Sofia - The Spanish Edition

Pepe Porter Mencia

About
Pepe Porter is a premium quality wine from a careful selection of the best bunches of the Mencia red grape. It is a delicious and versatile red that should be in any cellar. The Mencía grape occupies only a small part of the world production and that makes it very unusual.

Mencía does well in Monterrei, the smallest and most southerly DO in Galicia, right on Portugal’s northern border. This gets the best bunches from the harvest, the rest going to blends, selected and fermented in stainless steel with a short maturation period—this is all about accentuating the fruit characters of the grape.

Producer
Adegas Terrae takes its name from the Latin term terrae, from which the word land derives, to which so much is owed for being the cradle of their wines. They seek to distance themselves from the traditional winery image and are trying to develop a new product concept through a daring image and innovative packaging, with the aim of surprising consumers by exceeding expectations.

The winemaker, Pablo Estévez is passionate about wine and is an expert in Galician varietals, which guarantees the continuity of the quality and style of their wines. He has been linked to the wine world since childhood, growing up in O Ribeiro. He specialised in oenology to start his professional career about twenty years ago. Today he is one of the most prestigious winemakers in Spain.

Tasting
Bright and clear with a lovely cherry red colour with violet edges.  Intense aromas of raspberry, red currant and black plum with floral notes and hints of mint. In the mouth it stands out for its balance, good harmony, packed full of fruits, savoury tannins, smooth with a deep aftertaste and a pleasant finish in the mouth.

Manchego DOP Cured

About
This classic Spanish cheese is often found to be hard, aged and crystallised with it's flavour developing as it is cured.

Producer
The doors opened to the public a company dedicated to making authentic artisanal Manchego cheese, in the municipality in Villarejo de Fuentes. The village, located in the heart of La Mancha Alta Conquense has always enjoyed clean air and temperatures suitable for the practice of this profession.

Added to some shepherds of excellent qualities, his cattle get the raw material needed for such development. In fact, one of the economies that proliferated in the municipality, and from the Bronze Age, around 1800 BC C., was grazing, because in a hill near the town were located and useful cheese related to cheese production was closely linked to that tradition. Patron of the town itself retains name attesting that: “The Holy Christ of the Shepherds”.

Tasting
Manchego is a pleasantly balanced mix of savory, tangy, and slightly sweet. The cheese is somewhat sharp, but not overwhelmingly so, and features creamy, nutty notes throughout. There is an unmistakable piquant finish that lingers in the mouth that is common with all cheeses made from sheep milk.

Mahon-Manorca Semi-Cured

About
This semi-hard, often crumbly Mahon DOP is the iconic cheese of Menorca with a distinctive square shape and rounded edges.

Producer
Torralba Mahon DOP is the iconic cheese of Menorca with a distinctive square shape and rounded edges.

The vibrant, orange coloured rind is created by rubbing it with pimenton and olive oil as it matures. It has a Protected Designation of Origin.

The semi-hard, sometimes crumbly texture has a fruity, fresh and creamy aroma complemented by rich, savoury and yoghurt flavours.

Tasting
A unique cheese with a sweet and fruity aroma and a rich, bold flavour, Mahón is not for those who prefer bland cheeses. Made from cow's milk, it has a yellowish rind and a spicy and somewhat salty cheese flavour. As with most farmhouse cheeses, Mahón gains flavour as it ages and is sold at various stages of maturity.

Murcia Al Vino

About
Also known as Drunken Goat, Murcia al Vino is the famous wine washed goat's milk cheese from Spain.

Producer
Murcia is famous for its quality goat’s milk.

This cheese is produced in a family-run dairy situated in the heart of the Murcia region. Rufino and his three siblings continue the tradition started by their father 20 years ago, turning the unique milk of the Murciano goats into an extraordinary cheese.

The milk comes only from the local Murciana goat breed that graze freely. The milk of these goats is considered one of the finest goat milk as it has a rich sweet flavour and is not as sour as other goat milk.

Tasting
There’re hints of almonds and fermented fruit in flavour and nice creaminess to its semi-firm texture.

Organic Salami Ventricina

About
100% organic, high animal welfare charcuterie.

Producer
Fumagalli's story starts when they opened their first deli meat shop in Meda at the beginning of the last century. They are proud to be Italian, proud of their heritage and proud of their transparency, always transferring these values into all their products. Production systems, eating habits and consumer behaviour has changed since when they started but the way they do things never will.

Today they believe the only way to provide customers with the cured meats they deserve is to invest continuously in animal welfare and new technologies which are then applied to their supply chains. This method ensures transparent and responsible production.

Tasting
Salami Ventricina is a spicy salami made using fennel and paprika for a hot, smoky flavour.

Pancracio Chocolate

About
The classic pairing of rich milk chocolate, zesty orange and crunchy almonds. Terry move over. Pancracio selects the best cocoa beans from the most exclusive harvesting estates and create their chocolate by enhancing the characteristics that render them unique. *Chocolate flavour may vary*

Producer
Pancracio is a Spanish artisan luxury chocolate company originating in Cadiz, Spain. Founded in 2003 by Pedro Alvarez who had a dream of making chocolate of the highest quality. Alvarez has an unmistakable passion for good taste and a keen eye for the aesthetics which can be admired in the brand's beautiful packaging. One of their main goals has always been to create original products with personality, simplicity and elegance. Alvarez was inspired to start a chocolate brand because his grandmother would make him and his siblings bread with chocolate. He called the company ‘Pancracio’, as the name alludes to something vintage, traditional and elegant. He wanted the brand to carry a retro image while at the same time evoking something clean and modern. 

In 2017, Alvarez sold Pancracio to Valencian investors, but his original vision of the brand remains intact. The product keeps its clean yet vintage identity. They also keep their commitment to quality. The company offers unique artisanal chocolate flavours such as crunchy chocolates, chocolate covered nuts, chocolate with salted chips and raspberry and roses chocolate to name a few. They put a keen focus on the originality of their products and a commitment to the finest quality chocolate. 

Tasting
Milk chocolate with candied orange peel has a creamy and crunchy texture thanks to the beautifully roasted Marcona almonds. The perfect sweet treat.