El Celler Sommelier, Cristina, discusses the art of the pairing with RHE Exclusive, and shares her journey into the wonderful world of wine
Cristina originates from Romania, a land steeped in history where wine graced its tables long before it had a capital city. It is woven into the fabric of her culture, a tradition that ignites curiosity and inspires exploration. However, Cristina’s journey into the world of wine began in earnest around the age of thirty, when she completely fell in love with the native grape, Fetesca Neagra.
This led to an exciting voyage of discovery, with different regions, styles, and blends, followed by several guided tasting courses, books, and articles. Such was her newfound passion that she sought to consume knowledge wherever she could, all with the intention of developing her own personal style and preferences.
The art of the pairing depends on the moment
Speaking of preferences, when asked which is her favourite wine region, Cristina replies that she cannot say, as it all depends on the moment, who she is sharing it with, what type of food it is accompanying, or just her mood. Instead, she prefers to mention her favoured grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Merlot, Bobal, Riesling, and Godello.
As the sommelier for El Celler de la Fontana, Cristina acknowledges that her position is both challenging and active. She views her role not only as selling wine or discussing specific bottles, but also as pairing and providing advice on the perfect selection for each customer’s table.
Cristina shares some of her personal favourite pairings
While admitting that, as a ‘foodie,’ it is hard for her to decide on her own personal pairing, she offers up a few of her most revered options. These include a French omelette or torreznos with champagne, some oysters with tzacholi, Gruñeron veltliner with schnitzel, and meatballs with Chianti.
As for the wine itself, Cristina states that the most iconic wine she ever tasted was Tignanello 2014. While she found the blend exceptional, she thinks it was perhaps the moment, or even the day, that has etched this particular wine into her memory.
She vividly recalls the freshness and youthful flavours, which include cherries, black cherries, and violets, all complemented by hints of vanilla and a touch of coffee. The wine’s full structure, the expansion of its tannins, and the perfect layering of flavours – no one overpowering the other – has made this her best wine experience to date.
El Celler de la Fontana
Address: Av. de Lepanto, 2A, bloque D, 03730 Puerto Real, Alicante
Website: www.elcellerdelafontana.com
Tel: :+34 611 158 961
Email: informacion@elcellerdelafontana.com
