Michael Donlon, purple pager and, he tells me, wine buyer for 30 years for the Irish supermarket group Superquinn, is giving a series of lectures and wine tastings in Barcelona this Thursday, Friday and Saturday 14-16 May.
The aim is to raise funds for the Gracia Arts Project Gallery, of which his son is director. It is a completely voluntary organisation and relies on exhibitions and fund-raising events to keep it going. The exhibition space is at Carrer Sant Honorat 11, next door to Barcelona's wacky Cathedral (pictured). See www.graciaartsproject.com
Michael assures me that his contacts in Ireland (and the UK in the form of Free Run Wines) have 'very kindly persuaded their Spanish principals to give some lovely samples'. All tastings start at 8pm.
Thursday Introduction to Wine and World overview (varietal introduction)
Friday Wines of Catalunya (Torres, Albet i Noya, Raimat, etc)
Saturday Wines of Rioja (Murrieta, Marqués de Caceres, etc)
Tickets are €20 for one night or €50 for all three nights and can be booked at graciaartsproject@gmail.com or tel +34 610 880 657