Category: Recommendations

Received (with thanks of course!) after the first in the series: Ethnic Cuisine Meets Spanish Wines – A Marriage Made In Moraira!

On May 3rd we assembled a group of 13 friends to enjoy together the first of Colin Harkness’ ethnic food and wine pairing evenings. What a super idea – and what a super evening. This first event was at Marhaba, a Moroccan cuisine restaurant on the Moraira/Calpe coast road. I have often wondered what wines to serve with good Chinese, Indian or other ethnic dishes. Well this event certainly pointed us in the right direction!

 

Under Colin’s guidance we tasted 5 different North African dishes, each paired with a different Spanish wine – wines from Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Rioja and more. The Denominations may not be new to us, but each of the wines certainly was. And each did exactly what Colin promised and complemented the dish with which it was partnered perfectly.

 

I regret that Kathy and I have to miss the Indonesian event in two weeks time – BUT most of our friends from May 3rd are booked. And we are already booked for the Indian pairing planned for May 29th. At no more than €18 what better way to spend an evening with a nice crowd of like minded souls.

 

Andrew Johnson

 

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Comment from Rotary Fellowship Chairman, Barry Lloyd following Bodega Visit

Hi Colin,
On behalf of the 35 members and guests of the Rotary International
Fellowship we wish to thank you for a splendid day on 13 March when we
visited the Sierra Salinas and Castano bodegas. As Ann and myself have
previously experienced, on day trips and three-day away excursions, your
organisation is supurb both as a host and guide. Added to that, your
knowledge and experience of wines in Spain is unsurpassed on the Costa
Blanca and beyond and your elevation to the International Wine Panel is a
testament to that.
Please pass on our thanks to Raquel for acting as our guide and for her
considerable help and knowledge of how wine is produced, stored and packed
in Bordega Costano.
I can best sum up our day with the following quotes from some of our party:
”Interesting, informative, entertaining and the facilities for tasting the
wine with lunch were excellent.” D A, Moraira.
”Always find Colin’s trips informative, interesting and fun.” A and K J,
Benissa.
”We did enjoy ourselves so much, great wine and nice people.” S and J G,
Moraira.
”A most enjoyable day.” S B, Javea.
The day was rounded off by an excellent lunch and the opportunity not only
to taste some of Castano’s top wines, but also to purchase some at very
attractive discounted prices, as the number of boxes on the coach testified!
Again our thanks for all your hard work in the days’s organisation,
including the enjoyable quiz during the return jouney to Moraira and
Benissa.
Finally, anyone reading this who would be interested in finding out what we
stand for as a Rotary Fellowship please feel free to contact me on
965795421. With the exception of June, July and August, we meet on Friday at
Los Leones Restaurant, Moraira, part of the Sol Park Tennis complex, for an
enjoyable lunch,1.0 for1.45, followed by a speaker.
Once again Colin, our thanks.
Kind regards,
Barry Lloyd,
Chairman, Rotary International Fellowship Committee, Javea.

Comment received after the Rotary Fellowship visit to Bodegas Castaño and Bodegas Sierra Salinas

Bill and Sheila Shipsides.
We both thoroughly enjoyed our trip last tuesday to the Bodega Castaño. Of particular interest was their the manner of ”pressing” the grapes by using their inherent weight and therefore not mechanically bruising and damaging them.
Also their forward looking vision in growing 16? grape varieties with the intention to blend and create new exciting tastes.
The paella meal with plenty of wine to accompany it was a fitting finale to a super day.
The whole was ‘orchestrated’ by Colin in his inimitable and humorous style.
Thanks a lot. We look forward to the next time!!
B & S Shipsides

Comment received after the Wine Styles of Spain Presentation/Tasting March 2012
I am the group coordinator for the Moraira-Teulada U3A and although we have some 55 groups we thought that for 2012 we would try something different and run some workshops.  The most obvious one for overall appeal to start with seemed to me to be a wine tasting giving us information on the wines of Spain.
Colin and I had some productive meetings and planned the event for the end of March at Cafe del Mars beautiful location in Moraira.  We sold out very quickly having restricted the number to just over 70 people and ended up with a waiting list.
The evening was most enjoyable and informative and I have received lots of positive feedback so we are all looking forward to the next one. Thank you Colin for everything.
regards
Shirley Baehr
Group coordinator U3A Moraira-Teulada http://u3amoraira-teulada.org