Every month the CVG Tasting Committee is in charge of selecting unique wines from different Spanish and international regions, allowing Club members to enjoy exceptional wines at the best price without leaving home.
On a quarterly basis, members also have the option of accessing Bodega Plus, a Premium selection of special vintages and limited-edition wines produced by prestigious wineries. And best of all, members of Club Vinos Gourmets can explore all the possibilities the world of wine has to offer with no membership fees or long-term commitment.
Grupo Gourmets stands on the firm foundation of more than four decades of experience as a gastronomic publishing house, manager of the Gourmets Wine Guide and private trade fair operator. It was founded in 1976 with the launch of Club de Gourmets, Spain’s oldest magazine dedicated exclusively to gastronomy, wine and travel. A monthly window to the world where readers can learn about all the latest trends in wine and fine dining, both at home and abroad.
A few months later, culinary professionals and gastronomy lovers came together at the Gourmets Round Table, a discussion forum where everything from the current state of dining to its implications were on the tables. This event, the first of its kind, laid the foundations for the New Spanish Cuisine, marking a turning point in the evolution of Spanish gastronomy. This was the first of many subsequent Gastronomy Round Tables until reaching the 9th edition to be held at the 35SG, where two topics of great interest will be discussed. The diversification of the chef’s role: owners, chefs and gastronomic consultants and the emergence of natural, organic and biodynamic wines on the oenological scene.
The first issues of Club de Gourmets as well as these events debuted to broad acclaim, and in 1979, Grupo Gourmets launched what would become a new publishing success: Gourmetour, Gastronomic and Tourist Guide of Spain, a pioneering publication that offered information to travellers about the country’s restaurants and notable sights. This handbook published its last issue in 2011.
In 1983, the Group embarked on a new adventure with the launch of the Gourmets Wines Guide, a handbook to wines that includes wineries, wine shops, wine regions and, of course, a list of Spain’s best wines, including tasting notes and ratings. Pioneering, rigorous and continuously updated, it has reached its 37th issue as a must-have wine guide for professionals and aficionados. In the Gourmets Wines Guide, readers can find 3,460 blind-tasted wines, complete with features and prices, including 2,501 with tasting notes and rankings; 1,107 wineries; 205 wine shops; 129 wine regions; individual area maps of all the Designations of Origin, and much more.
Over the last four decades, Grupo Gourmets has published more than 200 tittles, many of which have been translated into English, French, German and even Japanese. Thanks to the sponsorship of major companies, it has created an extensive publishing collection aimed at promoting the development of Spanish gastronomy.
A few years later, in 1986, Grupo Gourmets decided to create an exclusive circle for wine and food lovers: Club de Vinos Gourmets and La Alacena. More than 6,000 members belong to this select club. Every month, they receive a selection of deli products and unique wines, chosen by the Tasting Committee, delivered to their homes.
1987 saw the first Salón Gourmets Quality Food and Beverages Fair. Europe’ biggest high-end gastronomic event had, in its first year, 73 exhibitors and 8,000 visitors, figures that have increased considerably with each successive year, all the way to the present.
This event had so much potential that it was exported to other countries around the world, under the name ExpoGourmets Caribe, held in Puerto Rico and Miami. Expo-Rest, the New Restaurant Show, was also held, featuring themed restaurants, coffee shops, Quick Service Restaurants and airport and station restaurants, among others.
After a long journey, and with many years of experience under its belt, the 35th edition of the Salón Gourmets will be held in 2022. It is expected to attract more than 70,000 industry professionals and 1,600 exhibitors with 40,000 products, of which more than 600 will be new and 400 will be organic. It is a true gourmet show that continues to grow!