Shops, taverns, markets ... key places in the capital for the amateur consumer to enter the world of oenology
Among the good purposes of 2020 may be to learn about wines and, if possible, in a fun and effective way. Where to do it In Madrid there are many different options to learn.
In a shop
As a complement to its wine offer, there are few wine bars in the capital that offer the possibility of training in the knowledge of wines, a learning aimed at the amateur consumer discover different references and, if you want, expand your horizons of wine culture . One of those places is Enoteca Barolo , a dean store in the Chamartín neighborhood (Principe de Vergara, 211) where beginners can attend tasting courses and learn about aromas, taste, defects and types of wines in four sessions, at which, in addition, can be attended separately or by hiring the entire course. For the most experienced students, thematic tastings are offered with producers and cult wines or areas, taught by store staff or by external teachers.
Lavinia , who has just turned 20 since its foundation in Madrid (Ortega y Gasset, 16), has always wanted to be a space for dissemination and culture of wine, and teaches tasting courses for beginners once a month and training sessions to deepen in areas, wine styles or specific wineries. In addition, at the hands of its sommeliers (some of them, qualified winemakers), it offers tastings for beginners (wine areas, styles, vertical tastings) and courses as they can be followed in the store (also at its headquarters in La Moraleja) or in other places. The teaching aspect also includes masterclasses on wineries and dinners with winemakers. «Lavinia is from the beginning a place where things happen and has always wanted to give the wine trade a cultural vision», says the director of Lavinia Spain, Juan Manuel Bellver, who clarifies that «we do not give notes», but it is not ruled out to do so in the future. Other stores, such as The One Wine (Manuel Cortina, 1) or Reserva y Cata (Conde de Xiquena, 13), offer various activities related to the teaching of wine (consult the establishments).
In tavern
A local wine and craft beers could be a good enclave to learn the secrets of the preparation and try rare bottles, from small producers or complicated to get. That is the approach to the tastings of the La Caníbal tavern (Argumosa, 28), where you bet on tap wines, craft beers and traditional cheeses. The training is a passion for one of its founders, Luis Vida, and you just have to be attentive to their social networks to know their agenda of thematic tastings and presentations, as some of them are free. In principle, they are aimed at students with a certain level and basic notions, although the classes are affordable for anyone with a little desire. Cheese harmonies and targeted beer tastings are also offered.
In the market
For example, in the one in San Miguel (next to the Plaza Mayor), which houses the veteran Pinkleton & Wine bar, where wine glasses are not suitable for all budgets, including Vega Sicilia. If one does not aspire to a canonical teaching, here it is possible to acquire basic notions from the sommeliers who attend the place, previously consulting the options. In Pinkleton there are presentations - open to the public - of wineries, which allow you to try their labels and you can even ask the staff to serve different glasses as learning to differentiate some wines from others, choosing the theme, the variety ... The concept is Very free and, if you go with friends, it is a good option to have a fun school time.
From home
And if the cold does not encourage leaving home, the student can attend a tasting without moving from the couch, thanks to initiatives such as Entre Cepas , a wine tourism company founded by the sisters Ana and Mar Sánchez Pavón that provides home training adapted to the customer demand. With a duration of about two and a half hours, Mar Sánchez Pavón -WSET 3 (certificate granted by Wine & Spirit Education Trust, international reference organization in wine formation) and sommelier diploma- provides basic notions to groups of friends on their own houses, with a relaxed language adapted to the level of each audience: "People have an interest in approaching this world to have a pleasant time and prefer that you speak to them without technicalities," he says.
Reservations and inquiries about possibilities and themes at info@entre-cepas.com and in Tfn .: 670 862 635. Between Cepas he puts the material and the fan, the desire "to drink a wine and have fun", concludes Mar.
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