Evas´paintings exhibition held at Mento´s wine shop last 30th April 2010

Eva defines her work as being between expressionism and abstract style. She uses a paper format with a mixed technique whereby acrylics predominate and, ranging from oils and collages to indian-ink.

For many, the great opening resulted in a revelation . She has shown a radical change of style. The last minute arrangements and working against the clock seem to have been a positive element in her new art work. Her sensitivity has been beautifully translated in those strokes of vivid colors whereby a harmonic and chromatic atmosphere is created. Critics said Eva’s paintings are a vivid and powerful work.

Many thank you, once more, to our good friends Bonalia delicateness, Fernandez’s Bakery and Diputación de Valladolid for collaborating with all our events.

We are already organizing a new activity. It will take place next June and it will be announced in due course.

In spanish: Exposición de pinturas de Eva Mento. Después del evento.

Cigar tasting organized by the oenology society of Ribera de Duero (Enoduero) in Peñafiel, Valladolid.

Bodegas Mento was invited to the cigar tasting organized by the Oenology Association of Ribera de Duero (Enoduero), which was hosted at the Claras de Peñafiel convent.  Mr Jose Andres Colmena Garrido masterfully directed the meeting  showing us all (about 50 people) the similarities between cigars and wine processes . The way leaves are harvesting and how they should be treated. The selection of tobacco leaves resembling the way grapes are selected to produce both a good cigar and a good wine. 

For three hours Mr Colmena gave us a master lecture on the historical production of tobacco. We would have been there even longer¡. He explained the myths of and false belief behind the cigar culture in Spain.  It is argued that there is not such a cigar culture in the country, yet Spain is the second  consumer of cigars in the world.

In spanish: Cata de puros de La Asociación Enológica de Ribera de Duero (Enoduero)

Wine tasting in our wine shop. April 8th event.

The wine testing which took place last 8th April was remarkable. The wine, the attendees and the fact that most of them were young people encourages us to continue with our project.

The choice of wines was a hit. The wine makers Cesar Muñoz and Marisol Sainz led the wine testing. (Alter Enos Verdejo 2006, Mento Vendimia Seleccionada 2006, Troncal 2006, Bodegas Moralia. Obviously, no one better to introduce the attendees into the world of the wine testing. Their enthusiasm and knowledge of the wine was transmitted with the passion one puts when we make a good wine.

I believe they were also pleasantly surprised by how the wine expressed itself within its surroundings. “In my opinion, wines’ quality intensify depending on who we are with (we were a very good company)”.

Our sponsors, Bonalia delicatessen and Fernandez Bakery provided us with their local home-made products.

The photos by clicking here:

The comments by clicking here:

Post in Spanish: Cata de vinos en nuestra tienda (8 de abril). Después del evento.

Airbrush on canvas by Fernando Arribas. 26th March event

Another triumphant event with the launch of our second “Wine & Art” exhibition by Fernando Arribas. He was using a different style and technique, a distinct approach to capture and master drawing and painting at the same time.

The idea of demonstrating his new techniques during the exhibition was a resounding success amongst the visitors and his work suited every generation.

We were delighted with the products that Bonalia delicatessen provided for the event. The bread and sweet pastries from Fernandez Bakery and we would like to take this opportunity to mention their delicious almond cookies and donuts which are specially made at Easter.

For this special occasion Bodegas Mento donated their 2005 selection wine, from which vintage, only 2000 bottles were produced.

A very big thank you to all the sponsors for putting their trust in Bodegas Mento and a special than you to all the attendees for without them this would not have been possible.

For those interested in buying any of the works of Fernando these are their prices.

These are the pictures of the attendees. And these are all pictures of the exhibition.

These are the comments made by participants on the day of the exhibition.

Post in Spanish: Aerografías sobre lienzos de Fernando Arribas. Después del evento

Mento wines on the Canary Islands

For the past two years we have been sending wine to the Canary Islands. The “La Posada de Baco” magazine, a trimestral publication, edition no. 4 and in its wine section has made a special mention to Mento Roble 2005 (Cinve Silver Medal) wine.

We are delighted to say that our wine has been given a greatly welcome in the Islands. Mento is a well-balanced wine with a 13.5º which makes a perfect product for a paradisiacal zone.

We would like to thank to all those who have given us a vote of confidence by including our wines in their wine list.

Restaurante-Grill ACAYMO in Mogan (Gran Canaria), Canary cuisine specialities .
Restaurante Patio Canario in Urbanización Puerto de Mogán, typical cuisine and fresh fish.
Restaurante La Cofradía in Urbanización Puerto de Mogán. We are happy to see them back in business, after they were seriously affected by the last floods.
Restaurante Guantanamo, in Tauro.
Restaurante El Castillete, en la Playa de Mogán. Fresh fish and paellas.
Restaurante Calypso and Bar Ferrari.

Thanking them all for they support by including us in their wine lists.

To all those who may be interested in our wine within the Canary Islands, it can be ordered from Mr J. C. Liébana (Mogán) 639200357. He will be delighted to help you all.

Related posts: Bodegas Mento en las Islas Canarias

Late events at Mento´s wine shop in Tudela de Duero (Valladolid)

During last month we held a series of events in our wine shop ranging from art exhibitions to wine testing.

On 27th February Carmen Chico and Monona Alvarez exhibited their oil paintings and porcelains respectively, at our wine shop.  Despite the weather conditions, a lot of friends attended the events at the wine shop and were delighted with the work of these two fine artists. We consider it to be a successful event, not only because of the number of attendees, but also for the amount of art work that these two artists sold at the very event.

Carmen and Monona’s work is to remain at the wine shop until the end of March for visitors to enjoy and to buy.

I maintain that this type of events always had  an ‘added value’. The jamon and chorizo provided by Bonalia, the bread and cakes by Fernandez’s bakery shop (freshly made and crispy), and of course the perfect wine for the occasion MENTO 2005 (silver medal award) provided us with what  I define here as a ‘trago largo’, that is, with a long finish, to end the evening.

The wine testing took place on 4th March and was also an extraordinary success. As we already published, we gather around three different wines: Eresma Sauvignon Blanco 2007, Rueda; Mento 2006, vino de la tierra y Munia Especial 2006, Toro.

We were rally surprised and delighted to have people from all walks of life and ages; all with a common interest: WINE. Even our parish priest did not want to miss the event and, it was so nice that he could join us. We were also fortunate to have with us the technicians from Bodegas Viñaguareña and La Soterraña . The result: a wine testing amongst friends!.

For our winery, these results are of  an extraordinary importance. It shows that we are on the right path. Once highlighted the importance of the wine testing we should also like to thank Bonalia Delicatessen and  Fernandez’s speciality local bread (Villabañez) faithful companions in all our events.

Finally, we will also would like to remind you that the subscription for the next coming wine testing is already open. On this occasion we will have the following wineries: Leda, Mento and Moralia.

Carmen Chico´s painting video presentation. (in spanish)
Monona Alvarez´s porcelain video presentation. (in spanish)

Bodegas Mento with Bodega la Soterraña and Bodegas Viñaguareña on the 2009 London Wine Fair

Last year and in order to explore other markets, we, my colleague Marisol Sainz and myself, visited the Wines From Spain Fair 2009. This Fair is organised by the Spanish Embassy, Economic and Commercial Office in London and it is held in Old billingsgate Market (lying on the north bank of the River Thames). As part of the visit we were given the opportunity to talk to the Director of the Wines Department at the Economic and Commercial Office who advised us about the English wine market. It was really a great experience. It being solely for Spanish wines attendees were not dispersed. Every thing was perfect: credential, food, flowers and stands.

Thus, in May last year we decided to participate in the London Wine Fair . At this event we shared stand with two other wineries from Castilla y Leon: Bodega La Soterraña with its excellent white wine and Bodegas Viñaguareña with it especial wine from Toro. We shared stand for two main reasons. First because we are friends and secondly to cut costs. It is hard for small wineries like us to attend international fairs without knowing what the results will be.

Bodegas Mento went with its wine “Vendimia Seleccionada 2006”, wine which later was going to be awarded with the “Mezquita de Oro 2009” in Cordoba.

The year 2009 may not have been an entirely successful one in terms of sales contracts from International Fairs (London, Germany, etc), yet all those wineries which were prepared to rock bottom their prices, change and modify bottles, corks and labels, to suit the English Market, could have been more lucky.

All in all, this experience has been an enriching one and has provided us with the knowledge on how to approach both, new markets and international shows.