Colin
Great night at Bodega Puerto last night. Thank you for the evening and the interesting chat.
As discussed, could you add us to your list regarding upcoming events.
Best Regards
Scott and Alice Taylor
Category: Recommendations
Received from Maureen and John, October 2012 – a copy of their letter to Costa Blanca News Editor!
[Dear Editor],
I cannot thank you enough for a brilliant day out. Heavy rain was threatened and so we thought forget the beach and go to a winerie. I contacted you so that I could get in touch with Colin Harkness who writes Cork Talk each week.
We asked Colin to recommend a winerie about an hour from El Campello and he suggested the Bodegas Castano in the centre of Yecla. He provided all the contact details and we phoned Raquel and got there at 11.30.
Raquel is really personable, very knowledgeable and fluent in English. She drove us up to a boutique winerie in the hills in a very beautiful location called Puerta. All you can see for miles are vines, almond and olive trees. We had a tour there and then back to the main winerie in Yecla which is easy to find as it is next to the bullring. Another tour and then a tasting with some snacks and then a few case of wine to buy. We left at 2.30, a very pleasant 3 hours for just 7 euro each. Raquel suggested the bullring restaurant for lunch which had a very reasonable menu deldia and they allowed us to visit the bullring and museum.
You can contact Colin, colin@colinharknesswine.com and he also has a website www.colinharknessonwine.com.
Next summer we are going out to Yecla again but there will be 10 of us. If you have a party of 10 or more they organise a full day’s tour, tasting and a lunch in their stunning restaurant for 27 euro a head for the full day and we will certainly keep in touch with Colin and hope to attend some of his tastings in theAlicante area. As it was the rain held off which made the visit even more enjoyable.
Sent by email, Maureen and John Yates
Comment Gratefully Received following the Wine Tasting @ Finca Rustica
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Hola Colin
May we say how thrilled we were of the well organised wine and tapas
event you presented in our home. It was such an interesting
presentation and thank you very much for the flattering introduction to
everyone present about our Mountain home. The prestigious wines you
presented were appreciated by all and judging by the comments everyone
seemed to enjoy the tapas we had prepared. We were a little nervous
about meeting everyone for the first time but the feedback afterwards
has been ‘Please let us know when we can book the next one!’ Praise in
deed as we enjoyed hosting it with such a fun crowd and with your
expertise at these kind of gatherings even we felt totally relaxed and
enjoyed the day. Thank you also to Clare who very skillfully averted a
rather determined wasp from helping himself to the tapas. Possibly
sitting under our vines with juicy grapes hanging down was just too
much for him to resist!. After you left we delayed the dinner untill
9-9.30 so all the house guests had time to unwind with a book in the
finca or take a nap and refresh before the evening meal. As they sat
outside they said the views of the mountain and the almost full moon
created a great atmosphere. Our only regret is the absense of our
background Spanish music specially prepared and unused purely because
the conversation along with our Finca Rustica wine was flowing too well
to be interrupted. Credit to you Colin as the couples who stayed the
evening gelled so well with each other they have made new and lasting
friendships. Any way some were given leaflets about our week/week-end
breaks here and most had a look around the casita and the main finca
and wine making room. Please thank them all for coming it was a
pleasure meeting such an interesting group of people.If anyone didn’t
take our contact details perhaps you wont mind us including them in
this email for you to pass on. They can find us on
(www.ownersdirect.co.uk property reference s14708) or our own website
fincarustica-villa.com or email suerogpeacock@aol.co.uk or if all else
fails mobile 00447977219151.
Hasta le something….Sue and Roger
Comment Gratefully Received La Gran Cata en La Montaña!
We spent yesterday afternoon in the mountains behind Calpe and Benissa in a super and stress busting location at Finca Rustica. A beautiful home created by 2 very entertaining hosts. But we were there for a fine wines tasting with Colin Harness – the wines were carefully matched to substantial tapas prepared and presented by our hosts, Sue and Roger.
We were introduced to some excellent wines from around Spain, some super food – and some new friends. Colin led us through the wines in his own professional style.
This was a delightful afternoon alongside the small vineyard, which some of us were able to continue enjoying by staying the night.
We hope that the next one is not too far off Colin!!!
Andrew & Kathy Johnson
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