Sunday, June 15, 2014

RIOJA By London's Tower Bridge


Yes, it's the Tower of London. We could see open-topped buses taking tourists across.

'Singing in the rain?' Not yet - fortunately before we had too much wine we went to an indoor tutored tasting.





A two day festival of Rioja and tapas. Free entry 12noon - 6 pm Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June 2014. You could book tastings and demos on line, £6 + £1 booking fee.

Rain - no problem - buy a jolly red umbrella with the word Rioja on it for £6.

Rioja is in Northern Spain. Rioja wines are red, rosada (rose pink colour) and white dry wines.

The favourite grape of the region is Temperanillo. Add small quantities of other grapes, just as you would add sugar or salt to food, to spice up existing flavour or add a little new flavour.

The popular producers who produce large quantities of value for money wine were out in force.

TAPAS TASTING
I tried three kinds of tapas. Unfortunately the tapas offered was in snack size and prices. I had hoped for lots of dishes of little bite size pieces, canapés, so you could spend £10 and try 20 different snacks. I'm allergic to shellfish. I avoid preserved meats since a member of my family had cancer and we all went on a healthy diet of no preserved meats for months.
That left me with a small choice, but very enjoyable: large chopped mushrooms on a tranche of bread topped with a quail's egg; then chicken leg in rice - fried rice not so healthy? but in a tasty tomato sauce. 


EVENTS
1 Wine tasting




2 Walk about 


3 Cookery


The staff looked great in either red or blue t-shirts with the word Rioja.


More details from uk.riojawine.com

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