BritishSpanish Society members and friends enjoyed an interesting evening of sherry tasting at Bar Rioja in London’s King’s Cross.

Hosted by Bar Rioja and Camino Group’s wine loving owner Richard Bigg we were given a guided tour firstly of Bar Rioja’s geographic namesake, but then for the evening’s headline act – sherry. We learnt more about the growing conditions and processes for grapes which create sherry’s distinctive flavours. 

Throughout the evening Richard described the sherries we were drinking, took us on a tour of where the grapes were grown, the processes each different type of sherry goes under and how the different flavours, aromas, colour and intensities are developed.

Alongside each sherry we sampled a tapas dish, chosen to bring out, enhance or complement the sherry we tasted. 

If you were unable to join us but would like to sample the sherries we tasted, here is the full list, and the accompanying tapas dishes.

Manzanilla ‘I Think’, Equipo Navazos served with gilda

Amontillado Viña AB, González Byass served with jamon pincho

Oloroso Seco, Bodegas Gutiérrez Colosía served with chorizo talo

Moscatel, Mira La Mar served with camerano cheese

Oloroso Dulce Solera 1847, González Byass served with chocolate truffle 

Nectar Pedro Ximénez, González Byass served with vanilla ice cream

Thanks to the Bar Rioja and Camino team for welcoming us so warmly and sharing your cosy bar, and delicious food and drinks with us, and a huge thank you to Richard for sharing his passion and knowledge of wine with us so enthusiastically.  

If you love tapas and are looking for a new restaurant to try, Camino have opened two new London locations in Victoria and Farringdon. We’re also excited to experience the Covent Garden pintxo bar – due to open in 2025.