When Saula Giusto invited me to take part in the presentation of the wines belonging to the new denomination Vins de Finca Qualificada (VFQ) — Qualified Estate Wines — I had no doubts. This is an area of the Iberian Peninsula in constant evolution, and on more than one occasion I’ve had the chance to taste wines from these regions.
We are talking about wines that, in order to belong to this denomination, must meet strict quality requirements, ranging from the historical significance of the estate and vineyard to their alignment with the values of the territory, as well as other quality criteria. At present, only 19 labels are part of it.
One of the requirements is aging in oak barrels, a condition that can sometimes result — especially for white wines — in a less immediate drinkability, yet still wines of great complexity. From my point of view, without focusing on individual tastings, these are wines that require food pairings which — due to the strong character they express — must necessarily start from the wine, not the other way around.
Together with Luca Bellizzi, delegate of the Government of Catalunya in Italy (note: I personally don’t like calling it “Catalogna”…), we shared some reflections about this territory — extremely interesting, yet probably still not well known, despite the significant number of Italian tourists heading to Barcelona. And perhaps it would be worth renting a car and, with just one or two hours of travel, exploring areas that, judging from the images alone, promise great surprises.
As a final note, I want to express my appreciation for the cuisine at Enoteca Del Frate. Balanced, elegant, and substantial. Everything that arrived on the plate was able to satisfy the eyes, the nose, and above all the palate. Compliments.
