• Direct. Last minute about the coronavirus in Spain
  • Viral went to his mother-in-law's funeral and met black porters dancing coffins: the origin of the most viral coronavirus quarantine meme

"How are you, friends? Here we are one more afternoon. You already know me. I am Andrés Sánchez Magro . This afternoon we are going to talk about another great wine." For three days the head of court number 2 of the Mercantile of Madrid entertains the quarantine on Instagram with his live wine tastings, sitting at the bar, under a bull's head. " I do it at home . I use one of the bars I have, as a good drinker I am."

The judge summons through WhatsApp. A broadcast distributed the details of the meeting. "Hello, if you receive this message you will know that I have great appreciation and affection for you", and the signs are always the same: in the profile of the Averías tavern (Ponzano, 16) at seven thirty in the afternoon. The gathering serves to explain their favorite "marriages". "The husband came with something else . I am talking about a book, a cigar or a series. Today it is a historical thriller," he adds, "in addition to the godello that I have prepared."

Sitting in a bar is missed by everyone. "Damn, well, for sharing with friends. For spending a relaxed time in this difficult and uncertain situation . It's ten or 15 minutes," he justifies. "It is not just about the wine, I also speak about the cork, the vintage, many things", as on Wednesday, when he explained in front of dozens of spectators why it is important to "save" the wine while tasting "an Alonso del Yerro de 2009 ". "On the market is one from 2015 of the same brand. All the wines from 2000 are drinkable. If we talk about the 90s, I don't know."

Recommended the novel by Zoe Valdés Pretty bird at dawn . "It is about Bautista, the monster overthrown by Fidel Castro. The politically correct has forgotten about it. As if it had not existed . 95% of Spaniards have their image associated with The Godfather II. It is a very Yankee idea. The Americans they supported Castro. "

"A cultural hobby"

The hobby of wine "is a cultural hobby." He keeps "4,000 or 5,000 bottles" in the cellar of his house that he has been buying "since I was in my twenties. I started my library at 3. To enjoy wine you have to be older and have some money." Sánchez Magro was the judge who agreed with the taxi drivers in 2014, who three years later ruled in favor of Blablacar in front of the Federation of Buses and who " kept the country on edge", according to Mundodeportivo , because of the soccer schedule. "I have a good palate and a good tooth, I like good food and good drinks, like any more or less normal person. Wine has an anthropological dimension."

"The world of wine is a world of intrigue, of aspirations, of dreams, there is everything" and he says that this affects the product. "It is bullfighting as it is, bulls are like ranchers and wines, like winemakers, " he concludes. He has no way of justifying the pairings he calls "cultural". "The maximum pleasure is sharing the wine with someone. I also like to do it with a book, with music or a cigar." Regarding Wednesday "it was a book and a wine" and that's it. "On Friday I will smoke a Trinidad and talk about a deep red," he adds.

It has no favorite brands. "I would tell you more about favorite areas." Sánchez Magro's map is large. "Rioja Alavesa, Jerez, Champagne, Burgundy and Piedmont" , unfolds. "Almost all the wines I have can be found in the cellar" of the bar that one of his sons carries. "Now he is in an Erte but he has the business in hand. He also specializes in wines and that is better for the return. It is better to be a niche."

The hospitality industry suffers the consequences of the coronavirus crisis. "We lived in a bubble. It was a stretcher sector. The future is black, more than black . People are going to change their habits." Meanwhile, and until the return to normality, "the barrage of issues to be resolved will be a drama", the "parallel pleasures" remain: "as Arzak says when asked if he likes classic or new cuisine: always answer who likes good. The same thing happens to me with other things. "

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Wuhan
  • Coronavirus
  • Pneumonia
  • Diseases
  • Respiratory diseases

Covid-19 What will happen after the coronavirus? From business to vacation: nothing will ever be the same

Covid-19The stories of the Italian doctors who killed the coronavirus: "We are here to fight"

Coronavirus bars will be the last to open and you will not be able to go outside until May: this will be the end of the quarantine in Italy