Taste through Spain and Portugal at Blind Bishop on Sundays April 16 and April 30!
What better way to while away a Sunday afternoon than an immersive tasting tour of Spanish and Portuguese wine, hosted by Dilek Caner MW.
Explore a wide range of wines from two neighboring countries with a rich wine-making heritage. Come together with fellow wine enthusiasts, relax, eat, drink, and feel free to ask our MW any wine questions you have.
For those that enjoy learning as much as they do tasting, this is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the region’s major varieties and appellations, and to compare them side by side.
What’s on offer
- 16+ Spanish and Portuguese wines, available to taste in 1 oz, 3 oz or 5 oz pourings. Scroll down to see the wines that are included.
- Order at your leisure from the Blind Bishop food menu. Feel free to ask us for food pairing recommendations!
How it works
- Book your spot using the form below
- Pre-purchase a card to use at our WineStations ($40 or $80) 10% or 15% discount respectively if bought at least one day before the event!
- Arrive anytime from 3pm to 6pm and help yourself to our range of wines and food options, from tasting samples to full glasses
- Use any remaining credit from your card at a future Wine Immersion at Blind Bishop.
Sparkling
- Quinta das Arcas "Tapada Nova" Pet-Nat Portugal
Frankly, we weren't looking for a Pet-Nat from Portugal but when we tasted this wine it was so fresh and enjoyable that we had to add it to the tasting. It was supposed to be 16 wines in total, and now it is 17. We're not sorry!
Whites
- Txomin Etxaniz Getariako Txakolina 2022
An amazingly fresh white from Spain's Basque Country. 100% from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape. Vibrant citrus flavors, subtle effervescence. With its crisp and lively character, it is for the wine drinker hooked on freshness.
- Bodegas Vatan Nisia "Las Suertes" Verdejo Rueda 2020 (93-JS)
100% organically grown Verdejo. It comes from the highest altitude area of the Rueda region, where the temperature changes dramatically between day and night. This shift in temperature helps the grapes to ripen perfectly, while still retaining that refreshing acidity that we all love in a white wine.
- CVNE "Monopole" Classic Rioja Blanco 2021 (92-JS, 91-RP)
100% Viura, no oak influence so you get a pure expression of the grape's character. Medium bodied and with a range of fruit flavors, from juicy apple and pear to zesty citrus. There's also a hint of white flowers in the background. This wine won't break the bank - it's a great value for the quality you're getting!
- Esteve i Gibert "Clot dels Eixams" Malvasia de Sitges Penedès 2020
Made with 100% organically farmed grapes that are grown using some biodynamic practices, it is then aged on fine lees for 8 months in used chestnut barrels. Malvasia de Sitges is hard to come across as it is, and there are less than 700 bottles of this wine produced, so it's a real treat to get to taste it.
Reds
- Succés Vinícola "El Mentider" Trepat Conca de Barberà 2018
If you've had the chance to taste a Trepat, then you're part of a super-small group! It is a grape native to Spain's Conca de Barbera DO, and it's commonly used in the production of rosé Cava. When made into a red wine, it has an elegant and earthy style that's similar to Pinot Noir. This particular Trepat is produced from very old vines, which are between 80 and 100 years old, and it's made using organic methods. After fermentation, it's aged for around 9 months in used Burgundy barrels.
Bierzo Comparison
- Descendientes de Jose Palacios “Petalos” Bierzo 2020 (93-RP, 92-JS)
- Descendientes de J. Palacios “Corullón” Bierzo 2020 (97-RP, 95-JS)
Bierzo is known for its red wines produced from the Mencia grape. The wines have a firm-ish structure, along with flavors of violet and wild berries, and a unique minerality that really set them apart.This project is a collaboration between Alvaro Palacios and his nephew, winemaker Ricardo Perez. The top tier wine is called “Corullon” and it comes from the estate's best vineyards. They consider it the 'grand cru' of the project. But, if you're looking for something more affordable for everyday drinking, they also make “Petalos” - a great alternative. Give both a try and see which one you prefer!
Garnacha Comparison
- Sindicat "La Figuera" Montsant 2020 (90-RP)
- Alvaro Palacios Vi de Vila "Gratallops" Priorat 2019 (94-RP, 94-JS)
Two amazing Grenache-based wines from neighboring appellations. Priorat is a tiny area that's known for producing some of the most stunning wines in Spain. Then there's Montsant - an area that surrounds Priorat. Palacios' Vi de Vila Gratallops is made in the original village where Priorat wines were first produced. This wine has bold cherry flavors, balanced tannins, and is simply gorgeous.
Sindicat is another wine that blew us away at Blind Bishop. It's surprisingly affordable and has an elegant combination of red fruit and earthiness that makes it hard to believe it's not a Pinot Noir. We think we found a real gem with this one. Try and see for yourself!
Rioja Comparison
- Lopez de Heredia "Viña Cubillo" Rioja Crianza 2014
- Muga "Prado Enea" Rioja Gran Reserva 2015 (97-RP, 97-JS, 94-WS)
Lopez de Heredia is one of the oldest and most acclaimed wineries of Rioja. It is especially known for its practice of aging its wines for a very long time before release. From Lopez de Heredia, we're opening a Rioja Crianza "Vina Cubillo" from the amazing 2014 vintage. It is affordable but still shows the beauty of the vintage and the character of the producer.And then there's Muga's "Prado Enea" Gran Reserva - it's known as one of the prettiest wines in the region and has received a ton of praise. Everybody should taste the Prado Enea at least once in their lifetime!
Ribera del Duero Comparison
- Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero 2019 (91-JS)
- Emilio Moro “Malleolus” Ribera del Duero 2019 (93-D, 92-JS)
If you've heard of Ribera del Duero, you're probably familiar with Bodegas Emilio Moro. In this Sunday’s Wine Immersion, we're excited to showcase two of their 2019 vintage Tempranillo wines side by side. First comes their flagship wine, Emilio Moro. It's made from medium-aged vines and aged in both French and American oak barrels. An excellent value at its high quality, it shows a perfect balance of ripe tannins, and plenty of aromatic complexity in its red fruit, subtle oak and minerality notes.
The second one, Malleolus, is sourced from very old vines in the village of Pesquera and carries a remarkable concentration of ripe red and black cherry notes, firm but ripe tannins and a long finish with a stony minerality. At Blind Bishop, we've opened this wine on several occasions, and our dinner guests always raved about it. The 2019 growing season in Ribera del Duero was long and dry, resulting in some beautifully concentrated wines. If you're interested in seeing how the 2019 vintage is showing right now, this is your chance!
It's worth noting that Malleolus has been aged in French oak only, while Emilio Moro has some American oak influence, making it an opportunity to taste and compare the differences between French and American oak.
Toro
- Bodegas Pintia Toro 2017 (95-JS, 94-RP, 91-WS)
Launched in 2001 by Vega Sicilia, their Toro project Pintia was an instant hit! Toro is a hot and dry region, and the trick is to pick the grapes at just the right time so that they don't get too ripe and lose their acidity. Pintia has nailed it by achieving an elegant style, even with the rustic Tinta de Toro clone of Tempranillo. If you're curious about exploring the diverse clones of Tempranillo, check out the differences among these three regions: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Toro. You'll be able to see the unique characteristics of each clone.
The South
- Casa Castillo Monastrell Jumilla 2020 (92-RP)
Monastrell, also known as Mourvèdre in France, is responsible for producing some of the darkest and spiciest wines. In France, it's often used as a blending grape, but in southeastern Spain, the people of Jumilla, Yecla, and Murcia DOs take special pride in their varietal Monastrells. This organic Monastrell is a standout example, with grapes sourced from ungrafted vines growing in the sandy soils of Jumilla. The winemaking process is gentle, starting with whole cluster fermentation using native yeast. The aging is then done in concrete vats and large foudres, which highlights the unique varietal character of the grape.
- Alvear PX "Solera 1927" Montilla-Moriles (96-RP, 94-WE)
Pedro Ximenez fans: Here's another very small production gem from the renowned Alvear winery. Despite its typical PX sweetness, it's not heavy at all, and instead, you'll get notes of coffee, maple syrup, walnut, prune, and even crème brulée.
Complete the form below to reserve your spot! We ask that you reserve and buy your card in advance so that we have it ready for you when you arrive.
