NATIVE DIVERSITY: The Rich, Red wines of Spain | May 14 & 17
Please join the Holly Hill Wine Guild this month for NATIVE DIVERSITY: The Rich, Red Wines of Spain featuring six spectacular wines from across Spain. The dates are Tuesday, May 14 and Friday, May 17.
Spain has more vineyard acreage than any other country. But, as you can tell from the critical acclaim, its winemakers are known even more for quality, diversity and value than they are for quantity. This versatility allows easy pairing with a variety of cuisines and occasions. You’ll discover bold, sultry Spanish red wines in tapas bars and Michelin-starred restaurants everywhere.
Wine has been produced in Spain for thousands of years, dating back to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. That lengthy heritage is reflected in the nation’s wine production by the continued use of red grape varietals indigenous to Spain. That said, Spain has among the world’s most modern and innovative wine industries, driven by the investment influx that came with the opening of its economy when Spain joined the European Union in 1986.
At our tasting this month NATIVE DIVERSITY: The Rich, Red Wines of Spain, we’ll explore red wines made from those indigenous Spanish grapes, reflecting a wide range of styles and prices:
Garnacha (Grenache) from sun-drenched central Spain
A blend of Grenache and Carignane from the black slate soils of Priorat
Mencia from the tiny Ribeira Sacra region of northwest Spain
Monastrell from the warm plateaus of southeast Spain
An iconic Rioja from one of Spain’s most important winemaking families
A lighter-style wine of northeastern Spain made from an obscure grape
Holly Hill Wine Guild tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at historic Fasig-Tipton, home to North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company. Tastings begin at 7 pm and last one hour. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers. We also offer an optional $25 dinner buffet that starts at 6:15 pm.
Reservations for NATIVE DIVERSITY: The Rich, Red Wines of Spain can be made here.
Monthly TASTINGs | 2024 schedule
Our tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at Fasig-Tipton. Each month we have two seatings, usually one on a Tuesday and the other on Friday. They begin at 7 pm and last an hour. We also offer optional buffets that start at 6:15 pm. Here is our schedule for our 2024 monthly tastings. You can access a printable version by clicking here.
January | A Tasting You Chianti Refuse
The delicious food-friendly red wines of Italy (Jan. 12, 16)
February | Battle Cabernet Sauvignon
Which Cabernet will reign supreme? We’ll taste them and rank! (Feb. 16, 20)
March | Elevated Taste: High-Altitude Wines
Wines from Argentina, Chile, New Mexico and other high places (Mar. 12, 15)
April | Bright Wines, Bright Future: Washington State Wines
The Apple State’s wines explode on the global stage (Apr. 16, 19)
May | Blame it on Rioja
Exploring the red wines of Spain, starting with Rioja (May 14, 17)
June | Zinfandel’s Zenith
Celebrating Sonoma’s extremely old Zinfandel vineyards
July | Two Rivers Run Through It
The historic wines of France’s Loire and Rhone River valleys
August | The South Pacific’s Enchanted Wines
Australia and New Zealand wines: close proximity but poles apart
September | The World’s Brilliant Blends
Amarone, Bordeaux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape to start
October | American Pinot Noir
Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Willamette Valley and beyond
November | Iconic Partners: Chardonnay and Burgundy
Where Chardonnay asks you to take the next step in your relationship
December | The Grandest Finale
Saving the best tastes for last
The Holly Hill Wine Guild was founded in 2008 and is directed by Steve Mancuso.
The Holly Hill Inn wine list features owner Chris Michel’s thoughtfully chosen selections and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2002. Chris is dedicated to finding the best and most interesting wines possible to pair with our seasonal cuisine, and our wine list features stalwarts and upstarts from the Old World and New!