Spain’s Great Match: A Fabulous Night Out of The Best Spanish Food and Wine Manhattan Has to Offer

As a luxury travel writer, I am ashamed to admit that I have never visited Spain. I must admit that one of the major reasons has been because Spanish food has never been my favorite–or so I thought. When I plan my trips, the little piggy in me can’t help it, a small part of me considers the delicacies that await in choosing my destination! Buenos Aires–the beef! Thailand–the noodles! Paris–the everything! And until recently I hadn’t quite acquired a taste for Spanish tapas. I mean I always liked it but never LOVED it. But last night sealed the deal for me! I officially like Spanish food and it’s all thanks to Spain’s Great Match– a fabulous and uniquely Spanish experience. Wines from Spain (an organization dedicated to, you guessed it, Spanish wine) celebrated its 20th Annual Great Match last night. They presented more than 300 Spanish wines paired with culinary treats from New York’s best Spanish restaurants.

The event showcased the design of renowned contemporary Spanish designer Luis Eslava together with the tapas creations of Mallorcan Chef Andreu Genestra at the Design Tapas Bar, as well as signature tapas from ten of the most critically acclaimed NYC Spanish restaurants in NYC. The latest releases of over 300 wines from Spain’s many exciting wine regions were also presented at this legendary annual tasting–and each one of them was better than the next. I’m a sucker for a good Tempranillo! I also loved Estrella! They even have a varietal that is half lager/half wheat beer! My new favorite!

The food was delicious and all the usual suspects from around Manhattan were there. From Boqueria to Tertulia there were tons of treats to be tasted!

The room smelled divine–the aroma of wine and freshly cooked food was heavenly.

But perhaps the greatest gift of the evening was that I learned that I like pork belly! I don’t quite know what inspired me to finally try this delectable goody but I went for it and learned that it basically tastes like bacon on steroids! I couldn’t get enough of these little sandwiches from Manzanilla Brasserie!

To stay up to date about next year’s event, be sure to follow Wines from Spain on Twitter and Instagram. And if you’re a Spanish food enthusiast or recent convert like me, besure to look into Spain’s Tapas Trail going on in Manhattan from October 1-8th. Visit several of NYC’s premier Spanish restaurants to enjoy signature tapas featuring Jamon Iberico and a plate of Olives from Spain paired with a glass of Rioja, Rueda wine or Estrella Damm beer, all for $10! (and that’s USD not Euros!)

About The Author

Katie

Katie is a luxury lifestyle expert. She runs luxury lifestyle sites, KatieLara.com and Smartypanties.com. But she's not only a luxury lifestyle blogger, she's also a freelance writer for The Huffington Post, Fodor's, Forbes, Pursuitist, Just Luxe and She Knows. She's also a professional photographer and her photos often appear alongside her writing.