News

An Estimated 18,000 People Attend Rioja Tapas Fantásticas in London

27 Jul 2012

Wine seminars and cooking demos pleased and satiated the crowds

More than 30 wineries and a dozen Spanish restaurants featured their products.

The fourth edition of the Rioja Tapas Fantásticas event, held on July 14th and 15th, was a complete success: an estimated 18,000 people headed to Potters Fields, by London’s Tower Bridge, to take part. This is arguably one of the most important events organized by the DOCa Rioja in the UK.

With more than 30 wineries and 13 Spanish restaurants providing the food and drink, it’s easy to see why the event was so popular. Reds, whites and rosés were on hand for sampling, and participating bodegas included Dinastia Vivanco, Valdemar, Paternina, Grupo Faustino, Marqués de Cáceres, Finca Manzanos and Gran Familia. As for the food, London’s top Spanish venues served their famous tapas, including Ibérica, Barrica, and Churros García to Camino, More Than Tapas, and River Café Sergi Arola.

The weekend event packed in ten seminars on Rioja wine history and production, which were accompanied by cooking demos by the one of Spain’s most visible chefs in London, José Pizarro. He prepared several of his favorite recipes, sharing the secrets to his special cuisine, whipping up Spanish omelet, cod with peas, a vegetable medley, and garlic prawns. Social media helped spread the word, as people at Tapas Fantásticas were able to document their culinary experience in real time on Twitter and Facebook, and the event was transmitted live via streaming on a special channel, expanding the public even further.