|  If the soon-to-be-released bubbly from the Torres stable in Vilafranca in Spain is as bubbly, vivacious, fresh and yet as elegant as Marta Delfa, the Brand Ambassador of Torres, the Cava-oops, the sparkling wine, is sure to be another hit. She regaled the small group of people invited at the dinner in 1911, the restaurant with imperial charm by her knowledge of wines and light hearted banter.
Explaining the aversion of Miguel Torres to produce a sparkling wine and calling it Cava which is mostly produced barely 30 minutes away in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia, the capital of DO Cava making, she said that more and more Cava producers were unhappy with the DO Cava to be made practically in any part of Spain (you can make DO Cava in Rioja or even in Extremadura!). ‘I am not sure what we are going to call it but it will not be Cava, most likely,’ she says.
Marta was born in Vilafranca in the heart of the Penedès region, quite close to the Torres winery. She says she went to Germany to study German philology but came  back because without finishing the degree because she just could not learn to speak German there. So she came back and joined the University of Barcelona during which she worked part-time in wine bars and restaurants in Catalonia. She also spent time in Ireland in order to improve her English language skills. Today, she is very comfortable conversing with Miguel’s German-born wife, Waltraud.
She has been with Torres since 2007. Those of you who visited the Torres winery in Vilafranca (if you have not visited so far, it should be in your must-visit itinerary next time you travel to Barcelona) in the department of wine tourism which gets a high priority from Miguel Torres Senior.
In July 2011 she started working in the export department as a Brand Ambassador for the company, working in the countries and regions in Europe, Asia-which is primarily Japan and India. ‘China is handled by our Spanish rep looking after the country, as well as Hong Kong. She also visits South America once a year.
 Her job entails participating in several wine tastings, courses and food festivals. She is a wine enthusiast and loves travelling with a passion. But the small town girl is still well-grounded. As she got up to talk about the red wine at the fabulous dinner laid out by Hotel Imperial in 1911, the majestic restaurant with old world charm and grandeur, she saw that the waiters had started serving the main course. She quickly sat down and whispered to me. ‘I will have to wait till the course is finished. My mother would be very upset if she knew that I have been so rude as to speak when others are waiting.’
Visiting India for the third time, she loves to meet the hospitality people and discerning people alike and was sure that the soon-to-be-introduced new offerings of Verdeo and Albariño would make the Indian palates very pleased. We shall await these delicious wines and the bubbly ambassador!
Subhash Arora
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Tags: Marta Delfa, Torres, Prestige Wines, Miguel Torres, Cava, Villa Franca |