We import over 100 different types of Spanish wine from all regions of Spain. Our philosophy is to bring you only the finest wines from family run vineyards using traditional wine making methods many, of them exclusive [...]]]> Spanish wine and food specialist Evuna combine a great restaurant and a wine shop in central Manchester.

We import over 100 different types of Spanish wine from all regions of Spain. Our philosophy is to bring you only the finest wines from family run vineyards using traditional wine making methods many, of them exclusive to Evuna.

We offer an exclusive wine club service were you can purchase from our award winning wine list (Manchester food and drinks awards 2004), and enjoy wines delivered by the case direct to your door.

You have to register to order online. Delivery charges not stated.

Regular tastings
Evuna, 277 – 279 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW  t:0161 819 2752

Spanish Spirit is a unique supplier [...]]]> In the glorious wilds of Northumberland you would not expect to find a Spanish food and wine specialist. Spanish Spirit, run by knowledgeable and enthusiastic American Oliver Ojikutu does indeed feature Spanish Brandies but also an interesting range of Spanish wines and gourmet foods including Cheese and Chocolates.

Spanish Spirit is a unique supplier of Spanish wines in the Northern region and beyond. The company imports wine directly from selected small, usually family run, vineyards located in some of Spain’s most interesting wine growing regions that have a great tradition of wine making.

No retail shop but an informative website – although many of the wines are a touch obscure if you do not know your Spanish wine regions.

Spanish Spirit. Stable Cottage, Rudchester, nr Heddon on the Wall. Northumberland NE15 0JA

Tel: 01661 853 768 e: info@spanishspirit.com

www.dorjes.co.uk Unit 4, Rigby Close, Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick CV34 6TH    t: 01926 430550

On Friday 23 April 2010, Evuna will be hosting a Gourmet Wine [...]]]> Manchester’ Spanish specialist Evuna is offering a slightly different spin on Wine and Food matching with an event which lets you select a range of  dishes to go with a range of Spanish Rioja wines from Campo Viejo – Viva el Vino!

On Friday 23 April 2010, Evuna will be hosting a Gourmet Wine and Food matching night with Campo Viejo’s Viva el Vino menu.

For £32.50 you will get to taste the whole range of wines with a surprise menu designed by our Head Chef to complement each wine

The Viva el Vino campaign will role out to other locations such as Edinburgh later in the Spring of 2010 – for more info see the vivaelvino website.

For more info or to book for Evuna’s Viva el Vino evening on 23 April 2010 visit the Evuna website or contact them

277-279 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW – T: 0161 819 2752 E: enquiries@evuna.com

Why Organic ? Organic wines are made from grapes which are cultivated without recourse to synthetic fungicides, herbicides or fertilizers. We believe that to produce quality wine you need quality grapes, and organic grapes [...]]]> Evuna, Manchester’s Spanish-focussed Wine Bar/Restaurant/Wine Club will be celebrating St Patrick’s Day (17 March 2010) with an organic wine tasting.

Why Organic ?
Organic wines are made from grapes which are cultivated without recourse to synthetic fungicides, herbicides or fertilizers.
We believe that to produce quality wine you need quality grapes, and organic grapes do not have dependencies on chemicals, therefore they often have a head start.

This will be an opportunity to sample wines from the new list.

Tickets are £25 a head and include tapas
Evuna – 277-279 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW
T: 0161 819 2752 E: enquiries@evuna.com

Taste 10 boutique wines, all from small family run vineyards and take the hassle out of Christmas shopping.

Tickets are £25 a head including Tapas. You can book by calling 0161 819 2752. Evuna - 277-279 Deansgate, Manchester [...]]]> Spanish specialist Evuna are holdig a pre-Christmas tasting on 4 November 2009 from 6pm to 9pm:

Taste 10 boutique wines, all from small family run vineyards and take the hassle out of Christmas shopping.

Tickets are £25 a head including Tapas.
You can book by calling 0161 819 2752.
Evuna - 277-279 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW
T: 0161 819 2752 Email: enquiries@evuna.com

Ever thought speed dating seems a bit unnatural ? Evuna have teamed [...]]]> Wine usually generates a very sociable atmosphere, hence Manchester’s Fine Spanish wine merchant Evuna has come up with a wine tasting evening for singles – an opportunity to learn about some great Spanish wines and to meet people at the same time!

Ever thought speed dating seems a bit unnatural ? Evuna have teamed up with national dating company, whenthemusicstops.com, to provide a singles night with a difference…

Some wines are described as Masculine: agressive, deep, flinty, strong, forward, coarse and even vulgar

And some Feminine : soft, subtle, sensual, caressing, warm and even sexy

Tickets are £35 and include tasting of 6 wines plus tapas

To book for the Singles Tasting

Evuna 277 – 279 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW

T:0161 819 2752     E: enquiries@evuna.com

The DO (denomination of origin) for [...]]]> Spanish specialist independent wine merchant and importer Decanter Wines offers a small but very interesting ranige of Spanish Wines.
As well as a good range of young and older Riojas, there are good selections from the Spanish end of Douro Valley including some excellent Ribera del Duero DO.

The DO (denomination of origin) for Uiiel-Requina is a new one to many new to quality Spanish winesand is best known for a blending process called ‘doble pasta’, which helps to produce very intense wines. The initial pressings are left in the tank after the juice has been run off, then another batch of grapes is placed on top of the original skins and the whole process starts again. This juice is, not surprisingly, high in extract and contributes to the intensity of the final product.

Utiel-Requena lies to the west of Valencia and takes its name from the two towns – Utiel and Requena – which lie 15km apart within the DO. The largest and most inland of the Valencia region’s three DOs, the vineyards of Utiel-Requena rise to between 600-900m above sea level, on an undulating plain surrounded by mountains.
Utiel-Requena produces the most robust and powerful reds of Valencia’s three DOs, predominantly using the Bobal, grape. This variety lends itself perfectly to making fresh, fruity rosés, and growers from this region claim they produce Spain’s best rosados.

Also on offer are some serious old Spanish brandy, and brandy and balsamic brandy.

Good website at www.decanterwines.co.uk, packed with good information on Spanish wine and food, with good tasting notes from a couple who clearly know a lot about Spain and Spanish wines.

Decanter Wines Limited, Little Porch, Yarm Way, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8RQ

T:01372 376127 E: info@decanterwines.co.uk

Typically the Tempranillo grape is dark berried in fruit with a rustic edge. When aged, more savory aromas are experienced. We will taste together [...]]]> On 27 May 2009 Manchester’s Spanish Fine Wine specialist EVUNA (wine bar/restaurant) is providing a rare opportunity to try some serious tasting of wines based on Spain’s classic Tempanillo grape:

Typically the Tempranillo grape is dark berried in fruit with a rustic edge. When aged, more savory aromas are experienced. We will taste together the same grape, from the same vineyard at different ages and learn how to match food with these wines.

Our head Chef will be cooking up tasty tapas from the region to compliment the wines.

You can taste up to 10 new wines and tickets are £25 includes tapas.

Call Jane or Ewa on 0161 819 2752 to book your place.

Evuna - 277-279 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EW -
T: 0161 819 2752
E: enquiries@evuna.com

With spectacular landscapes, clean air and a sweeping coastline, Galicia has an array [...]]]> Galicia in northern Spain is a little known area with its wines and food even less known. But now independent wine and food merchant  Flavours of Spain has extended its range of fine wines with two UK exclusives from Galicia :-

With spectacular landscapes, clean air and a sweeping coastline, Galicia has an array of culinary treats from the land and the sea to offer. While our heart land is Galicia, our motto is quality and, above all, exceptional flavour; with this in mind we source the finest Spanish foods from small and family run-businesses with an emphasis on seasonality, sustainability, freshness and organic production methods. Discover the unique taste of Galicia and the best of Spanish produce with Flavours of Spain.

The Pedralonga Barrica is Galicia’s first limited production biodynamic wine, made from Albariño grapes, which are uniquely suited to the Atlantic climate of the Rías Baixas region and handpicked from 25 year old vines. Only 1,200 bottles are produced each year by the Alfonso family, which has followed traditional lunar phases and biodynamic principles for generations of winemaking.

For red wine lovers, the Pagos de Galir Selección Rosa Rivero is considered by many leading experts to be an essential addition to any collection or cellar. A multiple award winner, including the gold medal at the International Wine Salon 2005, the Pagos de Galir is made from Mencía grapes handpicked from Galicia’s sun-soaked Valdeorras region and was recently awarded 86 points by the Peñin guide of Spanish wines.

Teresa Holmes, director of Flavours of Spain, said: “The Pedralonga Barrica is a very unique and flavoursome wine with an intense bouquet of green fruit and mountain herbs. It is fermented for six months in French Allier oak barrels, which is reflected in its elegant and smoky flavour.

“By comparison, the Pagos de Galir is a very rich and rounded red wine with an aroma bursting with raspberries and red fruit. The wine spends twelve months in oak barrels, and a further twelve months in the bottle before reaching the market, ensuring an unrivalled quality and depth of flavour.”

Flavours of Spain Ltd, The Old Dairy,Brewer Street
Bletchingley,Surrey RH1 4QP

Telephone/Fax: 0870 330 2879
Email: enquiries@flavoursofspain.co.uk

also at London’s Borough Market on Saturdays

However, don’t overlook some exciting Spanish white wines (also 25% off any two bottles) which offer something completely different from Chardonnay and Sauvignons – despite being a predominantly hot [...]]]> Majestic Wine Warehouses have a new offer for March 2009  = 25% off any 2 Spanish wines, which includes a wide range of good Riojas.

However, don’t overlook some exciting Spanish white wines (also 25% off any two bottles) which offer something completely different from Chardonnay and Sauvignons – despite being a predominantly hot country, Spain can produce some great and different whites e.g. the surprisingly fresh and aromatic Vina Esmeralda from Torres -

“Made from a blend of Moscatel and Gewurztraminer, the seductive, well-defined aromas of honeysuckle, ripe pear and custard apple intermingle with sweet vanilla spice. Fresh and lively on the palate with an aromatic richness that finishes with nuances of cinnamon and cloves. Sublime served with seafood, fish and especially paté.”

or

Marques de Riscal Blanco from Rueda -

A light, delicate white wine with an intensely aromatic bouquet (courtesy of the Verdejo grape variety) and bursting with fruit. The acidity is well balanced to give a crisp finish.

For more info see www.majestic.co.uk

Of the 72 [...]]]> Writing on his blog Jim’s Loire, Jim Budd mentioned the number of ‘out of stocks’ in the Loire section and finished the post with
“Looking further at the Oddbins site, the number of wines that are ‘currently unavailable’ is rather alarming, unless the company has just had a very successful weekend.

Of the 72 Champagnes listed – 27 are available.
Of 20 Australian Cabernet Sauvignons listed – 3 are available.
Of 32 Australian Shiraz listed – just 2 are available.”
Chatting, of the record, with a branch manager the situation in the stores is reminiscent of the dying days of Unwins.

“To say that there is a supply problem is putting it mildly. We keep getting reports that wine will be arriving and small parcels are arriving in drips and drabs but nothing substantial.
I’m quite concerned, seems that they’re clearing stock rather then stocking up but we’ll see.
According to them [new owners Henry and Simon], Castel left them in the shit but we never seemed to have these supply problems with them. We have even run out of cigarettes! I know of one shop that has only 50 BOTTLES of Australian wine in the entire shop. Oddbins is also haemorrhaging accounts like crazy because there are not even the basic wholesale lines in the warehouse!! I mean what kind of operation are they running? If their goal is to be retail only, they are doing a good job of getting rid of accounts. They’re doing a much faster job of running Oddbins into the ground then Castel ever did. To say moral is low would be an understatement. “
Let us hope the new owners live up to the high expectations laid on them at the time of buying Oddbins from Castel and that the manage to ride the credit-crunch wave. Oddbins certainly has the potential to return to its glory days as the maverick, quirky, much loved high street wine merchant. Fingers crossed it does so soon.

Posted by
Andrew Barrowarb@andys-scribblings.co.uk

web :http://www.spittoon.biz http://www.spittoonextra.biz http://www.thefoodielist.co.uk

contributor:Guardian’s Word of Mouth