17.10.13 V Copa Jerez Has a Winner!

The V Copa Jerez has been won by the Danish Restaurant Clou. After 6 hours of tasting and munching, the judges decided that their Chef and sommelier showed exceptional mastery of the art of matching food and Sherry.

 

Two savoury dishes and a dessert with matching Sherries were served by the seven participating countries, and the winning menu was:

Scallops with salted rye bread crusts served with Fino Valdivia, stewed octopus in duck fat and roasted in almond oil with Amontillado Barbadillo, and for dessert, milk ice cream with coffee and hazelnut praline accompanied by PX VOS Tradicion.

The judges were Josep Roca (Restaurante Can Roca),  Doug Frost (one of only 3 people to achieve Master Sommelier and Master of Wine), Critic and journalist Jose Carlos Capel, Angel Leon (Restaurante Aponiente), Master Sommelier Ronan Sayburn and Juli Soler (El Bulli).

2.3.13 Valdivia Sale; Ruta de la Tapa

The sale of Bodegas Valdivia has so far not aroused any interest. It had been hoped that the bodega complex and attached luxury hotel could be sold for 20 million as a going concern to protect jobs, but none of those who showed any interest made an offer in the 15 days the sale was open. If a buyer cannot be found, the complex may have to go to auction.

La Ruta de la Tapa con Pinchito has begun. The town council of Jerez has signed an agreement with the promotor, Zona 956, who will organise the event. 27 bars will offer a tapa and a drink for 2.50 euros until the 25^th March. After the event, participants will be asked to vote for the best tapa and a prize will be awarded at a gala event. This is the second time the event has been held.

News from Jerez 24.10.12

Garvey staff call meeting to find out what is going on

Garvey is two months in arrears with staff pay and has severe liquidity problems, so the unions have called meetings with the staff and management of the four Nueva Rumasa bodegas  (Garvey, Zoilo Ruiz Mateos Teresa Rivero and Valdivia) for Friday as they have had no news for months about what is going on with the receivership. Workers’ representatives will seek an early meeting with the judge of the mercantile court. 

Valdivia is awaiting a judicial decision before being put up for sale. Teresa Rivero – formerly CAYDSA – is in deadlock over the reduction of staff. The management of the bodega hopes to revert to the pre-Nueva Rumasa cooperative status as its sale was never properly finalised (paid for) by the Ruiz Mateos family. These are the two smaller bodegas, going through an abbreviated process. 

The bigger two, Garvey and ZRM have seen swingeing staff cuts – more than half at Garvey and over 20 at ZRM, and there has been little management since the judge removed management authority from Angel de Cabo, the actual owner of Nueva Rumasa. What with the liquidity situation, the bodegas have had problems securing raw materials, and have been steadily losing customers.

News from Jerez 23.6.12

Department of Employment approval appears to be imminent for the agreement between the workforce and the administrators of Bodegas Valdivia to terminate 10 out of 12 employment contracts. According to sources  who know, this is a likely prelude to liquidation, a fate also faced by Garvey's 2 main bodegas: Complejo Bodeguero Bellavista and Zoilo Ruiz Mateos, bought from Nueva Rumasa by Back in Business. The workforce have reluctantly agreed mainly because they have faith that Valdivia will be bought by another firm. Three are said to be interested, including an american multinational who would retain the workers.

Moving on. According to the latest report from Rutas del Vino de Espana (Spanish touristic wine routes) which covers 2011, the Jerez area is the most visited with a total of 480,767 visitors. The Rutas del Vino comprise 21 routes and 546 bodegas, and are to be thoroughly recommended.