Wine and art have always gone hand in hand. An example of this is the permanent collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum which, under the title The Culture of Wine, compiles 19 works where this drink plays a major role. Also in Madrid you can enjoy Art
For the painting The Virgin and Child with a Bunch of Grapes, by Lucas Cranach the Elder, I would choose a sweet Muscat grape wine. It is a wine that very well represents the charm that this grape possesses, which was previously overripe in the vineyard. Its aging follows the traditional system of criaderas and soleras, which previously housed Amontillados and Oloroso. Its color is mahogany and the aromatic base is sweet with raisin dominance, citrus touches, spices and notes of honey. On the palate, the sweetness is a caress.
For the painting Eating Oysters by Jacob Lucasz. Ochtervelt, I would certainly think to harmonize it in a chablis and in its mineral part marked by the soil. Billaud-Simon is one of the most emblematic producers in the region and its vineyards are located in the highest areas. On the nose we are captivated by its citrus notes, grass, pineapple and flowers. The essence of the wine pulses in every sip, being very fresh and the finish with slight salinity.
For the Vertumno and Pomona painting by Caesar Van Everdingen, we chose a red wine that needs a long time in the bottle, to tame the tannicity of the Nebbiolo grape. In the painting we see reflected the patience required by the comparison from Vertumno to Pomona. It is characterized by its floral notes such as rose petals, spices and strawberries. Its mouthfeel is smooth, juicy, with good acidity and a finish that is lengthened by an elegant bitterness.
For Still Life with Fruit Cake by Willem Claesz. Heda, I would go for a wine made with Chardonnay grapes from the new world and where there is a perfect assembly between the creamy, nutty, citrus notes and a vibrant acidity, already represented in the painting. This organic Californian white wine has a Catalan soul, since it belongs to the emblematic Torres family. In aromas there are also hints of jasmine, apple and stone fruit. The palate is very tasty, fresh, broad and with a finish full of nuances, especially those that correspond to barrel aging.
For the Merry Violinist with a glass of wine (Gerrit Van Honthorst), I would take the claret of Les Luthier, whose label is already a tribute to the music. In the painting the character's cheeks are rosy from drinking alcohol and they represent the color of the wine very well. It has remained in the barrel for 6 months, which gives it volume. In this wine, fruit is prioritized, especially forest berries, floral notes and smoky touches. Its structure in the mouth makes it very gastronomic.
To contemplate The Customs Court (Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié) which refers to the wine market and business, I would think of a classic Macan. This red wine recreates the vision of Rioja that these two big names in the world of wine have. The mouth is sovereign and the grape variety throbs in every sip. On the nose there is a good concentration of red and black fruit, incense, spices, cocoa, cigar box and smoky touches due to its stay in oak for 15 months.
I would drink a sweet mass wine, enjoying the Young Peasant with a Carafe by Tommaso Salini, a painter known for his religious paintings. This winery was founded in 1851 by Don Augusto de Muller and Ruinart de Brimont of Alsatian origin. Since 1995 it has been owned by the Martorell family. Golden in color and dominated by candied fruit, coffee, raisins, honeyed notes and hints of smoke. Very sweet, dense mouthfeel with an aniseed finish.
