16TH AWARD VILA VINITECA A TASTING CONTEST IN PAIRS

The 16th Award Vila Viniteca a Tasting Contest in Pairs was held on March 3 at La Llotja de Mar in Barcelona. The event got together 120 couples and 1,500 clients and friends, who experienced firsthand the excitement of the Qualifying Round and the Grand Final of one of the most anticipated tasting competitions of the year. In parallel to the competition, a showroom-tasting was held with more than 60 wineries and premium brands and a buffet with 112 artisanal cheeses selected by Ardai.

The contestants had the challenge of discovering, among other characteristics, the country, the area, the designation of origin, the grape variety, the vintage, the producer and the brand of the 7 wines tasted in the Qualifying Round and the other 7 of the Grand Final.

Antoni Carbó, from the La Salada winery, and Ramón Jané, from Mas Candí, were the winning couple of the 16th Vila Viniteca Tasting Contest in Pairs. They have been finalists 7 times, winners of the eleventh edition and the second ones in the sixth and seventh. They won 30,000 euros from this edition, in addition to 2,000 euros to consume in Riedel Superleggero glasses, courtesy of Euroselecció.

Delia Baeza, owner of the La Fisna wine distributor and store, and David Villalón Ferrero, owner of the bar à vins Angelita, took the Second Prize, worth 7,000 euros and 500 euros more in Riedel Extreme glasses. They were already the second ones in the eighth and thirteenth edition.

Josep Gallego and David Carril won the third prize in the Competition, worth 3,000 euros and 200 euros in Riedel Wine Friendly glasses.

The wines tasted in the Grand Final were:
-Château Musar White 2016, Líbano
-Georges Vernay Coteau de Vernon 2018, Condrieu
-Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2007, Champagne
-Joan d’Anguera Finca L’Argatà 2020, Montsant
-Mauro 2010, Castilla y León
-Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita Supercal 2019, Valle de Uco
-Valdespino Moscatel Toneles Viejísimo (3/8), Jerez

FINAL ROUND PICTURES

16º PREMIO VILA VINITECA DE CATA POR PAREJAS - FASE FINAL

The 7 wines tasted in the Qualyfying Round were:
-Palacios Remondo Propiedad 2021, Rioja
-Dominio del Águila Reserva 2016, Ribera del Duero
-Louis Roederer Cristal 2015, Champagne
-Bufadors Vinya del Rascarà 2017, Corpinnat
-Abel Mendoza Malvasía 2018, Rioja
-Ossian 2021, Castilla y León
-Azienda Agricola Cos Pithos Bianco 2022, Terre Siciliane

The jury of the 16th Vila Viniteca a Tasting Contest in Pairs was formed by Xandra Falcó; Fernando Gurucharri, president of UEC (Unión Española de Catadores); José Peñín, journalist and editor of guides and specialized books; Juan Muñoz, president of the Unión de Asociaciones Españolas de Sumilleres; and Jordi Segura from Euroselecció. The notary Sir Antoni Bosch ensured the correct running of the contest.

In addition, the 10 finalist couples received a batch of wines from Vila Viniteca.

The 10 finalist couples were the following:
-Juan Munné y Àlex Peris
-Paulius Gudinavicuus y Valeria Valdebenito
-Roc Gramona y Ricard Rofes
-Daniel Monsonís y Juan Luis Vanrell
-Josep Gallego y David Carril
-Agustí Torelló y Eloi Jiménez
-Fernando Mora y Aiyana Vilimek
-Antoni Carbó y Ramón Jané
-David Villalón y Delia Baeza
-Arnau Vivó y Ramon Francàs

QUALYFING ROUND PICTURES

This award offers an exceptional tasting opportunity to Professionals and amateurs, with the objective to promote the culture of wine. Its main uniqueness is the fact of tasting as a couple, since it forces every contestant to agree with his or her partner on the sensations, flavours and smells perceived. We have had participants from all over Spain and from many nationalities such as Finland, Chile, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Austria, the United States, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, France and Russia.

WINERIES AND CHEESES PICTURES

Wineries: Agrícola de Cadalso • Akashi Sake • Alfred Gratien • Ancnoc • Azpilicueta • Balblair • Barceló • Bodegas Ángel Lorenzo Cachazo • Bodegas Bilbaínas • Bodegas Castaño • Bodegas Tarsus • Bodegas Vizcarra • Ca N’Estruc • Can Matons • Can Ràfols dels Caus • Cara Nord • Castell del Remei • Celler de Capçanes • Cérvoles • Champagne G.H. Martel & Co • Cims de Porrera • Clos d’Agon • Codorníu • El Hombre Bala • El Jardín de Lucía • El perro verde • Fenomenal • Finca Allende • Finca Nueva • Freixenet • Hankey Bannister • Hatozaki • Heaven's Door • Heraclio Alfaro • Impavid • Juvé & Camps • L’Origan • La Cofradía • La Locomotora • La Mujer Cañón • Legaris • Les Cousins • Los Amantes • Llopart • Lustau • Mas Doix • Mestres • Michel Couvreur • Mineral del Montsant • Miró • Mozart Chocolate Liqueur • Mumm • Niepoort • Numanthia • Old Pulteney • Pagos de Anguix • Paisajes • Paxaro Tolo • Penderyn • Perrier Jouët • Pittacum • Quinta Sardonia • Reina de los Deseos • Rovellats • Samurai Sake • Scala Dei • Segura Viudas • Sospechoso • Tomàs Cusiné • Tomatin • Terras Gauda • The Botanical's • Toro Albalá • Valdespino • Venta las Vacas • Viña al lado de la casa • Viña Pomal • Ysios

Cheese buffet: Airas Moniz • Casa del Bosque • Caseificio Montecoppe • Finca La Cuadra • Formatge Bauma • Formatgeria El Miracle • Formatges La Balda • Fromages de Cocagne • Latteria Sociale di Cameri • Luigi Guffanti 1876 • Mas Alba • Molí de Ger • Neal’s Yard Dairy • Quesos Pajarete • Payoyo • Postres y Lácteos Mare Nostrum • Quesos Campollano • Quesos Sierra de Albarracín • Sa Cooperativa del Camp • Son Mercer de Baix • Tingvollost • The Fine Cheese • Xavier Fromager Affineur

Others: Artesanos Méndez • Échiré • Forn Vilamala • Museu de la Confitura • Olis Bargalló • Olirium • Valliser

With the collaboration of Euroselecció-Riedel, Cafés El Magnífico, Sant Aniol and Encinares del Sur

During the event, 5,200 Riedel glasses were used (2,400 in the competition). 267 bottles have been opened for the competition. 716 kg of more than 112 different varieties of cheese have been tasted, from 66 cheese factories selected by Ardai, and wines from more than 67 wineries have been tasted.