The Spirituality of Wine: Spain and Portugal
Spain and Portugal | May 21-June 3, 2027
Join us for an enriching journey through Spain and Portugal with Concordia Professor Emeritus of Religion Dr. Roy Hammerling and Justin Blanford, certified sommelier and professional consultant for Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits. Together, we’ll explore vibrant cities, historic cathedrals, sacred pilgrimage sites, and renowned wine regions while discovering the rich connections between faith, culture, history, and hospitality. From Madrid, Segovia, and Ávila to Porto, the Douro Valley, Fátima, and Lisbon, our travels will feature guided sightseeing, meaningful conversations, exceptional local cuisine, and tastings at some of the Iberian Peninsula’s most celebrated wineries — creating unforgettable memories and new friendships along the way.
Faculty Leaders
Rev. Dr. Roy Hammerling
The Rev. Dr. Roy Hammerling earned a doctorate in church history from the University of Notre Dame and is a professor emeritus of religion at Concordia College. His books include "A History of Prayer: The First to the Fifteenth Century," "The Lord’s Prayer in the Early Church: The Pearl of Great Price," and "Speaking of Religion." He has written articles and lectured on Martin Luther and Lutheranism, Christian Spirituality (especially Greek Orthodox Christianity), the history of wine, religion and film, the church in Nazi Germany, Islam, religion in modern culture, and more. He has traveled extensively with students and alumni groups for Concordia across Europe, Turkey, and Egypt. He is also an ELCA pastor and the son of German-Russian immigrants.
Justin Blanford
Justin Blanford is a certified sommelier and professional consultant for Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits. A lifelong student of the food and beverage industry, he got his start at the age of 13 in his family's restaurant. His passion for the service industry flourished throughout college and, after graduating from Bemidji (Minnesota) State University with a degree in business management, he continued his journey as a senior manager with the Roca Restaurant Group as part of the Doolittles Woodfire Grill and Porter Creek teams. He then married his wife, Chaka ("Shock-Ah"), an accomplished art graduate with a career in computer administration, in 2013. They welcomed their son, Isaiah, in 2015 and twins, Barry and Islay ("Eye-Lah"), in 2019. His interests eventually led him to manage a retail liquor store specializing in fine wine and spirits. During these years, he took a particular interest in wine education and passed his Sommelier Certification test. For six years, he operated as a local educator teaching more than a hundred private and public classes. His speaking engagements have notably included lecturing at North Dakota State University’s wine program, the North Dakota Wine Growers Association, local television and radio segments, and a wide array of local charity events as a volunteer. In 2023, he took a position with Southern Glazers and now serves as an educator and consultant for a wide array of restaurants and liquor stores throughout the state of Minnesota.