set in Europe fell in Madrid, a city I love to this day. I was blown away by the great wines of Rioja and their centuries old traditions. Sadly, since then, many of the producers I met on that trip have adopted much more modern wine-making practices. Often, these modern wines are very good, technically correct and much more forward, friendly and accessible to an uneducated palate than the old traditional style. But to me, that's not what makes Rioja Rioja.
This is why I am so excited about the wines from Bodegas Riojanas and why Mark and I are super pleased to welcome Santiago Frias and you to dine with us on Wednesday, October 9. The Artacho family, of Bodegas Riojanas has been making fantastic wine in the region since the 18th century. Their wines reflect the character and history of the place. They are age-worthy and also delicious when young. They are Riojana. I say they are Riojanissima, or "very very Rioja."
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