25 US buyers get to know Catalan wines at first hand

Under the European project promoting Catalan designation-of-origin wines and cavas, Taste The Difference (TTD.eu), managed by Prodeca together with Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), 25 buyers from the United States got to know Catalan wine at first hand. Importers, distributors and retail operators, along with opinion leaders and representatives of the specialist press and media, visited Catalonia from 3 to 7 February to position Catalan wine, its wineries and Catalonia's food and wine culture in this strategic market. 

The trade mission began with participation in Barcelona Wine Week, where the buyers were able to meet various companies exhibiting at the fair, tasting directly with the wineries' oenologists and learning about their international commercial outlook. 

Over the two days at the fair, Prodeca organised several tastings with expert sommeliers presenting the whole Catalan wine landscape, its varieties and the main types of wine on the market. Andrew Ashurst with a masterclass and Gemma Muray with a pairing of wines and Catalan dishes helped participants become familiar with the characteristics of the various Catalan wines. They also learned about qualified estate wines through INCAVI, which this year took part in Barcelona Wine Week with a stand devoted precisely to the Catalan family of qualified estate wines, i led by journalist and sommelier Sílvia Culell.

The mission's final two days consisted of visits to the territory, to wineries taking part in the initiative from DO Costers del Segre, DOQ Priorat, DO Montsant, DO Penedès, DO Catalunya and DO Cava. Split into two small groups, the American buyers explored not only the selected wineries' production process but their history, their landscape and a unique oenological experience. It is during these tours that Catalan companies have the chance to position the wine sector as a whole and put Catalan wine on the map for international buyers. 

Wineries taking part in the trade mission:

• ALSINA & SARDÀ - DO Cava / DO Penedès
• BODEGAS COSTERS DEL SIÓ - DO Costers del Segre
• CELLER DE CAPÇANES - DO Montsant / DO Catalunya
• CELLER GERMANS BALART - DO Terra Alta
• CELLER MAS BLANCH I JOVÉ - DO Costers del Segre
• GIRÓ DEL GORNER - DO Penedès
• GRATAVINUM - DOQ Priorat
• L’OLIVERA - DO Costers del Segre / DO Catalunya
• MAS LLUNES - DO Empordà
• MATA I COLOMA - DO Cava / DO Penedès
• PARÉS BALTÀ - DO Cava / DO Penedès
• SUMARROCA & NÚRIA CLAVEROL BY SUMARROCA - DO Cava / DO Penedès