On February 14th, a very special pairing took place in Barcelona where ten lucky diners had the opportunity to witness the return of the Catalan Montserrat Molina to her homeland with a diverse array of special bottles served alongside dishes prepared by the prestigious chef Jordi Vilà.
This special luncheon was orchestrated by Bernat Voraviú, the cellar master of the Alkimia Restaurant in Barcelona. Bernat offered Armando Guerra, Alta Gama of Barbadillo, the opportunity to create a special pairing where the wines of the historic Sanlúcar winery would be interpreted by the prestigious chef Jordi Vilà. As expected, the agreement was quickly celebrated, and after months of preparation, coinciding with the sweet day of lovers, this search for synergies between the cuisine of the Barcelona chef and the wines of the south took place.
Montserrat Molina, a Catalan who has been responsible for oenology at Barbadillo for decades, was the person in charge of explaining the different bottles selected for the occasion. Surrounded by 12 fortunate attendees, the day unfolded amidst delicious dishes, excellent service from the Alkimia staff, and the commentary of Bernat and Montse.
The selected wines were kept secret until the moment of the menu service. Among them were some treasures that deserved the mystery. They were, conveniently served at the right moment, the following:
Atamán Vermouth, served in a special Negroni cocktail created by Bernat
Alba Balbaína vintage 2022
Manzanilla Ás de Mirabrás Sumatorio vintage 2019
Manzanilla Trinidad
Manzanilla Saca Estacional Winter 2023 Ed. centenary in magnum format
Historic Amontillado Versos, sample from Single Cask
Oloroso Reliquia
Inquina Atamán
Interlaced with the wines from Bodegas Barbadillo, some labels provided by Bernat were included, in a complementary bet that helped to better understand the specialty of the wines from the Jerez and Sanlúcar region, selected for the event by Armando and Montse. The service of both proposals was occasionally combined, sparking debate and enjoyment in equal measure.
Enric Solé Malvasía Fina 2015, Penedés
Comando G, Camino del Pilar 2015, Gredos – Spain
Mercati Gaetano 2009, Zakynthos – Greece
Guillaume Overnoi Vin Jaune 2015, Jura – France
Badalucco Marsala Prebritish 1999, Sicily – Italy
Hatzidakis Vinsanto 2013, Santorini – Greece
In addition to the aforementioned individuals, the attendance was completed by a small group of ten people with a delicate balance between professionals and enthusiasts. Among them was Linda Díaz, from Gramona, which provided the sparkling contrast to a session until then devoid of bubbles.
A day to remember in which the Sanlúcar wines, explained with a Girona accent, defended versatility and excellence.
