Spanish wine exports increased during the first eight months of 2011, for the first time ever exceeding 2.1 billion liters of wine. 

In the Oct. 5 Chicago Tribune article of his “How to Pair Wines” series, Bill St. John recommends pairing the Bodega Montecillo Rioja Gran Reserva 2003 with cider apple pork chops.  He describes the wine as having “plain spoken beauty, graced with several years of age.”

In a recent Wine Spectator article, "A Beautiful Traditional Rioja, executive editor Thomas Matthews discussed the underpinnings of classic Riojas, as well as his love for the region's both modern and traditional wines.

The Wall Street Journal recently profiled another fan of Rioja, international fasion designer Narcisco Rodriguez, who shares the influence wine has had on his career. Rodriguez notes Marqués de Cáceres was on his family's table growing up - "lots of red wine - always Spanish."

Brendan Dorr from Baltimore’s B&O American Brasserie won the prize for Best Sherry Cocktail with his cocktail, The Cádizian, at the 5th Vinos de Jerez Cocktail Competition Final held Nov. 9 at Brooklyn’s Clover Club.

Winners and runner ups from the 2011 Cocktail competition were:  

• Best Sherry Cocktail — The Cádizian
Brendan Dorr, B&O American Brasserie, Baltimore, MD

• First Runner Up — Midnight to Six
Brad Farran, Clover Club, Brooklyn, NY

• Second Runner Up (tied) — Perfect Lepanto
Stephanie Schneider, Huckleberry Bar, Brooklyn, NY

• Second Runner Up (tied) — Highland Games
Owen Thomson, ThinkFoodGroup (Café Atlantico, DC)

The Vinos de Jerez Cocktail Competition is a nationwide competition of bartenders/mixologists who are challenged to create the best Sherry Cocktail in America, showcasing the diversity of Sherry wine and its remarkable versatility in cocktails and matching with food.