By Jennifer Primrose
At Vitis House, wine, tapas, and Chandler Parker’s stories offer a taste of northern Spain without leaving town.
What if a wine class could take you somewhere without ever leaving Raleigh?
That’s the idea behind Sip the Camino, a class at Vitis House that pairs wines from northwestern Spain and Portugal with stories about the places, people, and traditions behind them. Add Spanish tapas, and learning about wine feels less like studying and more like planning your next adventure.
Founded by chef and wine educator Doreen Colondres, Vitis House makes wine education approachable without skimping on the details. For Sip the Camino, instructor Chandler Parker leads the way, using wine, food, and history to introduce participants to a part of Europe they might not know well.
The Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, is a network of historic pilgrimage routes leading to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northwestern Spain. The journey traditionally culminates at the city’s cathedral, in the Plaza del Obradoiro, believed to house the remains of St. James the Apostle. According to tradition, the remains were discovered in the ninth century, helping establish Santiago as a major destination for Christian pilgrims.
Today, people walk the Camino for different reasons, from faith and reflection to history, culture, and the challenge of the journey itself. For this evening’s tasting, no hiking boots or pilgrim passports are required. Parker focuses on the Camino del Norte, following Spain’s northern coast through a region where geography, local traditions, and wine are closely connected.
Along the way, the class challenges familiar ideas about Spanish culture. Galicia, for instance, has Celtic influences reflected in its festivals and bagpipe music. These details give the wines a sense of place, connecting what’s in the glass with the communities and traditions behind it.
The tasting features six wines made with grapes that may be unfamiliar to many American wine drinkers, including Loureiro, Treixadura, Godello, Caíño Tinto, and Mencía. The lineup spans Portugal’s Vinho Verde and five Spanish wine regions: Ribeiro, Valdeorras, Rías Baixas, Bierzo, and Ribeira Sacra. Rather than simply working through a tasting lineup, Parker uses the wines to introduce the character and diversity of this corner of the Iberian Peninsula.
The first pour, the 2024 Anselmo Mendes ‘Pássaros’ Loureiro, comes from Portugal’s Vinho Verde region. Loureiro offers an introduction to the wines found just across the border from Spain. From there, the tasting moves into Spain with Treixadura from Ribeiro and Godello from Valdeorras before turning to the reds.
The 2022 Finca Genoveva Caíño Tinto from Rías Baixas stood out among the evening’s wines. That’s part of the appeal of a class like this: discovering a grape you might not otherwise seek out, hearing its story, and finding a new favorite—or at least a new point of curiosity. The tasting continues with Mencía from Bierzo and a Mencía blend from Ribeira Sacra, offering another look at the region’s red wines.
Of course, no exploration of Spain would feel complete without something to eat. Alex Theo, a graduate of both Vitis House and the Culinary Institute of America, prepared the food for the evening. One pairing was an octopus salpicón pintxo, combining octopus in olive oil with sweet peppers, red onion, Spanish olive oil, Sherry vinegar from Jerez, and herbs. Mini chorizo from Peregrin provided another bite, bringing a different flavor to the table.
The food adds another dimension to the experience. Just as the Camino connects communities along a journey, regional food and wine offer their own way to understand a place. At Vitis House, a few thoughtfully chosen bites and wines invite you to look beyond the familiar.
What makes Sip the Camino work is the way Parker brings the pieces together. History and culture provide context, food connects with regional traditions, and the wines offer a reason to explore grapes and places that might otherwise fly under the radar. You don’t need to memorize every name to leave with a better sense of place—and a few new stories to tell.
Sip the Camino is one example of what Vitis House offers beyond a traditional wine tasting. The schedule includes themed classes and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses and qualifications, plus opportunities to learn about other beverages, including beer, sake, and spirits. Whether you’re looking to build your wine knowledge or spend an evening exploring a new subject, there’s more to discover.
The class isn’t currently available, but Parker says they’ll offer it throughout 2027. Visit vitishouse.com to learn more about Vitis House and explore its classes and educational offerings.
Jennifer Primrose is a freelance writer and co-founder of Triangle Around Town, an online publication exploring local life through food, drink, travel, and experiences. Her writing highlights the people, places, and stories that give a destination its character. She is actively involved in the North Carolina wine community through her writing and participation in the American Wine Society.
