Cata y Vino is a two-day wine tasting event in Santiago, Chile, that pairs wine enthusiasts with key winemakers and industry professionals. Combined with gourmet food tastings, an exclusive salon for premium participants, and an extensive wine list, it was a memorable evening.
While a traditional tasting event might include only one or two sparkling wines, Cata y Vino hosted nine producers pouring bubbly. Casillero, Cono Sur, Valdivieso, Santa Carolina, Casa Blanca, Vina Mar, Porvenir, Finca Flichmann, and Norton were all set up to impress the guests on their way into the formal exposition room.
One of my personal favorites is Concha y Toro's Casillero del Diablo Brut Reserva. Unfortunately, it isn't available in the United States, but that's just another of the many great reasons to visit Chile.
I spent the most time with the sparkling wines, but the selection of wines in the exposition room was also impressive. 38 wineries were pouring, representing six Chilean regions. In the salon, wineries poured their finest wines with enthusiasm.
The focus of the event was on wine, but one of the biggest attractions seemed to be the mixed paella served by Trujillo, a company which produces meat products as well as an irresistible cream cheese. After all of that wine tasting, the paella was a welcome addition to the event.
