Spain: National Day with a Difference

For some reasons, Security at 12 Prithviraj Road is unusually tight for a National Day celebration on October 12.  The serpentine queues outside the residence are a big turn off and on one occasion I even turned back rather than stand in the slow moving queue due to the security check. But once, you enter the lawns through the path which is always beautifully and differently decorated, you get a lot of space and solace and feel it was worth the wait.

This National Day this year was different in more ways than one. Firstly, the entry was much better organised with 5-6 reception desks checking the invites very efficiently. Due to my other commitments later in the evening, I had decided to reach well on time at 7:00 pm. There were hardly any queues. Folks manning the Reception counter were agile and super-efficient-so much so that when I walked inside after giving my Invitation card, a gentleman from the adjoining table called out to me to ask if I had the invitation. Satisfied that I had already parted with it, he profusely apologised and let me carry on to meet the Ambassador who was already receiving guests formally.

As I entered the beautiful expansive lawns of Ambassador’s residence , I was pleasantly surprised that the very first counters on the left-the prime spot was a Cava Bar pouring Gramona Imperial Grand Reserva 2011 Cava efficiently and at proper chilled temperature. Right next to it were the counters that were pouring 4 wines from Torres- Mas Rabell Red 2015 and Mas Rabell White 2016. For the demanding guests there was also their Altos Ibericos Crianza D.O.Ca.  (D.O. Calificada) 2014 from Rioja and Celeste Crianza D.O.  (Denominacion de Origen) 2014 from Ribera del Duero.

There was also Torres 10 Gran Reserva Imperial Brandy-being poured in as the main ingredient at the popular cocktail counter. Torres 10 is a great Spanish grape brandy, made from Catalan grape varieties and aged using Solera system with the Solera made from American oak. It is very popular in Spain and Latin America but has had few takers so far in India due perhaps to the rather peculiar flavour that needs some adjustments. If one were to go by the popularity at the counter this evening,, it would appear it could make a mark in India as the basic ingredient for cocktails, sooner  than being promoted as brandy.

The number of people appeared to be less than previous years- though the presence of over 700 was recorded. It was much better controlled in terms of groupings and service at the numerous food counters besides wine. Sea-food Paella is always a big draw at ‘The Residence’. The Team Park had done an excellent job of catering with properly manned counters for the guest that included Spaniards, Diplomats and Indian invitees.  Perhaps the presence of the Area General Manager of the Park Hotel group, Rohit Arora was also a motivational factor.

Ana, the Queen of Hearts

The Credit for organising the evening and giving it a special touch where one could feel more relaxed despite the suits in the unusually warm weather, goes to Ana  Barañano, the Ambassador’s wife who took personal interest not only during the evening but in planning for weeks in advance.  Her smiling face and spritely movements from one corner of the lawns to the other seemed to cover her nervousness and the quest for a perfect evening  She was very approachable and mingled with every guest possible.  She was decidedly the most popular person, charming all the guests. 

Says Vishal Kadakia, owner of the Wine Park,  which participated in the Day for the first time, had set up the Cava Bar on her specifications and design-and make it look very attractive, ‘ As you well know, Gramona is one of the top Cavas from Spain, making only Gran Reserva and above,  and hence expensive-some variants are as costly as Champagne. But Madam Barañano was insistent that she wanted to have an exclusive Cava Bar so that the guests could taste the best sparkling wine from her country. In fact a couple of empty Double Magnums were imported on her insistence to make the stall look like a Bar. But we were happy to accommodate her and the embassy.’

Her insistence surely paid off- it was beautiful, well managed Bar and Gramona Brut flowed continuously through the evening- and always in correct glasses and temperature (though I felt the pour was a tad too much- I feel uncomfortable when the glass is more than half full and with the warm temperature, slightly less at a time would be even better).  A total of 150 bottles of the bubbly were consumed!

Similarly not only 4 variants of Torres were being poured, she had requested Sumit Sehgal, the Director of Prestige Wines to also set up a cocktail bar with the Torres 10 brandy. Her decision paid off in that people enjoyed the cocktails, if wine was not their thing.

She took the event totally under her charge, says Gaurav Sahni, the Area Manager for the Wine Park. We were contacted by the embassy a couple of months ago. But regular meetings were held with Madam Ana regularly. She was totally involved in the event from start to finish. Even the design of the Bar , signage, etc. was to her satisfaction. She had several individual meetings and conferences with every member of the team, including Reception at the Gate.

Ana had chosen Spanish Carnival as the theme this year . The speeches were short and not stuffy. The music was perfect for the evening with a duo singing in a style that she told me later when I met her that she had tried to re-create the atmosphere of carnivals and fiestas in Spain. Sarah Stephanos, Director Public Relations of the Park Hotels, says, ‘Since it was a carnival theme, we set up live counters- grill counter, Dim Sum, Noodle Bar, Pizza oven and our Chef Abhishek Basu helped their paella counter. We can proudly say that this is the fourth year when we have been undertaking the catering and the online compliments we have been receiving for the food and the event as a whole, make us feel  elated.’ The desserts also seemed to be a knock out, what with the variety and the delicious flavours.

Several people that I talked with before leaving, were crisp and complimentary in their comments and said it was the Best Spanish National Day they had attended-and was different. I concur!

Feliz Día Nacional a todos los españoles residentes en India!

Happy National Day to all Spaniards living in India!

...and to all my

Spanish friends and subscribers of delWine throughout the world!

 Salud! Jai Ho!

Subhash Arora

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