Rioja Wine and Tapas Festival Review
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (Nikon D90)
Wine lovers, foodies and chefs from around the world met in Chicago on Saturday, May 2nd for the Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival. Spain’s most prominent wine region hosted its biggest event of the year in Chicago first nationally celebrated festival featuring Rioja’s best winemakers and notable U.S. chefs in the stunning atmosphere of Chicago’s iconic Union Station on Canal street.
This food and wine festival showcased nearly 200 vibrant wines from Rioja, ranging from Blancos to Rosados to Gran Reservas, all accompanied by live Spanish music. To pair with the wines, 30 notable American chefs created their best interpretations of Rioja-inspired tapas. We were able to sample delicious hams at the jamón bar and taste some of Spain’s finest cheeses in the cheese cave while learning about this prominent wine region.
The wines of the La Rioja region in northern Spain have earned world-wide recognition. Despite it being the oldest wine region in Spain, the quality of the wine from La Rioja is so good that it has become a trademark.
Here were a few of my favorites from the festival:
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (Nikon D90)
Each sommelier that poured our samples was very educated and knowledgeable about the particular wine they were offering to us. My absolute favorite wine that I sampled was the Lopez de Haro, which consisted of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graziano, and 5% Mazuelo. It was a deep, smooth, robust, and fruitful red wine, which was the result of extended aging in barrel and bottle.
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (Nikon D90)
These pork chops from Evan Behmer, Chef de Cuisine of Le Mercat were absolutely divine. The sear on the meat was absolute perfection.
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (Nikon D90)
This Crispy Blood Sausage topped on Rice was absolutely perfect.
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (iPhone)
Chef Carlos Gaytan from Mexique served a delicious bowl of sausage with shallot pickled jalapeno in a white wine broth.
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (iPhone)
Oak & Char’s Chef Joe Heppe Lamb Sweet Bread Blood Sausage with the English Pea Puree was almost too pretty to eat.
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (Nikon D90)
Loved ending the tapa dishes with the Fresh Banana Sorbet Hand-Dipped in Milk Chocolate with Chili Lime Roasted Peanuts from Zarlengo’s Italian Ice & Gelato.
Photo: Chicago Food Girl (Nikon D90)
Loved ending the tapa dishes with the Sweet Basil Gelato with Rioja-Poahed Beets and Fresh Blueberries from Zarlengo’s Italian Ice & Gelato.
All in all, this was a wonderful event. I had a great time, and I was super happy to have been invited.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary ticket to facilitate this post. Review and all opinions are my own.
