XXXV Cata del Vino Montilla-Moriles, Córdoba – April 2018

In April we returned to Córdoba for the 35th edition of the Cata del Vino Montilla-Moriles held from April 18th to April 22nd at the Diputación Provincial de Córdoba.

It would be the 2nd Cata del Vino we have attended, our first being in 2017, and we were looked forward to catching up with friends from the region.

Organized by the Consejo Regulador of D.O.P. Montilla-Moriles, the 2018 Cata was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineers of the University of Córdoba.

The opening ceremony took part in the Palacio de la Merced where presentations were made to organisations, bars, restaurants and people recognizing their promotion of the wines of Montilla-Moriles in particular.

From a personal point of view it was fantastic to see José Ropero and his team at Glacé Cocktail in Córdoba recognized this year along with the team at La Malaje restaurant in Madrid, who we visited last year.

Day 1 – Wednesday Afternoon

Following the ceremonial ribboncutting to open the Cata to the public, it was time to catch up with friends whilst enjoying a glass or 2 of the wine.

Laura with Paula from Bodegas Lagar el Monte

With Jose Ruz, Jose Ignacio and Cristina Osuna

Laura with Javier and the Bodegas Delgado team

Laura, Esther (who we met at last year’s Cata) and Paco from Bodegas San Pablo in Moriles

With Jose from Los Raigones

Day 1 – Wednesday evening

Returning after dinner for the evening session it was time for more socialising.

Laura with Antonio from Bodegas el Monte

With Carlos from Bodegas San Pablo

Day 2 – Thursday afternoon

Catching up with Sofia and Raul of Lagar de Hoyos

Tutored tastings form part of the Cata and we were able to attend a tasting with Bodegas Robles’s winemaker Rocio Marquez in the afternoon.

Rocio Marquez during the Robles tasting

Day 2 – Thursday evening

No photos but we had the extreme pleasure of meeting our Irish friend Lorcan O’Brien for the first time. The Thursday night session is always extremely busy but we were able to show him the lay of the land so to speak.

Day 3 – Friday afternoon

Day 3

Day 3

The afternoon started with tutored tasting with Pilar Bujalance, Marketing Director of Bodegas Toro Albalá then we headed back out to the Cata.

Introducing Lorcan to Raul & Sofia from Lagar de Hoyos

Next it was off to Montilla with Lorcan, which we will cover seprately.

Day 5 Sunday afternoon

Before returning to the Cata to say our goodbyes we had a truly memorable experience with Manolo at Restaurante Sociedad Palateros (which we we will share with you soon).

Laura with the Bodegas Olivares team

It is always fantastic to see our dear friend Isa, this time at the Robles stand with Francisco and Pilar.

Once again we had a fantastic time catching up with friends, trying new wines and old favourites.

We hope to return for the XXXVI Cata del Vino in 2019.