Great success of the 2nd edition of La Cata del Barrio de la Estación: Haro welcomes more than 4,500 wine and food lovers from all over the world in a unique international event, organised by seven emblematic Rioja wineries.
Wine, its history and culture are the real stars of the Barrio de la Estación, founded in the 19th century and an emblem of quality wine tourism.
More than 4,500 wine and food lovers from all over the world came today to Haro’s Barrio de la Estación to enjoy the 2nd edition of La Cata del Barrio de la Estación. A unique wine festival promoted by seven emblematic Rioja wineries: López de Heredia Viña Tondonia; La Rioja Alta, S.A.; Bodegas Muga; Bodegas RODA; CVNE; Bodegas Bilbaínas and Bodegas Gómez Cruzado.
Throughout the day, attendees were able to visit all its facilities, with an exceptional cultural and historical character; taste a selection of 14 wines, accompanied by seven Rioja tapas; participate in various activities related to the world of wine; discover the architecture of the neighbourhood; and enjoy live musical performances.
Thus, the wines offered for the occasion were Gran Reserva 904 2005 and Viña Ardanza 2007, from La Rioja Alta, S.A. Viña Tondonia Tinto Reserva 2004 and Viña Bosconia Tinto Reserva 2005, from López de Heredia Viña Tondonia; Muga Reserva Selección Especial 2011 and Prado Enea Gran Reserva 2004, from Bodegas Muga; RODA 2011 and RODA I 2009, from Bodegas RODA; Asua Crianza 2012 and Cune Reserva 2010, from CVNE; La Vicalanda Reserva 2010 and Viña Pomal Rosado 2015, from Bodegas Bilbaínas; and Gómez Cruzado Blanco 2015 and Honorable 2012, from Bodegas Gómez Cruzado.
On the other hand, the activities enjoyed by the attendees stand out for their attractiveness and originality. R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia has shown its “Historical Exhibition“, in which the history of the winery is reviewed through photographs and centenary works; CVNE has invited to know the exhibition “Caro at CVNE“, a sample of the sculptures of Anthony Caro, one of the most important British artists of the 20th century, distributed by the winery; Gómez Cruzado has presented “Artesanos del vino: el botero“, a display of the craft of making butts and skins for transporting and consuming wine; La Rioja Alta, S. A., the “Trasiega artesanal a la luz de la vela“, an art practised since ancient times by the winery by means of which the sediments in the wine are cleaned naturally; Bodegas Bilbaínas carried out demonstrations of manual “Degüelle de cava“, a process where the lees from the second fermentation of the cava are eliminated; Bodegas Muga carried out a demonstration of “Barrel Taming” to show the attendees how to make a boot in a 100% handcrafted way; and Bodegas RODA opened the doors of its admired cellar for the enjoyment of the public.
Day for professionals
Prestigious chefs and sommeliers along with members of the national and international wine press met the day before La Cata del Barrio de la Estación. Together with them, Pedro Ballesteros, the only Spanish Master of Wine, has become “El Maquinista del Año”, an award that Tim Atkin received in the previous edition.
For the occasion, Pedro Ballesteros conducted an unprecedented Master Class together with the winemakers of the seven wineries. An interactive and unrepeatable tasting in primeur where the origin and secrets of the blended wines, always characteristic of the Barrio and which form part of the genesis of today’s Rioja wines, were revealed.
Haro, a unique wine tourism destination in the world
The Barrio de La Estación de Haro, located in the heart of Haro (La Rioja, Spain), is a unique place where the largest number of century-old wineries in the world are concentrated. Built around a central axis, a railway station, it is a magical enclave for its main protagonist: wine. It is considered to be the birthplace of Rioja wine, which began to take shape in the second half of the 19th century, in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, as a result of the replacement of horse-drawn carriages as the traditional means of transporting wine by the innovative railway. Hence the name of the place which, moreover, has been consolidated with the marketing success that has made it known around the world.
The 1st edition of this great festival, held in September 2015, was recognised with the “Best of” award for the best wine tourism initiative granted by the international network of great wine cities “Great Wine Capitals”.
