Tapas y Vino

One of the simplest pleasures of a visit to Spain, is hopping from bar to bar, or Taberna (TAH-bur-nah) as they are called, to enjoy the original small plate foods, known as “Tapas” (TAH-paz).Traditionally served on the bar, patrons help themselves to the various Tapas and the bar keep uses a keen eye to keep track of who has had what. In Spain, where dinner is often enjoyed as late as 10:00pm, Tapas are an essential part of the epicurean scene.

At Viña Castellano we host a myriad of Tapas menus depending on the type of event. You can use our model at home, tailoring it to the type of party who wish to have. Will it be a large gathering or open house?  Four times a year we participate in the Placer Hills Winery Tour, a kind of open-house for the 10 local wineries in our region. There we sell small plates of traditional and uncomplicated Tapas. We include a chunk of Manchego Cheese, a wedge of Tortilla Española (egg and potato Fritatta) some olives marinated in my mother Carolyn’s special marinade, a few slices of Chorizo (hard Spanish sausage similar in consistency to salami, but with a distinct Spanish flavor) and almonds lightly-coated with local olive oil. All are excellent accompaniments to our sampling of Spanish and Rhone styled wines. This sized plate is perfect to sustain folks as they tour from winery to winery. It would also be appropriate for a holiday open house or a cocktail party where a more substantial meal would be offered later.