World In A Glass: Spanish Special
WORDS: Ange Seddon
I was going to continue on from last month's myth busting with a few more, but that can wait til next month as I have something more pressing to talk about.
I had the privilege of being invited to attend Stock Exchange Hotel’s first ever wine dinner; an evening in collaboration with one of Spain’s premiere wineries, Vega Sicilia. It was held in their beautiful, private dining room ‘The Bank’. This will be the first of a series, bringing beautiful wines from Europe’s finest vineyards together with equally beautiful food.
Seating 12, the room was delightfully intimate, yet grand and opulent. I had not seen it before, despite having been to the Stock Exchange Hotel for many occasions. I think I actually gasped when I walked in the room. It was so stunning.
The evening was to be a showcase of the premium wines from the cellars of Vega Sicilia’s Spanish and Hungarian vineyards, paired with exquisite dishes from Michelin starred head chef, Niall Keating. Someone asked the question right at the beginning, “Which came first, choosing the food to go with the wines, or choosing the wines to match the food?” The head sommelier Rafael Santo explained that this was very much about the wines first, and the food was chosen to compliment them.
It was exciting to be in expert hands (I can’t help it, I love learning). My knowledge of Spanish and Hungarian wines didn’t really go much beyond the theory I had learned for my exams. It was a wonderful opportunity to explore beyond the theory with people much more knowledgeable than me guiding us. It was sure to be an entertaining evening.
The people behind the wines at Vega Sicilia weren’t interested in making just any wine, they wanted to make exceptional wines. One thing was very clear, one of the most important factors in each and every wine was time. Time to wait for the perfect vintage, time to age the wines to their optimum, time to get every detail right. These wines have evolved to create more modern styles, yet the standard of excellence has in no way been compromised. The wines we tasted were true expressions of the skill and love that went into producing them. I could talk all day about the wines. We were guided through Tokaj in Hungary, to the Spanish regions of Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rioja and back to Tokaj. These were wines of great depth and complexity, some fresh, some rich, different vintages, different aging processes, all stunning. I particularly loved the 2020 Alion Tempos, but had I been wearing socks they would have been blown off by the 2014 Unico, their flagship wine. The 2016 Tokaji Aszû 3 puttonyos was smooth as silk. I have to be honest, I loved them all.
The food certainly didn’t play second fiddle, it reflected and complimented the wines perfectly. Each and every course was sublime in its execution and delivery, making the wines shine. Dishes of crab cakes and oysters, wild mushroom tartlets (sublime), chorizo risotto (blissful) salt aged Lake District Tomahawk steak, a range of gorgeous cheeses and an almond financier to finish. Without a doubt Stock Exchange Hotel are solidifying their reputation as one of Manchester’s premiere venues and these wine evenings prove that.
It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the wines, the regions they came from, vintages and varieties that you may not have come across before, it certainly was for me. I now have a better appreciation and understanding of Spanish and Hungarian wines, I mean fine wines, because that’s what these were. There’s no snobbery here either. Each person around the beautifully set table would freely admit that no matter how much you may know about wine, there is always more to learn. And you couldn’t get a better environment than this. The whole evening was a fantastic experience, put together by Rafael, Naill and their teams. We were guided through the fine wines, their history, their unique qualities and how they were produced with delightful and entertaining storytelling from Luigi Buonanno. Strangers became friends, there was a lot of laughter, great discourse and the best gravy on the planet (and I’ve had a lot of gravy, so I consider myself an aficionado!). Memories were made.
This may have been the first wine dinner that they have held but there will be more to come. I would urge you to sign up to their emails to find out about their upcoming events. You will get more than your money’s worth, each and every one of us attending was treated to an amazing evening, you don’t have to take my word for it, experience it for yourself and then you can say the words I love to hear, “Ange, you were right”.
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