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The destinations were Vinyes d’en Gabriel in Darmós (DO Montsant), followed by lunch and a visit to Costers del Priorat, in Bellmunt (DO Priorat). The day was genuinely hot, and it was a pleasure to get out of the car and walk around a spectacular vineyard with 100 year-old Cariñena and Garnacha vines.
I try to talk like Kissinger at Terres dels Alforins
February 27th, 2011I plucked up the courage to ask a question at the launch, which went: “Henry Kissinger is said to have asked ‘Who do I call if I want to call Europe?’, and I’d like to put the same question in the context of Terres dels Alforins – what number do I dial to speak to the collective?”
Costa Blanca Wine Society puts up (with) winesofvalencia.com
February 19th, 2011It was back in August 2010 that I got an email from Steve Collins, the then Vice-president of the Costa Blanca Wine Society, asking if I might be prepared “to come along at a mutually agreed date in 2011 to give us a talk about Valencian wines”. I was pleased to be asked, and it [...]
Aula Vinícola Tastavins – Broadening horizons
February 12th, 2011To quote Valencia’s Las Provincias newspaper, “Of the private wine courses, the most interesting and prestigious is without doubt the one that Joan C. Martí (it should of course, be Joan C. Martín) provides in his Aula Vinícola TastaVins.” The course comprises winetastings of over 100 wines from around the world, field work in vineyards, [...]
Wine tastings at La Bodega de Alicia
October 29th, 2010As a masterly final touch, Rafael García, who runs La Bodega de Alicia along with Alicia herself, turns out to be a demon cook. The first week he passed around really fine pisto empanadas at the end of the tasting, and outdid even those with his quiche next time around. That’s a sure way to get me and others to come to this fine (in every sense) wine shop.
Celler del Roure – new wine in old vessels
October 27th, 2010Celler del Roure recovers tradition of making wine in earthenware vessels (tinajas) from their old underground cellar tunnels
Catarte – nice idea, but could do better
October 22nd, 2010I was drawn to Catarte’s opening on 15 October 2010 as much as anything by the fact that it was in the 15th-century Gothic palace in c/ Cadirers in Barrio del Carmen that is home to the Círculo de Bellas Artes de Valencia. I’ve always wanted to go up its magnificent staircase, and now I did.
Cava, Gazpacho Manchego and a hailstorm
October 12th, 2010A courageous friend, Helen Westwater, is about to fulfil a longstanding sueño and open deli-cafe-bar La Ola Fresca in happening (or studenty, as I prefer to describe it) Benimaclet.
