Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/818616
12 / the tasting panel / may 2017 THE MESSAGE Brief Encounters Whether The Tasting Panel goes to the brand execs or the brands call us, there is an abundance of news to report, from the latest releases to behind-the-scenes experiences with some of the world's most influential importers, winemakers, distillers . . . well, you name it. We may not have enough pages in each issue to devote as much attention as we would like to each person whose path we cross, but please note that if it's in the publication, we deem it noteworthy. —Meridith May, Publisher & Editorial Director Music to Our Palates B odegas Faustino, a classic Rioja winery founded over 150 years ago, sponsored a flamenco jazz tour earlier this year with musicians Josemi Carmona and Javier Colina. The tour, called De Cerca —or "at a short distance"—launched on March 8 in New York at Instituto Cervantes, the center for Spanish language and cultural studies. Additional cities included Washington, D.C., Miami, Chicago and Boston. Bodegas Faustino matched the artistry of the De Cerca tour with a tribute to the profound estate wine tradition of Rioja. Guests in New York enjoyed a private performance at the Instituto Cervantes followed by a reserve wine tasting, including 1964 Faustino I Gran Reserva, one of the most acclaimed vintages of the past century, sourced from family- owned vineyards. 12 / the tasting panel / may 2017 The musicians of the De Cerca tour, a flamenco jazz tour sponsored by Bodegas Faustino, a classic Rioja winery. PHOTO COURTESY OF BODEGAS FAUSTINO