Tonight it's Garnacha!

[Margi Cintrano]

@ Chef June,

This is some hearty fare ! Have you ever been to La Rioja ? It is a beautiful region, in north central Spain, and the epicurism in this region is profoundly steeped in Roman Empire, Monastery, Convent and The Road to Santiago Pilgrim´s Way product availability; sheep, porc, artichokes, potatoes, bell pepper, chili peppers, river fish, asparagus ( white and violet ), grapes, wines and their Pears ... They also produce fanstastic E.V. olive oil in the Rioja Baja eastern zone, where they have a sub tropical micro climate, unlike the rest of the province.
I love Logroño ... It is a fab city for epicurism and historic culture. Chef Francis Paniego, a Michelin star chef ( Ezcaray in southern La Rioja - Rest. El Portal ) just opened a new Gastro Bar in Logroño.

You had also mentioned a 100% Garnacha variety red, is it 100% Garnacha, and which winery is it from - la bodega is on bottle ?

Thanks.
Margi.

[Margi Cintrano]

In going over the name of the Garnacha,

Masia is a farmhouse and it is a Catalan word, not a Spanish one.

Bielsa, is a place in northern Áragon in the Pyrenees, chain of enormous Mountains separating Spain from France.

I believe it must be from either Designation of Origin, Lleida, Catalonia or Somantano, Aragon from the name. However, it is possible that it is just owned by someone who is Catalan.

MC