Spain WINS!!!

UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN in a coma or on some sort of bizarre retreat where you weren't allowed any contact with anyone, then you know that the World Cup just ended. For those who were in a coma or on a retreat, the World Cup is a football tournament held every four years. This year it was hosted by South Africa. The United States is the only country in the world that doesn't refer to football as football. We like to call it soccer. We're also the only country that holds world championships in sports in which the only participating teams come from two-thirds of the North American continent. It's an odd concept, but we manage to live with it. In any event, the World Cup was contested over the past few weeks and Spain was the victor. For this, they are world champions of football for the next four years. I'm excited about this. Not because Spain won, but because it gave me the opportunity to contemplate what the people of Spain might drink to celebrate this glorious victory.

I imagine that every self respecting man and woman of Spanish decent probably popped open a bottle or two of Cava to celebrate their win over the Netherlands. In a recent post, I described Cava as a sparkling wine made in Spain in the same manner as Champagne is made in France. Since sparkling wines are used world-wide to celebrate everything from weddings to the beginning of a new year, there is no doubt that many bottles of this delicious sparkling wine were popped open not only to celebrate, but also as a show of national pride. Chances are that many of the residents of Valencia, Spain stepped it up a notch by adding some of their freshly squeezed oranges to the mix to create a mimosa that is truly without parallel. If you'd like to take this idea to the next level, there is a cocktail known throughout Spain as Agua de Valencia that blends Cava, orange juice, Cointreau, and granulated sugar. The ingredients are mixed together and then refrigerated for two hours before it is served in a tall glass filled with ice. This is no doubt a nice way to relax and cool off on a hot summer day in Spain.

Spain is also known for its still wines. In the past, I've written about a couple of them. In particular, I've featured wines from two regions: Rioja and Priorat. These are considered the flagship winemaking regions in Spain. Rioja is a wine named after the La Rioja in Spain. Rioja is made from grapes grown not only in La Rioja, but also from parts of Navarre and the Basque province of Alava. Rioja is subdivided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Many of the wines from Rioja are blends of fruit from all three regions, while there is a slow migration toward wines from a single zone.

Priorat is a Spanish Denominacion de Origen Calificada (DOC) for wines produced in Priorat county just southwest of Catalonia, Spain. It is known for very powerful red wines. These wines are the product of a terrior characterized by black slate and quartz soil. For the terrior-impaired, this term loosely translates to a sense of place. It embodies certain characteristic qualities of the local environment which manifest themselves in the wines. In the case of Priorat, the black slate and quartz provide a unique environment that produces grapes of great quality. If you haven't had a red wine from Priorat, you are missing something very special. World Cup victory parties all over Spain were probably stocked full of Priorat and Rioja wines.

Sangria is another favorite in Spain. It can be made from red or white wine, fruit drinks and even brandy. I've had several different kinds Sangria over the years and most are very refreshing, but they are all very similar. I like to shake things up, so I'll introduce a recipe that is sure to liven up a party and was no doubt a staple at many World Cup victory celebrations throughout Spain. It's called Spicy Sangria and is made by combining thirty ounces of Verdejo, a white wine varietal from Spain, three tablespoons of brandy, two small red chilli peppers (seeded and quartered), two medium tart green apples (diced), two large yellow plums (peeled, pitted, and sliced), and two medium peaches (peeled, pitted, and cut into chunks) into a large serving pitcher. Mix the contents well and then refrigerate overnight. Before serving, add eight ounces of club soda and then serve over ice. Trust me when I say that this is not your grandmother's sangria, but it is definitely very good.

There were probably a few football fans in and around Spain who wanted to celebrate quietly while basking in the glow of their national pride. They, no doubt, enjoyed a glass of Sherry. Sherry is a fortified wine produced in the southern part of Spain near the towns of Jerez, Sanlucar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa Maria. Sometime during the 1990's, the European Union restricted the use of the word Sherry to wines made in this region. Sherry is mostly made from Palomino grapes, although Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez may be used. It is aged using something known as a Solera system. In essence, this system ages the wine by fractionally blending it in such a way that the finished product is a mixture of ages, with the average age of the wine gradually increasing as the aging process continues over many years. The system is literally a set of barrels or other containers that are used to hold the liquids that will eventually be blended to make the finished product. Like many a Sherry connoisseur in Spain, I've discovered a few very special Sherry's that have been aged for 30 years. They are as smooth as French Cognac and have the ability to warm your soul. I love them quite a bit and I imagine that quite a few Spanish football fans spent a quiet moment reflecting on the fact that they finally captured their first ever World Cup.

So, there you have it -- the Spanish World Cup celebration unleashed. I know that for some, the World Cup wasn't a big deal. But just imagine what it would be like for your favorite sports team to win its first championship. Even if it's your child's t-ball team, it's still a big deal -- something worth celebrating. Now imagine that t-ball team representing your country and prevailing against all odds. That is what the people of Spain are celebrating. I only hope that I was able to scratch the surface with respect to the kind of libations they imbibed. I always think globally, while drinking locally. No matter where you drink, please do so responsibly. Especially, if you're celebrating like they probably did in Spain after their victory over the Netherlands. Until next time...prosit!!!