Tim Atkin MW: The UK trade doesn’t take Rioja seriously enough

Published 2024년 2월 16일

Tridge summary

Master of Wine Tim Atkin hosted a tasting event in Westminster, UK, showcasing a selection of wines from Spain's Rioja region. The wines, handpicked by Atkin, included first and second growths from his annual Rioja report and a few emerging stars. Atkin criticized the region's marketing strategy in the UK, which he believes focuses too much on big brands and not enough on its top-quality wines. He also highlighted the variety of wines produced in Rioja, including red, white, sparkling, and rosé, and noted the growing emphasis on individual vineyards and the rise of young winemakers. The article also discusses vineyards specifically planted for white wine production, often located at higher altitudes or cooler regions, resulting in wines with unique elegance and focus.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Rarely does a trade tasting generate this level of excitement, but, Tim Atkin MW’s Best of Rioja trade and consumer tasting was teeming with life in Westminster this week. By Atkin’s admission, never has such a collection of wines been assembled in the UK from Spain’s flagship region. Almost all of Rioja’s top bodegas were on show, indicating a welcome sense of camaraderie among the producers of the DOCa. The wines, which were personally selected by Atkin, were made up of first and second growths from Atkin’s annual Rioja report, plus a few rising stars for good measure. Atkin sat down with Harpers to discuss the landmark tasting and what the future has in store for the region as a whole. A Rioja tasting of this calibre has never occurred in the UK, so what’s changed, why now? Two things. The quality of the wines, for a start. The second thing was my belief – shared by the producers who came to London – that the region does not, as a rule, promote its best wines in the UK. It ...

Source: Harpers