Spanish wine maker to explain pairings

CHARLESTON, W.Va.--Felipe Gonzalez Gordon's family has been making wine in Spain for five generations.

Three years ago, he moved to the United States to help spread the word of Gonzalez Byass wines. He works from a home office in New York because he spends much of his time traveling. Part of his job is visiting places like Charleston to share the stories and tastes of his family's products.

Monday evening, Gordon will preside over a wine dinner at the Bluegrass Kitchen, explaining the wines he's selected for the Spanish dinner Bluegrass Kitchen chef Gary Needham will prepare.

Gordon calls his job in the United States "missionary work."

Spain is the fourth or fifth largest importer of wine to the United States, depending on if you look at sales figures or volume, Gordon said. Italy is first, Australia second and France is third. Spain vies with Chile and Argentina for the fourth spot.

"The growth of Spanish wine in the last six years has been incredible," Gordon said. "Right now, our family owns six wineries in Spain - it's not a mom-and-pop operation."

The Gonzalez name was built on its sherries, dating back to 1835, when Gordon's great-grandfather, Manuel Maria Gonzalez, purchased a small Spanish winery to produce then popular sherry.

Gordon said sherry production has decreased over the years while the family added other wines, including still and sparkling wines, to its repertoire. He said no matter what type of wine his family is producing, it believes in staying true to its regional origins.

Monday's menu is the result of teamwork between Gordon, the Wine and Cheese Shop at Capitol Market, Bluegrass Kitchen owner Keeley Steele and chef Needham. Eduardo Canelon will play classical Latin guitar during the meal.

Needham's menu includes fresh sardines with Romesco sauce and a Spanish tortilla, a concoction with a potato crust topped with sheep's milk cheese and Serrano ham.  For dessert, he plans a fig and chocolate cake.

Gordon said he enjoys traveling around the country for wine dinners because it's fun to talk to people who enjoy wine, he said.

"It's very encouraging when you have a group of people who are very enthusiastic and passionate about wine," he said.

Yet he's humble about what his family does.

"At the end of the day, it's a product. We are farmers at the end of the day."