North by Northwest: Stellar Mencias

The rediscovery of the old Mencía vines have put the remote and mountainous Bierzo area and the Galician regions of Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras on the wine map. Leading star winemakers such as Alvaro Palacios and Raúl Pérez, among others, are responsible for this success, producing unique mineral reds that have even elicited comparisons with Guigal’s famous Cote Roties. They have added diversity to Spain’s wine landscape and captivated demanding American critics. This seminar is devoted to the distinctive wines of the northwestern corner of Spain, some of which have achieved cult status in record time and are available only in minuscule quantities.