My favorite Ensenada Wine Fiesta of the year is Festival de las Conchas y El Vino Nuevo. The big fiesta was at Hotel Coral & Marina on Sunday, April 22.
It is my favorite event because of the quality, creativity and presentation of the food by the 50+ different Baja restaurants and food organizations promoting their cuisine.
Abalone, clams, mussels, oysters, shrimp,scallops and crab were prepared in a tongue tantalizing tango as “caliente” as if they were super models strutting their stuff on the runway.
Other than the normal long line at the world famous La Guerrerense booth, the normal wait to get to your food sample was less than 4 people. I got to La Guerrerense ceviche early enough to avoid the crowd.
I focused my energy more on the food than the wine this year. The “new wine” part of the event means that the grape juice was recently bottled. One winery volunteered that they were still bottling last night to prepare for the event.
Some new wines express their disguised future quality very well. Others hit me with their sweet assault and I can’t see a way that these could ever develop into an enjoyable bottle. But, it happens.
Friend Miguel had the correct description of one wine tasting like raspberry jam. He is right on. PaJAMa Razzleberry wine, 2012 vintage, now on sale!
vino para llevar
The wine samples were still pouring well past 4PM as the food supplies were exhausting. Some guests enjoyed the wine so much that they deployed the “vino para llevar” method of taking it home with them.
Much was made of the venue change from the Cruiseport Marina to Hotel Coral this year. One Mexicana, Ana, described the Cruiseport setting as a bit more romantic and intimate than the Coral’s back lot. Others liked the change to a more spacious location and access to the Hotel Coral’s services.
Weather was cool and cloudy with temperatures in low 60s. But, I did my best to resemble a lobster by evening time. Some of us forget that sun still penetrates clouds in search of white skin.
As is the usual practice by the organizers, limiting the tickets made for a comfortable crowd and easy access to the food, wine and educational displays. Seemed like everyone got their fill of food. And the unlimited wine quaffing from the 35 wineries provided cheerful spirits.
Noone left thirsty.
For the lineup of more events and tickets this year, go to ProVino website.
