2013 EWBC will be in Logroño, Rioja

Evening lights in the centre of Logroño

Today's announcement of the venue for EWBC 2013: Logroño in Rioja. It sees the EWBC going back to its roots as the first conference was held in Rioja in 2008. The dates are 25th-27th October 2013. Flavour will be the theme: 'relfecting the diversity of the world of wine, not just in terms of regions, grape varieties, wines and those who communicate about them, but also suggesting the multitude of shapes, forms and styles that the related communications can take.' The conference is sponsored by the Consejo Regulador of Rioja.

Details here and here. Early bird tickets available until 31st March with a 40% reduction for alumni.

A few other Rioja pics:

 A tough vineyard visit to Alvaro Palacios in September 2010

Vineyards in Rioja

 Haro Station

The wonderful Viña Tondonia in Haro – a must visit! (above and below)

 Views in the evening light (above and below)

 
The Ebro

Los Grandes de la Rioja: scenes from Sunday 12th September

Viña Tondonia

Viña Tondonia: winery bridge

Viña Tondonia in Haro was the highlight of yesterday's visits. This is the third oldest of the bodegas in the Rioja and the most traditional. Sometimes people maintain and prize traditions out of laziness and a reluctance to change. However, the wonderful wines of Viña Tondonia show that their ultra-traditional way of very long aging – at a very substantial economic cost – is very well worth preserving. 

Mercedes Lopez – the great, grand-daughter of the founder of Viña Tondonia

After a tour of the cellars with Mercedes Lopez we tasted three finished wines. We started with the lovely 1981 Tondonia white Gran Reserva which has considerable similarities to an old Chenin Blanc or an old Jurançon.

Viña Tondonia 1981 Gran Reserva white

Then the 1981 red Gran Reserva that showed quite high acidity and perhaps needs more time to show its best. We finished with the magnificent 1961 red Gran Reserva, which still has lovely sweet fruit, is wonderfully complex and shows no sign of tiring.

 

1961 Tondonia Tinto

Amazing spider's web in the cellars