I’m delighted to announce that I’ve been appointed as a Speaker as part of the Cruise Enrichment Programme for my first Cruise – with Fred. Olsen Cruise Line, in 2013.
Spain and Her Islands is the title of the Cruise on their super ship, Braemar, which leaves Dover travelling to: Lisbon, Malaga, Cartagena, Palma, Barcelona, Gibraltar, La Coruña, Dover!
I’ll be delivering five talks on the Wines and Food of Spain, with tastings of course, and as you can imagine – I can’t wait!
I’m hoping to Blog about my trip whilst actually sailing – whether that will be through these pages or another specific Blog will depend on my understanding exactly what a Blog is and how to do one!!
November, Wednesday 21st! My advice is to put it in your diary right now, and give me a call 629 388 159 or e-mail colin@colinharknessonwine.com to reserve your seats – be quick though, we are already half full!
I have discovered a bodega near Moixent, inland from Gandia, that makes excellent quality wine, amongst the best not just in the DO Valencia but in the whole of Spain, according to Peñin Guide marks (and my own!!), nestled in fact under the mountains atop of which lie the foundations of the ancient village of La Bastida de Alcusses, an Iberian Village which was inexplicably deserted some time over 2,300 years ago!
We’ll visit this ancient settlement with a guided tour of the village and the ‘house’ adjacent which has been built in modern times but using the same methods and materials that would have been used all that time ago to give us a further insight into how the Iberian people will have lived.
Then we visit the bodega, Celler del Roure, with our guide, Pablo, the owner whose family have owned the site for many years. We’ll tour, and taste of course – including a visit to the underground cellar (easy access though) where the earthenware tinaja fermentation vessels are stored, dating back hundreds of years. Please see attached photo.
Then it’s off to lunch at the rather splendid Restaurante Mas de Monserrat, with wine – claro!
We have a maximum of 30 seats available!
All the above for just 40€! It should be a splendid, fascinating and extremely tasty day out!
Please contact me by e-mail or call 629 388 159 to reserve your seats!
The next Dolce Divas Concert, sponsored by The Lions Club, will be at La Senieta, Moraira, on Friday 23rd November – and promises to be another sell-out!
Claire Post, Soprano and Flute, and Kirsty Glen, Piano and Vocals, will be performing their own unique blend of Classical Music along with Contemporary Chill Out Music and some favourites from the shows.
Plus there will be guest appearances from: Des McGillicuddy, Acoustic Guitar and Vocals; and Miguel-Ángel Buigues, Trumpet – adding even great variety to an already hugely enjoyable programme!
Further details will be posted here soon – and my advice is to reserve your places asap as La Senieta is expected to be full once again!
What a lovely evening – excellent place with good, attentive staff; nice audience (some old friends plus we made some new friends); super wines and, of course, your entertaining and informative chat. Well worth the effort and good value too. Many thanks. We enjoyed the evening enormously.
See you Sunday, [at the Olive Tree Restaurant, Moraira for Sunday Lunch with Dolce Divas],
