First it was a way of life, then a motto and now. . . .
a T SHIRT.

Veni Vino Vici T Shirt

We’re honored to be the 100th article for the Wine Country Minute.

The Wine Country Minute is published 3 times a week and only takes a minute to read! Check it out!

Ooooo, seeing double double, double vision
Ooooo, oh my double vision
Ooooo, double vision
Yeah-ah, I get double vision, ooooo . . .

-Foreigner¹

In some members’ quest for grapeness, 100 varieties is just not enough.  There is  now a new level of recognition: Doppel Members.  For the non-Teutonic, doppel is German for double, so these members have tried at least 200 different grape varieties.  I hope this doesn’t discourage aspiring members on their quest for 100 but the wine geek species must evolve! Or at least mutate!

The idea to introduce this new level of membership was presented to me last year by member Nick Hendrix.  He sent  in the most extensively documented application in the history of The Wine Century Club.  He can rest assured that Bacchus will not curse his palate!  All hail Nick, the first officially recognized Doppel Member!

If you’ve tasted 200 grape varieties and would also like to be recognized as a Doppel Member, please send your updated list to steve@winecentury.com. An armed courier will be dispatched with your Doppel Certificate ASAP.

¹Late 70′s power-ballad hair band

Impress your friends, intimidate your enemies. It’s the official Wine Century Club Tastevin, engraved by master laser engravers in Connecticut.

Not available in stores.  Order yours online today.

Offer available only for members of the Wine Century Club

By unanimous decree, the executive committee of the Wine Century Club has approved The Official and Sacred Oath of The Wine Century Club.  All members are to recite it upon receiving their certificate or when using public transportation.

The Sacred Oath of the Wine Century Club

I Promise to honor the ways of Bacchus
God of wine, agriculture and madness
But to go easy on the madness
So as not to end up
Shouting at the walls
In a cheap motel
Outside of Poughkeepsie*

*For those outside of New York, Poughkeepsie is pronounced puh-kip-see

I arrived in Barcelona for the first of what I hope will be many trips to the wine regions of Spain on the afternoon of March 9^th. An Importer who I work with, André Tamers and his company De Maison Selections organized the trip.

This is an ITB disclaimer- we only visited wineries represented De Maison – this is not to promote his wines but simply to share my experience on this trip.

After gathering all of the troops together it was off to our private bus – very swank. The bus had room for 14 though we were only 10 so there was a bit of room to spread out. Our driver, Jose Miguel was quickly dubbed “Ice” due to the shape of his hairstyle (which oddly resembled the shape of our bus) and the meticulous grooming of his eyebrows.

In minutes we were off to our first destination, Penedès – Cava country!

After a painless 2-hour drive south we arrived at Avinyó. Based in a farmhouse that dates back to the 16^th century, the Esteve Nadal family has been making still and sparkling wines for over 40 years. In addition to wine, the estate also produces traditional Catalan four pigment ceramic tiles and houses an impressive collection of antique Porrones, the traditional Catalan drinking vessel (more on these later).

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