John Rahm “masters” Spanish wine
If there’s any rationale at all for what I do, it comes into its sharpest focus at the Masters Champions Dinner, which will be held next Tuesday, April 9. Champion John Rahm is serving a terrific sounding Spanish/Basque menu accompanied by Spanish wines with which he has a deep personal connection, according to an article on wine-searcher.com. Both wines he selected are from highly respected Rioja producer CVNE. The white is their Contino 2020, and the red is the Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva 2017.
The brief wine-searcher.com article, which you can find here, states that the CVNE Imperial was Rahm’s grandfather’s favorite wine and Rahm keeps two bottles of their 1994 vintage (from his birth year) on the mantelpiece, flanking either side of his US Open Trophy. I confess this makes me like him more, and he remains the only LIV golfer I wish were still lacing them up on the PGA Tour. The rest of them, not so much.
Contino is a blend of viura and garnacha bianco grapes. It can be found in the US for around $50. The producer describes it as follows:
With Contino Blanco, we want to return to the traditional Rioja whites with ageing potential, balance and freshness. A wine that is not overly woody with a predominantly floral and fruity aroma combined with structure and character provided by the barrel tannins and fat from the concrete egg tank.
Predominantly tempranillo, Imperial Gran Reserva is a flagship traditional Rioja, aged for two years in French and American new oak and a further 12 months in bottle before release. Retailing for over $100, it’s complex and tannic, and I doubt Bubba Watson would appreciate it. According to Sir Nick Faldo, Watson not once but twice served a “Happy Meal” at the Champions Dinner. Who said golfers are boring? Are we not entertained?
While you can celebrate The Masters anyway you want, this could be one of the few times in its storied history I’d consider following the back nine on Sunday with a glass of the Champion’s wine. If you’re so inclined, here are links to retail inventory for the exact wines on wine-searcher.com. With any luck there are a few bottles already waiting for you nearby.
