Name: Blanca Valencia 

Occupation & Company: Freelance Events and PR Spanish Food and Drinks, Speaker, Cook and Writer

Tell me about your current role?

I collaborate with the Spanish Commercial office in food promotions and events and work with DO Rueda and DO Rias Baixas in promoting their wines in Ireland. I also collaborate with the Cervantes Institute in the Culture Department.

This year I published a cookbook about Soup for Blasta Books together with food writers Dee Laffan and Mei Chin. It was featured in the Irish Independent, the BBC, Easy Food magazine and the Sunday Times.

We have been promoting it at festivals and events  like Electric Picnic, All Together Now and Dublin Book Festival . Our award-winning podcast Spicebags, which was about international food in Ireland and the people behind it, wrapped up in May after four seasons. I have also been trying to do more food writing.

How did you first get into the drinks industry?

In my role in the food world I have always been “drink adjacent”. I have collaborated with a lot of brands and DOs in my work in cooking schools and in my role as importer of Spanish food in the USA.

I knew I wanted to know more about wine the first time I visited a Sherry vinegar producer in Jerez. If the vinegar was that good I wanted to know more about how the wines were made. Last year I did WSET 2 and ICEX Spanish Wine Specialist. I am starting WSET 3 in January!

What is your favourite part about working in the industry?

There is a very convivial atmosphere with a lot of international influences in the drinks industry in Ireland. People are very welcoming, smart and curious. They are also supportive.

We’re meeting up for a drink after work – what are you having?

Croqueta de Pollo and a Spanish white wine like Albariño, Godello or Verdejo.

You can only have one drink for the rest of your life, what’s in your glass?

A Garnacha from Sierra de Gredos.

It’s Saturday night, what restaurant are you going to?

Uno Mas or Hot Pot in Lao on Parnell St.

Is there a bucket list drink you want to try, or a dream drinks destination you’d love to visit?

I have been dying to go to Porto.

The most memorable experience of your career?

Staging at elbulli hotel in Seville for two months after Cordon Bleu. The place was mind-blowing and I got to see all the different kitchens, the pool, the tapas bar, the breakfast kitchen, the 2 star Michelin restaurant and the catering operation. I met a wonderful sommelier there called Rut Cotroneo who introduced me to what amazing wine service is.

One thing you’d like to see more of in the drinks industry?

More cultural events that combine history, music and the visual arts with wine. 

I loved doing the event about Pintxos-Pinsin with Santina Kennedy at Powerscourt Distillery last month.

In the future I would love to host an event that pairs Argentinian rock music with Argentinian wine with Cintia Sola, or an Almodovar movies and wine event with Antonia Dominguez where people dress up like the characters from the films.

And….. more women wine writers in Ireland! It would be fantastic to read more female perspectives in the industry. 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a career in the industry?

Study, study, taste and find a specialty within the drinks industry, but also learn about cooking and food as drinks don’t exist in isolation. 

Do a short course, practice cooking and read cookbooks. Try different cuisines.

Keep up with Blanca’s food and wine adventures at the links below.

• Instagram

Photo credit: Mel Mullan.