ONLINE TASTING - An evening of Rioja

The most popular wine region in the world? Others might lay claim to that title but what we notice is that whenever we put on a tasting of Rioja, people come flocking. If coronavirus has scuppered your chance of a sunbed on a Costa Brava beach, this online tasting will bring a touch of Spanish sun into your living room. Of course we'll be sampling a red, a mature and mellow Rioja Reserva, but we'll also be trying a white that has been given extra substance by spending a few months in barrel - oak aging is of course a speciality of the region. I would recommend buying in advance:

• 1 bottle of oaked white Rioja. Waitrose & Sainsbury's both have the one from Cune, while Morrisons has an excellent own label one, £13 well spent.
• 1 bottle of good Rioja Reserva. Baron de Ley is available from Tesco and the Co-op, and the winery also makes the Tesco Finest Rioja Reserva and the Club Privado Reserva for Waitrose
• An optional third: We'll also be mentioning Rioja Rosado, which is a bit harder to find. However, if you go to Majestic, they have a very good one from Muga, and if you're there, you might as well buy the excellent white and red wines from Muga while you're there (or the Definition Blanco and Viña Pomal red Reserva if you prefer to mix it up)

Lay in the manchego and the chorizo as well, as these are wines that are at their best with something savoury to nibble on the side.  One ticket will entitle everyone in your household to attend this tasting – make sure you have enough wine to go around!