- The Asociación del Barrio de la Estación has concluded the third edition of the BEIWE encounter for wine professionals with a record number of participants, bringing together over 600 professionals last Monday, 19 May.
- This twinning link with Burgundy reaffirms and consolidates the international vocation of the bodegas of the Haro Station Quarter.
Haro has twinned with the Burgundy winemaking region for the Barrio de la Estación International Wine Encounters III: Borgoña. The event for wine professionals, which was held on Monday, 19 May, in different venues in the Haro Station Quarter, welcomed more than 600 professionals from the wine industry, including sommeliers, head buyers, owners of hospitality businesses, press and others. On this occasion, C.V.N.E., Bodegas Gómez Cruzado, La Rioja Alta, S.A., Bodegas Bilbaínas – Viña Pomal, Bodegas Muga and Bodegas RODA were the hosts to the Burgundy houses Maison Albert-Bichot, Maison Olivier Leflaive, Ropiteau Frères, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Maison Louis Jadot and Domaine Laroche & Maison Champy.
“This year the Barrio de la Estación has once again put on a show and opened its doors to show the world the rich heritage of winemaking culture in our region, through the excellence of its wines. We are totally satisfied with how this third international encounter has turned out, this time joined by important producers from Burgundy. The great response received from the guests invited to this event, along with the high professional level of the attendees, proves to us, yet again, that the Barrio de la Estación is a hallmark which characterises and defines us as a benchmark in international oenology. The success of this year’s encounter spurs us to continue to work to defend our region, our land, our history and our wine culture. What’s more, we continue to show that together we are capable of going further.”, declares Mayte Calvo de la Banda Salgado, winemaker at Bodegas Bilbaínas and current president of the Asociación del Barrio de la Estación.
As was the case in previous editions, shared with Bordeaux in 2022 or Piedmont in 2023, the wineries of the Station Quarter wanted to show the similarities which unite them with the Burgundy wine cellars. This time, the points in common are an exceptional winemaking tradition, traditional winemaking methods brought up to date, as well as an exquisite care in preserving the essence of a unique landscape and culture. They also share a unique diversity of terroirs: both regions boast historic vineyards, undoubtedly blessed, which enjoy the best natural conditions for producing the world’s great wines.
As Mayte Calvo explains: “The Event held today has shown the bonds that link us with Burgundy, consolidating a commitment to the origin and terroir reflected in each wine, in the shape of their structure and elegance. The success achieved through this professional encounter this year would not have been possible without the collaboration of the most important French wine houses which have accompanied us today. Wine cellars which are a reference in one of France’s most prestigious and renowned winemaking regions, and which from this day on have become fellow travellers”. And she goes on to add, “I must express my enormous thanks to the Burgundy cellars for their support, their willingness to help, and also to congratulate them on the excellent quality of the wines they have presented to us today. It has been a day of coming together in which we have shared not only our wines, but also our knowledge, concerns, challenges and opportunities. I trust that today will be the first in a twinning partnership which I am sure will lead both regions to defend our historic heritage of winemaking culture all around he world”.
Barrio de la Estación International Wine Encounters (BEIWE), promoted by the Asociación del Barrio de La Estación, demonstrates the vocation to project the wineries of the Station Quarter on the international stage, by twinning with prestigious producers from the world’s most important winemaking regions, with which they share history, know-how and an ethical vision of wine growing. This third edition, with Burgundy as the invited region, confirms this event as an unmissable date in the diaries of professionals and great wine lovers.
Twinning of Burgundy and the Barrio de la Estación
The industry professionals who have attended this third edition of the BEIWE have been able to discover the history, philosophy and products of six great Burgundy wine houses: Maison Albert-Bichot, Maison Olivier Leflaive, Ropiteau Frères, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Maison Louis Jadot and Domaine Laroche & Maison Champy. Alongside these, sharing the exhibition space, the six member cellars of the Asociación del Barrio de la Estación de Haro. CVNE, Bodegas Gómez Cruzado, La Rioja Alta, S.A., Bodegas Bilbaínas – Viña Pomal, Bodegas Muga and Bodegas RODA were able to take advantage of the twinning to show attendees the vintages of their most outstanding wines currently in the marketplace.
The day, as in each edition, was backed up by an exceptional programme of tasting sessions provided by the Station Quarter’s six participating bodegas. Vertical tastings, like the one from Bodegas Muga, running through the best vintages of their iconic Muga Selección Especial; as well as Bodegas RODA, with a journey through the three latest vintages of their CIRSION and RODA I Blanco wines. La Rioja Alta, S.A. focussed on the new vintages of their Gran Reservas, which will be launched this year and, in the case of CVNE, the tasting of their great wines from Haro was offered with a visit to their new exhibition, installed in Nave 2 of the bodega. The Bodegas Gómez Cruzado tasting revolved around their Montes Obarenes wine and the grape varieties which make up its coupage. And, finally, Bodegas Bilbaínas – Viña Pomal invited you to discover, through a live demonstration, all the secrets of the manual disgorgement of a fine quality sparkling wine.
This event, promoted by the Asociación del Barrio de la Estación, with the institutional collaboration of the Town Hall of Haro and Regional Government of La Rioja, has been sponsored by Argraf, Berthomieu – Ermitage Tonnellerie, Cartonajes Santorromán, Cork Supply, Marzola, Ramondín and RIEDEL Euroselecció. In addition Aceite de Oliva Virgen Extra, AUBOCASSA, Agua 22, Audi – Rioja Motor, Bucher Vaslin + Enolviz, Café Baqué, Celebona, Embutidos Sobrón Martínez, Estuchería Vargas and Quesos Los Cameros have also provided their support.
