No products in the cart.
¡Feliz Navidad! As promised, our Spanish Christmas container has arrived. Well, one of them. Gourmet hamper treats from La Chinata and Don Gastronom are still a few days out, but we’ll give you a sneak peek here too.
New wine showcase
First out the gate, may we introduce the La Fresca Albariño and the El Prenda Crianza from Bodegas Peñafiel in Rías Baixas, the green corner of Spain just north of Portugal. No, we didn’t choose them just for the labels—but would you blame us if we did?
They’re both part of the Siete Pasos (Seven Steps) project, which was born out of a trip that the Bodegas Peñafiel crew took with friends, featuring lamb chops and, of course, more than one bottle of wine. They decided to create something in the world of wine that expressed their understanding of friendship, creating a character for each wine they believe captures that understanding.
So they came up with The Star, The Shady One, The Cool One, The Important One, The Troublemaker, and The Foreigner—who, according to Bodegas Peñafiel, are present in almost every group of friends as the people with whom we share both the good times and the bad.
The Shady One in this case is the El Prenda crianza, a tempranillo and garnacha blend that shows the character of the Rioja style. It’s intensely aromatic and very pleasant with well-integrated wood—ideal for a summer barbeque. La Fresca is The Cool One, a crisp, fresh white with a mineral nose full of herbs, kiwifruit and avo and a dry palate with plenty of freshness and a juicy finish—in other words, exactly on point for a good Albariño.
Looking around now to spot The Shady One and The Cool One in your friend group? They’ll know when they open their gift …
Chocolate treats
Getting back to chocolate (of course), our container had mountains of our favourites from Spanish chocolatiers Simón Coll and Pancracio. We really appreciate the focus on flavours other than sugar in quality Spanish chocolate, as well as the way they’re designed as treats—a square here, a nibble there—rather than to replace lunch. Simón Coll’s stunning Chocolate Amattler range, for example, delivers delicate chocolate flowers and leaves in its distinctive art deco packaging as the perfect sweet morsel next to a cup of coffee.
Iconic Valencian chocolate brand Pancracio has that diamond ring feel—a special gift for a special occasion. It combines the slightly retro vibe of old-time Spanish coffee shops and bakeries with a clean, contemporary image that has been eagerly embraced by some of the world’s most exclusive stores. Beautifully presented and featuring decadent flavours—like dark chocolate with raspberry and rose, and dark chocolate with lemon and mint—it makes a real statement.
For something a bit more whimsical, we also have Simón Coll’s quirky chocolate sardines and wine bottles as the perfect filler for grown-up Christmas stockings, and a whole range of Xmas treats for kids, from Xmas-themed umbrellas, bars, and squares and even mini gift sets.
Gourmet treats from La Chinata and Don Gastronom
If you’re still filling hampers, La Chinata and Don Gastronom should squeak in next week, bringing perennial La Chinata favourites like the mini EVOO tins as well as lemon, chilli, truffle and basil flavoured oils. The square glass bottles of sherry vinegar and EVOO we suspect don’t make it to the Xmas tree—they take up residence in your own pantry (and why not). With spreads like porcini and truffle or sweet pepper and chilli, your Xmas platters will be outstanding, and the balsamic cherry, fig and truffle creams will elevate any salad—or dessert!—with their intense flavour and sweetness.
More platter goodness is arriving from Don Gastronom, including fig, pomegranate, orange, and red wine spreads, dense fig and almond or date and walnut ‘bread’, quince paste, and even gazpacho. For retail stores, the Don Gastronom products are great not only in terms of their quality and presentation, but also nice long dates. This range does so well that we add to our order every time, and we think you will too.
That’s it for now. We’ll let you know when Santa finally gets this last container down the chimney. Fingers crossed!
