2 U.S. restaurants awarded with Cartaví Internacional prize

 Barcelona (Gastroteca.cat).- The first edition of the \u2018Cartaví Internacional\u2019 prize began this year with the aim of promoting Catalan wine in U.S. restaurants. The prize winners included the \u2018B44\u2019 restaurant of San Francisco and the \u2018Casa Mono\u2019 restaurant of New York. The Catalan Minister for Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, Josep Huguet, handed out the prizes earlier today.

The \u2018Cartaví Internacional\u2019 prize is organised by the Catalan Wine Association with the support of the Catalan Ministry of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise. The first edition is dedicated to promoting the presence of Catalan wine in U.S. restaurants. After a study of the wine menus in several U.S. establishments, the jury decided on the \u2018B44\u2019 restaurant of San Francisco and the \u2018Casa Mono\u2019 restaurant of New York for the prize. In both cases, Catalan wine represented over 23% of their wine menus.

The study determined that in the winning establishments one could taste from 3 to 4 Catalan wines, 71% of them being red wine varieties. In addition to the winning restaurants, other restaurants have also been recognised such as the \u2018Boqueria\u2019 restaurant of New York. The finalists were \u2018El Bazaar\u2019 and \u2018La Paella\u2019 of Los Angeles, \u2018El Mesón\u2019 of Houston, \u2018Mercat a la Planxa\u2019 of Chicago, \u2018Neptune Oyster\u2019 of Boston and \u2018Xixón Café\u2019 of Miami.

The Minister for Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, Josep Huguet, gave the prizes out today, which include a tourist visit to the famous Catalan wine zones of Penedès, l'Empordà, Priorat and Conca de Barberà. 13 businesses collaborated in the prize that consists of a tour through various wine cellars, factory visits, wine-tasting sessions guided by an oenologist and a meal.