Tag Archives: Beronia

The wonderful wines from Gonzalez Byass USA

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Based in Jerez de la Frontera, the González Byass company dates to 1835 and is a family-owned collection of highly respected wineries in Spain. Notably, its collection includes Bodegas Beronia (producing wine in both Rioja and Rueda), Dominio Fournier (Ribera del Duero producer), Cavas Vilarnau (Cava producer), Finca Constancia (producer of wines in Vino de la Tierra de Castilla), Finca Moncloa (based in Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz), Viñas del Vero (Somontano producer) and Pazos de Lusco (Rías Baixas wines).

Stateside, its U.S. subsidiary, González Byass USA, is an importer of these and other fine wines and spirits.

A recent event brought together a group of wine media professionals to Tasca a Spanish Caribbean restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to taste through numerous wines in the portfolio alongside tasty bites. According to Professor Henry Higgins, “The rain in Spain falls mostly on the plain…,” but the on the night in question, it was wet and cold. Thankfully, the event itself was warm and inviting, with an opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with colleagues over good wine and food.

More specifically, the evening was an informal celebration of the elegance and food friendly nature of these wines as we sipped and savored the wonderful wines and delicious cuisine. Overall, it was an important reminder to seek out Spanish wines given their quality and diversity and, in particular, to drink sherry and vermouth, which are less trendy, but deserve to be drunk more often.

We kicked off the tasting with a selection of charcuterie and small bites, served with Tio Pepe Fino (sherry) NV, La Copa Gonzalez Byass’s Vermut (vermouth) Extra Seco and Vilarnau Brrut Nature 2017 Cava. As we whetted our appetite with the aperitifs and appetizers, we turned our attention to a lovely Albarino (2022 vintage) from Pazos de Lusco from Rias Baixas.

An assortment of reds was on offer as well including Beronia’s Rioja Vareira 2019, Rioja Reserva 2018 and Beronia’s Graciano 2017 (Graciano is one of the permitted grapes in Rioja, but which is less frequently made into a single variety wine) as well as a Ribero del Duero 2019 from Dominio Fournier. To accompany the array of decadent desserts, we enjoyed an aged sherry, the Gonzalez Byass Apostoles 30 Year Sherry, which paired beautifully with all four, but especially the flan and the banana bread.

As we departed the restaurant and headed for home, we were well sated with great company, an exquisite meal and… a lull in the rain. A convivial evening indeed!

NB: Given the informality and conviviality of the event, I neglected to take notes, but to learn more about some of these wines, I invite you to check out the related, previous stories included below the photo gallery.

(Retail pricing is listed below.)

  • Vilarnau Brut Nature 2017: $20.99
  • La Copa Vermut Extra Seco: $24.99
  • Tio Pepe Fino NV: $19.99
  • Pazo de Lusco 2022: $24.99
  • Beronia Reserva 2018: $24.99
  • Dominio Fournier 2019: $29.99
  • Beronia Graciano 2017: $29.99
  • Beronia Vareia 2019: $79.99
  • Gonzalez Byass Apostoles: $49.99
  • Gonzalez Byass Matusalem: $49.99 (not tasted, but also present at the event)
Tio Pepe proves that its Sherry is up to the challenge
The Sheer Perfection of Sherry
Stop and smell the La Copa! Gonzalez-Byass releases two Vermouth options
At Bodegas Beronia, It’s All About that Barrel
Beronia Offers Up Perfect Picnic-sized Wine
All I want for Christmas: Things that sparkle


 

Beronia Offers Up Perfect Picnic-sized Wine

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For most of us, this moment marks an anniversary of sorts as we acknowledge that one year ago, we were put on lockdown and admonished to stay home and stay distant.

But, as we welcomed in the Spring Equinox and the increase in daylight and warmth that it brings, many of us found ourselves reveling in the outdoors as a way to stay sane and connected with friends and loved ones.

In fact, as a self-proclaimed Picnic Princess (hey, don’t judge, if Elon Musk can call himself TechnoKing…), I held my first pandemic picnic on March 27, 2020, which was followed by many more over the next half year. Of course, nearly all of these picnics involved wine (and admittedly some were solely about wine), which I was happy to share with friends.

However, if your friends and family don’t have the same taste in wine as you or abstain from alcohol or you simply want your own single-serve bottle, the folks at Beronia have got you covered this season.

Bodegas Beronia, a highly regarded wine producer in Rioja, Spain, was founded in 1973 by a group of friends (see article) and has always been about a love for gastronomy and companionship – two very important ingredients for a great picnic!

In recognition of the way the world is right now, Beronia has just released its Crianza 2017 in a 375ml bottle for the very first time. This half-size container of wine is a great option for picnics, but also works just as well indoors at the dining table when you drink alone or want to drink less. Of course, they also produce the wine in its regular 750ml bottle for when you want to share it with others.

Bodegas Beronia Crianza 2017, Rioja, Spain,
SRP: $7.99 (375ml); $14.99 (750ml)
A blend of 94% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha and 1% Mazuelo, this wine offers up aromas of black fruit, strawberry, a hint of oak and leafiness. The dry palate presents juicy, ripe strawberry fruit with medium+ acidity, medium body and long length.