The Vila Viniteca Couples Tasting Award never stops breaking records and exceeding all expectations. In the meteoric time of 3 minutes and 5 seconds, registration to participate in its sixteenth edition closed on Wednesday morning, which will return to the Casa Llotja de Mar in Barcelona on Sunday, March 3 with 240 people registered. In the end, more than 100 couples remained on the waiting list, in case there were any cancellations, almost as many as those who managed to register. There are 40,000 euros at stake for the three best tasting couples. This year there will be contestants from all over Spain and also from France, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and even the United States.
The organization states that “the uniqueness of the contest lies in the fact of tasting blindly and in pairs, and having to agree on the answers.” Tasters must try to unravel with their sight, smell and taste buds the origin, type of grapes, vintage, producer or brand of seven wines in the qualifying phase (the 120 pairs have 90 minutes), and of 7 more wines for the ten couples that advance to the grand finale of the afternoon (in 60 minutes). More than a thousand attendees are expected as an audience, who will be able to enjoy tastings offered by more than 40 wineries and a tasting of Ardai cheeses. In total, the wines will be served throughout the day in around 14,000 Riedel glasses.
The Vila Viniteca Pairs Tasting Award involves the conscientious preparation of tasters from all over the world who aspire to get 30,000 euros for the winners, 7,000 euros for the second classified and 3,000 euros for the third place. Some prominent groups of couples meet with the excuse of this date to “train” together in the race to prepare for the challenge. This, according to Quim Vila, co-owner of Vila Viniteca, “contributes to what we have always tried to promote: the culture of wine and sharing and enjoying it with friends.” Quim Vila affirms that “there are more and more prepared couples.” He also believes that interest in trying and discovering wines is increasing.
And the day after the Vila Viniteca Couples Tasting Award, and also in the same Casa Llotja de Mar, the highly anticipated La Música del Vi showroom will be reissued. More than 200 prestigious wineries from around the world will participate. It has established itself as one of the most important professional meetings in Spain.
