Catalogue of Experiences TASTINGS & PAIRINGS 2012
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastron贸micas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 1
Food & Wine Tours specializes in organizing Corporate and Special Events; Incentive Trips and Product Launches in Spain with a gastronomic touch. THE BASICS: We propose locations; we manage singular spaces that combine art, beauty and history. Unique and elegant places to celebrate business meetings. Itinerary planning, transportation, accommodation and on-the-ground support OUR ADDED VALUE is the possibility to combine these business activities with our experiences created around Food & Wine. Team building & training, Indoor activities, tours, trips & cultural activities, restaurants & nightlife. These experiences allow the opportunity of discover, share, and appreciate the diverse tastes of our unique country. If you are a lover of good food and wine and are planning on doing a creative and fun experience, then our activities have been designed for you. We can tailor made all of them to your specific needs. Creativity is one of our milestones. Our offer is addressed companies, tour operators and travel agents but also to all those entities seeking for high quality food and wine experiences. Our services can meet all your needs, from the expertise of our professionals to create a unique activity; to the design, creation and coordination of the event that you consider it fulfils the agreed upon objectives. We have classified our experiences by the level of activity
Team building / competitions o Develop organizational skills o Give and take direction effectively o Work toward common goals o Build confidence and morale o Adapt to changing environments o Sharpen communication skills o Dare to be creative o Have fun
Activities & Experiences
Incentive tourism: winery visits …
From gourmet tours to cookery courses, take a break with a gastronomic twist, tailored to your needs!
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 2
Index
Wine tasting .................................................................................................... 5 Aromas & Wine Tasting .................................................................................... 6 A delicious Catalan Snack ................................................................................. 7 Chocolate tasting ............................................................................................. 8 Cheese tasting .................................................................................................. 9 Ham tasting ................................................................................................... 10 Olive oil tasting .............................................................................................. 11 Beer tasting ................................................................................................... 12 Cheese & wine pairing .................................................................................... 13 Chocolate & sweet wine pairing ..................................................................... 14
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastron贸micas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 3
Gourmet Tastings Experience with us new sensations of the palate and delights to the senses. It's about sharing the experience of wine and food among friends. It's about learning to appreciate the finer things in life in a friendly environment. Tasting, an activity that surprises by its innovation. Pairing, a sensory experience that combines flavors in a way that you would have never imagined, providing you with exciting surprises on your palate. The activity begins by making a sensorial taste to educate and to prepare the tongue and the senses. We will go through all the stages and shades of flavours and tastes. Sweet, bitter, salty, spicy,… all of them thru a variety of products, aromatic plants, fruits,.. A trip thru the tasting world. Each tasting is a single activity, which you can combine with other tastings. Tastings:
Wine Tastings: traditional (vertical, horizontal), surprising (cava versus champagne), specials Chocolate Tasting Cheese Tasting Iberico Ham Tasting Beer tasting Olive oil Tasting A trip to all your senses
Pairings Cheese and Wine pairing Chocolate and Sweet Wine pairing
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 4
Wine tasting [Grapes are] the most noble and challenging of fruits. Malcolm Dunn, Head Gardener to the 7th Viscount Powerscourt, c 1867 Eyeballing wine, swirling and sniffing and swishing ... it may look complicated but you will see that it is not. Nevertheless, wine tasting is an art that must be learnt, following a strict process in the search for aromas and flavours; a training that can be turned into a great time! Wine culture forms part of the Spanish gastronomy. Our wines are a real richness, which doesn't leave indifferent the most demanding palates. We have made a rigorous selection of gastronomes, in order to guarantee the best services in the wine tasting training. Thanks to them, you will be able to discover the most used tasting techniques, and make use of your talents as an amateur sommelier! After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: A wine expert who will lead the tasting Tasting of 5 wines of your choice: whites, reds, cavas or combined A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes Observations: Optional gourmet meal. Optional Private transfer to the venue Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 5
Aromas & Wine Tasting Educate your nose! How often have you been tasting a glass of wine and you think “I know what that aroma is” but you just can not put a name to it, even though it's on the tip of your tongue..... literally. This is a wine workshop to develop a fine nose, essential for a wine tasting. As an aid to novice wine tasters - and experts too wine scientists came up years ago with something called the "aroma wheel." You do not need a wheel to do a good tasting, however: The information is just as useful in the form of a list, starting at noon and moving around the clock from "fruity" through "nutty" and "earthy" around to "floral," "spicy" and back to fruity again. You will have to guess, a collection of scents related to wines from a wine aromas set. By the end of the workshop you will be able to pair aromas with 4 different wines, and you will know the difference between them. After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: Gastronome Aromas Workshop Tasting of 4 wines (2 whites, 2 reds). aromas guide, aromas set,… A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware Observations: Optional gourmet meal. Optional Private transfer to the venue Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 6
A delicious Catalan Snack Spaniards love their food! In fact, the typical Spaniard probably puts away more food than any one of you, but we spread our meals throughout the day and walk between meals. How long ago did you have your last snack? The late-afternoon snack in Spain is called “la merienda” and is necessary since lunch is done late, but dinner isn't usually eaten for another five to six hours. “La merienda” can be anything from a piece of French-style bread with a piece of chocolate on top, to bread with chorizo, ham or salami. “La merienda” is eaten around 4:30 or 5:00pm and since dinner isn't served for at least another 3-4 hours, nobody worries that this snack will ruin the appetite for dinner! In a fun way we propose a trip to the history and traditions of “la merienda”. We will taste cava (sparkling wine), sweet wines, breads, chocolates, cured meats, olive oils… Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 8 to 50 people Duration: 2-3 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: An expert who will lead the tasting Tasting of cavas, sweet wines, chocolates, A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 7
Chocolate tasting Chocolate tasting skills will allow you to truly savour gourmet chocolate. And learning to taste fine chocolate and appreciate its distinctive personalities is a pleasure. The first impression is very important when it comes to chocolate tasting. Therefore, you should first pay attention to the chocolate's appearance - colour, and even structure and sheen. True chocolate lovers taste chocolate like a fine wine or a select cigar. Equally, a special vocabulary is also used to describe chocolate. We invite you to find out more about the many and varied sense impressions. Give it a try, it’s really After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: The services of our exclusive chocolate specialist All the necessary material for the tasting: o Chocolates with different % of cocoa o Chocolates from different parts of the world o Chocolate bonbons with different flavours A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes Observations: It can be combined with a Wine pairing Optional private transfer to the venue
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 8
Cheese tasting Creamy, sharp, woody, mild...the choices are endless. And just like a fine wine or a good beer, Cheese should be appreciated. And there is no better way to experience cheese in its purest form than to hold a tasting. Enjoy a delicious selection of cheeses from Spain, In the tasting, we discuss the characteristics of the flavour, the aromas, the texture, the colour and its aspect. Spain has about 120 different varieties of Cheese. Every region has its own specialty, covering a full range of cheese types, from fresh to cured, to fermented and blue-veined. One essential characteristic is the type of milk used in the production. Depending on the area, time of the year, climate, or tradition, cheeses are made of cows', sheep's, goats' milk, or of a mixture of two or all three types of milk. After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: The services of our exclusive cheese specialist 6 different types of cheeses All local taxes A maximum of 3 hours The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes Observations: We recommend to combine with a Wine pairing Optional private transfer to the venue
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 9
Ham tasting This flavourful and versatile dry-cured ham is making its way to tables around the world. From France to Japan, from the Netherlands to Mexico or the United States, consumers in over seventy countries worldwide have come to appreciate its fine taste and texture, its health-promoting qualities, its variety in culinary uses, its excellent shelf-life, its affordability, and particularly the fact that Serrano ham is the product of a natural process. During the tasting with which you will be able to experience the different qualities and textures from Spanish Ham and their different flavours according to the origin, raising and feeding of the pigs. All the Ham to be tasted is Iberian and Iberian of acorn and with denomination of origin. After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: The services of our exclusive Ham specialist Tasting course: 8 different hams A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes Observations: It can be combined with Wine pairing Optional private transfer to the venue
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 10
Olive oil tasting
As an amazing approach for the novice, Olive Oil tasting astonishes guests every time. Olive Oil is the faithful reflect of its native tang, and reveals pervasive aromas which is its typical and exclusive signature. Learn what Olive Oil is, what are its origins, its extraction method and its designations. Discover how to taste it without forgetting that Olive Oil combined with wine tannins was recently acknowledged as a positive factor for health. After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: The services of our exclusive Olive oil specialist Tasting course and all the necessary Olive oil for the tasting: 5 different types of olive oil A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes Observations: It can be combined with other tastings. Optional private transfer to the venue
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 11
Beer tasting Beer is a drink of enormous agricultural and commercial significance. Every drop of the millions of gallons made annually has one final objective-to be consumed. In passing the lips, crossing the tongue and descending the throat, beer is tasted whether or not a conscious comment of judgement is made. During this activity you will learn the history of beer, how to taste it, how to serve it, the different types of beers in the world… This experience will vary depending on the knowledge, tastes and wishes of the group. After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: The services of our exclusive beer specialist Tasting course Beer tasting material: Tasting guide... A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes Observations: It can be combined with Cheese pairing and/ or a visit to a beer factory. If this activity is done in a Winery, there is an Optional Complete guided visit to the cellar Optional private transfer to the venue
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 12
Cheese & wine pairing “Cheese, wine, and a friend must be old to be good.” Cuban proverb
Cheese and wine have a great deal in common, and they have been enjoyed together since ancient times. Both are products of fermentation. Both may be consumed while fresh, simple, and young or in their more complex forms when they are aged and mature. The possibilities of pairing cheese and wine are endless. Spain has about 120 different varieties of Cheese. Every region has its own specialty, covering a full range of cheese types, from fresh to cured, to fermented and blue-veined. This activity allows you to discover cheese with all your senses, while enriching your knowledge about its matching possibilities with drinks and other food. You will also learn how it is made, what are its different variations in function of the milk and the elaboration process. After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 1- 2 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages The activity includes: The services of our exclusive Cheese and wine specialist Tasting course and all the necessary material for the tasting 6 different cheeses Combinations with other foods: marmalades, vegetables, seasonal fruits, dried fruits, bread sticks, etc. 4 different wines A maximum of 3 hours All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 13
Chocolate & sweet wine pairing The perfect harmony A day without chocolate is a day without sunshine.
Although chocolate is not typically Mediterranean, it is closely linked to the Spanish culture. For several centuries it has been part of us, now associated with specific periods, now used for its medicinal and psychological properties. But it is in its purest expression, namely the cocoa bean, that chocolate reveals its whole character and intensity. The transformations that undergo cacao can affect its genuine flavour, but they also confer many attributes, that are worth discovering. This tasting is a sensorial trip into the chocolate world, where you will learn the whole process that transforms the cocoa bean to the chocolate we are used to eating. We will explore the infinite possible combinations that chocolate offers. Chocolate snack with salted chocolate bonbon Chocolate bars with different % in cocoa Chocolate bon bons 6 different wines After this activity, enjoy an optional meal in the venue with wines. Locations: all over Spain. Participants: Groups from 6 to 50 people Duration: 5 hours Availability: Mondays to Sundays, all year around under request Languages: English and Spanish. Consult other languages. The activity includes: The services of our exclusive chocolate specialist Tasting course and Tasting guide Chocolate & wine tasting material All local taxes The activity does not include: Venue rental Glassware and dishes
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastron贸micas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 14
Trips and experiences
Ocio Vital is the first Spanish company specialized in enogastronomic tourism. We offer a wide range of top-quality services and products, dedicated to companies, groups, institutions and private people, about the gastronomy and wine’s world.
Get information: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com
Ocio Vital, Experiencias Enogastronómicas
Contacto: Tel: +34 93 317 19 09 info@ociovital.com www.ociovital.com | www.foodwinetours.com 15