Chamber of Commerce Spain-Norway

This event was a joint collaboration between The Norwegian Seafood Council, the Spanish–Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, and HC Riege Consulting. Together, we organised a unique virtual culinary experience to celebrate the arrival of Skrei, Norway’s premium seasonal cod, known in Spain as La Reina de Bacalao - the Queen of Cod.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions in Madrid, the annual Skrei Dinner, which traditionally gathers industry members, importers, and gastronomy enthusiasts, was hosted entirely online. Despite the distance, the event successfully brought together participants from both Spain and Norway, maintaining the spirit of cultural and culinary exchange.

The evening featured a live virtual cooking demonstration led by a chef from The Norwegian Seafood Council, who guided participants through the preparation of the Skrei-based dishes.

As the chosen sommelier for the event, I selected a range of wines and Norwegian aquavits to complement each course and elevate the virtual dining experience. The presentation was conducted entirely in Spanish and broadcast live on television, where I introduced and discussed the pairings for a Spanish-speaking audience. It was definitely both a fun and rewarding achievement, a moment that combined my professional expertise in wine with my passion for cultural exchange and languages.

For the occasion, I chose a Godello white wine from Casa Roja (Valdeorras), a Garnacha red from Finca Herrera (Castilla y León), and two Norwegian aquavits, Arvesølvet Helt Klar and Arvesølvet Norsk Akevitt. These selections perfectly demonstrated the harmony between Norwegian seafood traditions and Spanish winemaking, creating a truly fulfilling and cross-cultural tasting experience!