WineMason welcomed Leo Gramona and Andres Rangel from Gramona with Alvaro Ribalta MW to Dublin on 25 April to present a seminar on Corpinnat and long aged sparkling spanish wines.
The Gramona Academy offers a fascinating and unique insight into these wines and this was the first time it has been presented outside of Spain.
After a brief introduction from Barbara Boyle MW, Alvaro Ribalata MW and Leo Gramona led the presentations.
Firstly, the history of the region was explored, including for example how the destruction of the red grape vines by phylloxera in the late 19th century led to the planting of white grape varieties which were suited to sparkling wine. They then moved on to discuss these grape varieties and their characteristics. Other topics discussed ranged from an explanation of the climates of Penedes, soil composition, pruning methods in combating esca to adapting biodynamics in a mediterranean climate.
After a light lunch, it was time to taste some of the base wines which go into making three different sparkling wines at Gramona: Assemblage 2021 La Cuvee, Assemblage 2021 Imperial and Assemblage 2021 III Lustros, and have a conversation about their various acidity levels, the types of fermentation, the art of blending and the other intricacies of the traditional method.
Then the seminar moved on to a vertical tasting of five III Lustros with increased aging: 36 months (2018) 60 months (2016) 84 months (2014) 120 months (2011) and 192 months (2006) which showed the ageing capabilities of Corpinnat as well as an examination of the many details that are taken into account in making long aged sparkling wines such as riddling, disgorging and the use of cork.
We ended the day with a blind tasting including other aged sparkling wines from around the world:
