Barcelona Wine Bar Launches CONSERVA: Online Specialty Foods Shopping & Lifestyle Site

It’s always exciting to see a company whose positioning in the marketplace you have loved and respected for years launch a brand that is a logical extension of their business, that you almost have to say, “why didn’t they do this sooner?” Sometimes it takes a pandemic to have the time and space to look into the soul of your business and ask, “what’s next?” Barcelona Wine Bar has done just that with the launch of their new online specialty foods shopping and lifestyle website, CONSERVA.

What is CONSERVA? Quite literally, Conserva are foods that have been conserved or preserved (either packed in oil, vinegar, or pickled). Barcelona partner, Adam Halberg, broke it down for us. “During the Spanish Civil War, when people didn’t have access to fresh foods, they invented canning to take the abundance from the coast and farms of Spain and package them in bulk. This was their war time pantry.” In current day Spain, “conserva” is considered a high end specialty product, and diners can find bars throughout Spain and Portugal that exclusively serve canned goods (with a side of Vermouth, of course).  Adam continues, “In high end restaurants, the last page of a menu will often feature food that quite literally comes out of a tin…and they are often the most expensive thing on the menu.”

Enter Drew McConnell, Director of Brand Marketing and Gretchen Thomas, VP of Creative, who, roughly seven months ago, were contemplating the question, “what can we offer people at home, something really pivotal and relevant to the new reality of 2020 and beyond,” says McConnell.  “How can we translate the experience of dining at a Barcelona restaurant, capture the sensation of being immersed in a culture, or the visual and olfactory surprise when dinner arrives tableside?”

The “aha” moment came during a late night Zoom call with the aforementioned duo. Since its inception, the Barcelona Wine Bar group has been traveling throughout Spain sourcing exceptional small vendors, vineyards, and limited batch olive oil providers. Often, these artisans aren’t capable of making enough product, or the price point isn’t realistic, to make is feasible for Barcelona to use them throughout the restaurant group’s 18 locations. With CONSERVA, Barcelona Wine Bar can finally leverage both their relationships and their ability to scout unique and outstanding products, to offer customers an exciting new culinary experience, the creation of the perfect pantry.

Adam Hallberg states “Most chefs, and home chefs, will always have a toolbox of secret ingredients in their pantry, ready for any occasion.”

CONSERVA is a collection of these ingredients, and as people are spending more time in their homes and their kitchens, CONSERVA brings the excitement of the culinary world to your world. In fact, the Barcelona team made the decision to extended their geographic reach beyond Spain, and will be featuring roughly 70-80 places or origin, but each product in the collection shares a commonality that is important to the CONSERVA brand. They are steeped in the culture of its origin and the producer is dedicated to their craft.

“CONSERVA is an online shopping site, but it is just as much a way of life,” says McConnell.

In addition to mouthwatering items including: Squid Ink in a Jar, Sichuan Chili Crisp, Ramón Peña's Octopus in Olive Oil, Razor Clams in Brine, Jamón Ibérico Potato Chips, single origin spices, and unique cocktail bitters, the CONSERVA team has broadened the experience to include “TABLESCAPES.” These artfully staged tabletop vignettes depict a curated selection of platters, plates, glassware, and serving pieces, where every item is timeless in its design and color, and in many cases, an object that will truly only get better with age.

As Thomas states, “There will always be that one gorgeous plate, perfect stone platter, or bowl you pass down from generation to generation. Presentation is important.”

McConnell tells us that “The CONSERVA product list will grow with time and move forward by virtue of finding new things.” Tablescapes will be updated every 3-4 months, and Thomas has even added a Recipe section to expand the user’s cooking library. “Sure, there are a lot of recipes in the world…but these are curated to fit within the brand,” says Thomas. Every recipe has been created and tested by Thomas (who has a culinary degree), and she put a premium on recipes that are incredibly easy and manageable for the home cook. Of course, Barcelona Wine Bar has a team of chefs across the country whose input she was able to leverage. I have a strong feeling these recipes will be keepers.

These days, food seems to have taken on a new role in our daily lives. It is important and gives punctuation to our days, but we also crave experiences and flavors that transport us beyond our kitchens. As we seek to create special moments with our friends and families, CONSERVA hopes to be the brand that opens up your senses and allows you to explore the world.

Check them out online at www.conservaculture.com.