Top sommelier Valeria Gamper presents Pamplona and Navarra guide
Argentinian sommelier Valeria Gamper is based in Navarra in Spain where she works as a consultant and educator. And now she is our most recent ambassador to Spain, picking four favorites in her home region around Pamplona.
Valeria Gamper started her career in hospitality in Buenos Aires in Argentina. She was studying Hotel Management when she started to work in the restaurant of the Four Season Hotel Buenos Aires.
"I was 23 years old, I did not drink wine at the time, but I and immediately felt in love with wine service and hospitality. Then I enrolled in Cave (Centro Argentino de Vinos y Espirituosas) to become a sommelier."
Valeria Gamper's career as a sommelier then led her to win won both Best Sommelier of Argentina and Best Sommelier of the Americas.
Welcome onboard as our new ambassador!
"Thank you, I am excited to join!"
What are you looking forward to the most in your new role?
"To highlight the places that have a special selection and service of wines in the area and show them to the world! "
How would you describe the dining and drinking scene in Navarra at the moment?
"Navarra is a place with a great gastronomic and wine culture. People highly value the local products, including the Garnacha wines, the rosés, as well as the produce from the vegetable gardens for which they are so famous for. Eating and drinking in Navarra is part of the culture!"
"All evenings from Thursday on, the bars are full of people drinking and eating "pintxos" standing in the streets. On Saturdays and Sundays at noon you can go to have the "aperitivo"; you go for a walk, or gather with family or friends and have a small bite and a drink before you dip into late and long lunches (not uncommon to finish at 7pm!). It is all about gathering around the table. They really know how to do it. "
What are the emerging drinking trends you are seeing?
"What I see is more focus on Garnacha wines, lighter rosé wines, and really impressive white wines made with local varieties. The NoLo category (no and lo alcohol) is also rising."
What wines, styles, countries and regions are most in demand?
"Mainly local producers or from other parts of Spain, like Galicia which is quite trendy now, Gredos, and Rioja. There is still a big demand for Rueda and Ribera del Duero. Garnacha wines are being more and more demanded."
Check out Valeria's Pamplona and Navarra recommendations in the guide below!
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