Catalan Festival

Greg Peterson

A flemenco dancer performs at the Catalan Festival.

Greg Peterson

Eric Symons plays the 12-string Spanish guitar.

While dancers performed flamenco and sardana and the soft strains of guitar music floated through the summer air, hundreds of people sampled more tangible elements of Catalan culture – namely, food and wine – on Saturday and Sunday on the grounds of the Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves. The annual Catalan Festival honors the winery’s connection to the northeast region of Spain known as Catalonia.
Owned by the Ferrer family, whose wine heritage dates to 19th-century Spain, Gloria Ferrer once again brought together entertainers such as classical guitarist Eric Symons and the Gegants de Matara (15-foot-tall figures dressed in finery) as well as producers of ingredients such as saffron and other spices from Jose of Castaneda’s Marketplace. In addition to Mediterranean cooking demonstrations, guests were treated to Catalan-inspired dishes from Bay Area chefs, such as paella from The Girl & the Fig and seafood mousse-stuffed peppers from Sabor Vinoteca  – not to mention varietal and sparkling wines made on the premises.