A Blind Tasting Trivia Night, Reflecting on My Time in Galicia, and One of Burgundy's Most Famous Rebels

Hey guys!

This week, I’m diving into our recent blind tasting trivia event, reflecting on last Summer’s unforgettable trip to Galicia, and spotlighting Burgundy’s most intriguing producer, Renaud Boyer. Hope you enjoy!

When Blind Tasting Meets Trivia Night 🍷 

How a Random Idea Became a Night of Blind Wine and New Friends

About six months ago, I was at a weekly blind tasting group with some friends when a random idea hit me. I had probably drank in a few too many glasses of wine, but in that moment, the idea felt solid: “What if bar trivia was combined with a blind tasting?” A few of us started brainstorming how it could work; a few round tables, teams at each table, some blind wines, and a moderator running the show. It sounded great, but when we started thinking about the logistics, it quickly became clear that it might be more of a headache than anything. So, the idea went on the back burner, and nothing ever really came of it.

Fast forward to early July, and I get an email from someone at Posh.vip, an events app that hosts local parties and community events (kind of like Partiful, but better). They mentioned they had a huge event space in their SoHo office and were interested in using it for various events, including a wine event that we would host. That's when it hit me, this could be the moment to finally bring the "Blind Tasting Trivia" idea to life. Despite having no clue how to even throw something like this, I jumped at the chance and agreed to host.

Now, I won’t get into the nitty gritty of the planning (there were a few hiccups along the way as you can imagine), but we eventually made it to the big day, July 29th. Not really knowing what to expect, we had people show up, take seats next to new faces, and team up for the blind tasting challenge. The setup looked pretty much like I had envisioned a couple of months ago: a quick intro, a breakdown of what blind tasting is, and then we dove into six blind wines, one at a time.

The challenge consisted of six blind wines, and for each wine, participants had to guess the country, region, and grape. Each correct guess earned one point, for a maximum of three points per wine, adding up to a total of 18 points. The team with the highest score at the end took home the grand prize (a couple bottles of wine and some merch). It was like bar trivia, but with blind tasting.

The night turned out to be a blast, filled with new friends, some correct guesses, and, of course, a ton of wine. It felt like a success, and I can confidently say we’ll be throwing more of these in the future. Huge thanks to everyone who came out, and to the Posh team for letting us host in their amazing space. Can’t wait to do it again!

Reflecting a Year After My Trip to Galicia 🇪🇸 

A Journey Through Spain's Green Paradise, Albariño, and Unforgettable Seafood

Exactly a year ago today, I was in Galicia, Spain, the northwest corner of the country, for a wine trip. Hosted by the company Viniesta, I was driven around the region with a group of half wine professionals, half wine enthusiasts, touring Galicia’s many hidden gems. I had a lot of memorable experiences while there, but after a year of reflection, I can say I have 3 main takeaways about Galicia:

1. It lives up to its name as the “Green Spain” 🌳 

Galicia is often referred to as "Green Spain," and the name is fitting. The region's lush, green landscapes are a result of its unique climate, heavy rainfall and cool temperatures, combined with its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, create the perfect environment for abundant vegetation. Vineyards stretch across rolling hills covered with mossy greenery, and even the towns are flanked by dense forests and coastlines. The abundance of water and the rich, fertile soil contribute to a landscape that’s almost shockingly green, especially compared to the drier, more arid parts of Spain. Every drive we took made my jaw drop, it’s seriously such a magical landscape.

2. Albariño is up there with some of the best wine grapes in the world 🍇 

Albariño is Galicia’s signature grape, and it definitely deserves its recognition as one of the world’s top white varietals. What sets Albariño apart is its unique ability to perfectly express the cool, coastal terroir of Galicia. The wine is fresh, aromatic, and vibrant with flavors of citrus, peach, and green apple, paired with a characteristic saline minerality that speaks to its proximity to the ocean. Its high acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish that makes it incredibly food-friendly, especially when paired with seafood.

Albariño is often compared to great white wines like Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc, but there’s something special about the coastal influence on its character that puts it in a league of its own. We were able to visit a ton of Albariño producers while there and the real standout was our visit to Albamar in the Rías Baixas region of Galicia.

3. Some of the best seafood in the world can be found here 🌊 

Galicia is not only known for its wine, but also for its incredible seafood, arguably some of the best in the world. One of the standout dishes is Pulpo (Octopus) where the octopus is boiled, then sliced or served whole, and served with paprika, salt, and olive oil. The texture is tender and slightly smoky.

Then there’s Percebes (Goose-Neck Barnacles), a true delicacy harvested from their rocky coastlines. These barnacles have a briny, sweet taste and are notoriously difficult to gather, making them a sought after treat for seafood lovers.

Navajas (razor clams) are another regional specialty. The clams are often grilled or prepared in a simple garlic and parsley sauce that allows their natural flavors to shine. And I’d be remiss not to mention the scallops, mussels, and clams, all incredibly fresh and delicious, often served simply with a squeeze of lemon or garlic butter.

Even just writing this is making me nostalgic about the trip, it was truly a special time. If you want to go on the exact same trip, Viniesta organizes these wine tours yearly to Galicia and other wine regions in Spain. Definitely worth considering if you want to dive deep into Spanish wine and gastronomy. You can find them all here!

Producer Highlight ⭐️ 

One of our favorite parts of wine is the discovery: we’re constantly being put on to new regions, producers, and cuvées from our friends. We’ll never be able to try EVERY wine, but we want to take a moment to mention some producers that excite us!

Pop Up Reminder: Ace’s Pizza x Win Son x SuperVinoBros 🍕🍷 

Just a friendly reminder that we’re throwing a pop-up this Friday, August 1st with our dear friends at Ace’s Pizza and Win Son at Ace’s Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn! We’re going to have some custom pies for one day only, some super special BTG wines from Percy Selections, and exclusive event merch, so make sure to swing by 🤙 

Work Opportunity for Wine Industry Friends 🔨 

We’re excited to share that Stelle Wine Co. is hosting an industry-wide portfolio tasting on Monday, September 8 at The Rooftop at The Malin in Soho from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. We’re looking for experienced wine professionals to pour wines from Stelle Wine Co.’s portfolio during this time. The day will begin at 10:30 AM to support with set-up and to familiarize yourself with the wines, and with pouring beginning at 11:30 AM.

Compensation is a flat rate of $75 for 3 hours of pouring + 1 bottle of wine from the Stelle Wine Co. portfolio + the opportunity to taste & network throughout the event. Please reach out to [email protected] to get involved. Tom will be getting each person comprehensive information on the winemaker/cuvées.

That’s it for this week! I’ll make sure to keep you guys posted on future blind wine events. In the meantime, hope some of you can make it Friday!

Thank so much for reading, and as always, drink responsibly 🥂