News from the vine!
A thumbnail shot of our super Nodus Wines tasting held in Javea Port’s Bodega Puerto!
Cava, White Wine and Three Red wines from the Nodus Range made by Bodegas y Viñedos de Utiel, DO Utiel-Requena (and DO Cava, Claro!) were enjoyed by the full-house!
Owner, Juan, and family were delighted at the turnout and we are all looking forward to the next tasting at Bodega Puerto – scheduled for May, date to be confirmed.
Watch this space!
It goes to show the popularity of Nodus Wines from DO Utiel-Requena – the tasting scheduled for the 7th Feb. sold out in just 48 hours, and I’m still receiving requests for places!
We’ll be at the well appointed Bodega Puerto in Javea Port this coming Friday – I’ve tasted all the wines and I know all those who managed to reserve a place will not be disappointed!
I was delighted to be the Guest Speaker at the first of the 2014 Meetings of the Torrevieja U3A at the end of January when approximately 300 people turned up to hear a discourse on wines from the Denominaciones de Origen that ‘surround’ the coastal town of Torrevieja in the South East of Spain.
Though not as universally well-known as other wine zones in Spain, the Denominaciones de Origen: Bullas; Jumilla; Yecla; Alicante; Valencia; and Utiel-Requena all have a rich history of wine making. Modern techniques linked with traditional methods and indigenous varieties, along with increased investment and exciting innovation have made wines from these DOs well worth seeking out!
A 45 minute PowerPoint presentation was followed by a keen Question and Answer session where it became clear that there’s a lot of wine interest and knowledge within the membership.
It was also my first opportunity to wear my new IWSC apron – promoting the oldest and 
one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world, the International Wines and Spirits Competition.
Torrevieja U3A Members will now be looking out for the coveted IWSC Medal Stickers that winning bodegas will be placing on their wines – retail outlets please note!
Well at last – here are the details of the proposed Short Break to the beautiful mountains above Granada, the rolling chalk coloured valleys of Jerez and the stunning historical city of Seville!
The dates are Monday 24th March – Friday 28th March 2014 – that’s 5 days, 4 nights.
Please note that as Granada is not too far away we won’t be making a really early start!!
We’ll be staying the super, tranquil 4* boutique Hacienda Señorio de Nevada on the first and last nights; and in the 4* luxury Hotel Sherry Park in Jerez for the middle two nights.
As you know this is a wine/sherry/cultural orientated trip and we’ll have organised tours and tastings in the little known (as yet) but excellent area known as Vino de Calidad de Granada; plus of course Sherry in its natural home, Jerez. We’ll also have a day visiting wonderful Seville.
The Hacienda sits surrounded by its own vineyards which make award winning and lovely wine and there are sensational views of the nearby snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada!
We have Dinner Bed and Breakfast for all but the third night, which will be free for you to choose your own restaurant in Jerez, if you would like to experience dinner out of the hotel – though the hotel option will still be open to you if you wish.
The price, 475€ per person, is the most economic I can make it – and it includes:
All the above, plus return travel, of course; a prize raffle, a prize quiz on the visits etc of our trip, during our return journey.
A full itinerary will be available later – there’ll be none of the above left out, of course – but there may be some interesting additions!
NB Insurance is not included – please make your own arrangements.
I am sending this to all of you before making it public, advertising it in the Costa Blanca News, Facebook etc.
The Hacienda is a boutique hotel so places are limited. Therefore if you fancy joining us please let me know as soon as you can. A deposit of 100€ per person will be required but not until the week beginning 16th December (though you can pay this before of course!).
If you have friends who would also like to join us please let me know – it’s a case of first come first served!
Many thanks – I can’t wait.
If you have any queries please contact me – and please don’t forget to confirm as soon as you can that you are joining us!
Saludos,
Colin