Wine and Brandy Routes in the Marco de Jerez Region

Introduction

In the south of Andalusia you will find the Marco de Jerez region, an area with a deep-rooted wine producing tradition and a great deal to offer for tourism. If you visit you will be able to sample the rich variety of its wines. From the driest ones like Fino sherry, to naturally sweet wines like Muscatel and full-bodied liqueur wines such as Manzanilla sherry. The surrounding countryside, the region's culture, its gastronomy, and facilities available for business meetings, rest and relaxation, complete the incentives to visit.

Wine Towns

Jerez, El Puerto de Santa María, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Rota and Chiclana are some of the most noteworthy towns on this route. They boast more than 3,200 hours of sunshine per year. This, combined with the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, the properties of the soil and the region's characteristic winds guarantee perfect ripening of the grapes through to the moment of the harvest. These are charming towns with long-standing traditions, as can be seen in the equestrian art of Jerez and at the bullrings of El Puerto de Santa María, Jerez and Sanlúcar.

What will I find in the region?

- Traditional Fiestas such as Easter Week in Seville, original celebrations like Carnival in Cadiz, or others where horses play the lead role, such as the Jerez Horse Fair and the Horse Races on the beach at Sanlúcar.


- Business centres where you can hold meetings with the best facilities.

- First rate golf courses where you can relax while you play sport.

- Stunning protected nature areas such as the Doñana National Park and the Los Alcornocales Nature Reserve.

- Delicious gastronomy with typical dishes like fried fish.



What are the wines like?

Dry, naturally sweet, and full-bodied liqueur wines. These are the wines you will find in Jerez. Some, including Fino and Oloroso sherries, are very dry on account of a complete fermentation of the must. The natural sweet wines are produced letting the grapes over-ripen. Here, special mention should be made of Pedro Ximénez and Muscatel wines. Manzanilla-Sanlúcar de Barrameda sherry has its own Designation of Origin. It is a full-bodied wine, dry at the outset and sweet on the palate.



How to get there

The Marco de Jerez region is at a strategic point in Andalusia, southern Spain. You can get direct flights to Jerez international airport, and there is easy access by road from the airports in Seville and Malaga (A-4 from Seville and A-7 from Malaga). You can also get to Jerez, El Puerto de Santa María, Puerto Real and Lebrija by train. Furthermore, some of the towns on the route have marinas offering wonderful boat trips in the Bay of Cadiz, such as the "Vaporcito de El Puerto de Santa María".

- If you need more information, enquire at any of the tourist offices.

Association of Wine and Brandy Routes of the Marco de Jerez Region

Avda.Alcalde Álvaro Domecq 2

11402 Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz)

E-mail:info@rutadeljerezybrandy.es

http://www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es

Tel.: +34 956332050

Fax.: +34 956330964

La Rioja Alavesa wine route

Introduction

One part of the famous Rioja wines are produced in this region of northern Spain, called Rioja Alavesa. Its geographical location, between the Ebro River and the Cantabria Mountains, give this region a privileged microclimate for vine cultivation. The care and dedication of local people also play an important role in the quality of these prestigious wines. They have combined traditional production processes with new technologies. This means that on the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route you can sample everything from vintages aged in medieval caves through to wines produced in the most avant-garde installations.

Wine towns

Samaniego, Laguardia, Elciego and Labastida are some of the towns that figure on the route. These towns have traditional links with wine culture, and they still conserve all the charm of old medieval villages set between vineyards. They are home to more than fifty establishments where you can sample one of the most internationally prestigious Spanish wines. You can even sleep amongst vineyards, staying in old wineries, hotels and historic buildings. Use the map on this page to see all the destinations that form part of the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route.



What will I find in the region?


- Along with medieval wineries, you will also find avant-garde art in the form of installations designed by the most famous architects: the Ysios Winery, by Santiago Calatrava; the City of Wine complex, by Frank O. Gehry for the Marqués de Riscal Winery; and the Baigorri Winery, by Iñaki Aspiazu Iza, are a few examples.

-The Wine Museum in Laguardia will show you all about wine-related rituals and history in the most enjoyable manner.

-Vinotherapy treatments in Elciego.

-Internationally renowned cuisine: the gastronomy of the Basque Country.

-Important cultural heritage, with the outstanding old town and monuments of Laguardia. Here you will find everything from Romanesque shrines and stately houses, through to archaeological sites such as the La Hoya Settlement and the prehistoric dolmens of Elvillar and Leza.

-Excursions to countryside areas such as the Dueñas Pine Forest in Labraza and the Urbasa Nature Reserve, close to Kripan, where you can get in touch with nature.

What are the wines like?


The most characteristic Rioja Alavesa wine is red. Most production is carried out from Tempranillo grapes. The wines have a lively, brilliant colour, a fine yet intense bouquet and a fruity flavour, velvety and warm on the palate. The result is a balanced wine that you will want to try again.

How to get there

The Rioja Alavesa Wine Route is in the Basque Country, in the south of the province of Álava, alongside the Region of La Rioja. The capital of the region is Laguardia, 45 kilometres from the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz and 18 kilometres from Logroño. Vitoria and Bilbao international airports offer easy access. There are also excellent road communications: from Madrid, access is on the A-1 motorway (362 kilometres), and from Barcelona on the A-68 motorway (502 kilometres).

- If you need more information, enquire at any of the tourist offices.

Asociación para la Promoción del Turismo y la Economía Ruta del Vino de Rioja Alavesa

Edificio Central Of. 4, Parque Tecnológico de Álava

28911 Miñano Mayor, Vitoria (Álava - Araba)

E-mail:info@rutadelvinoderiojaalavesa.com

http://www.rutadelvinoderiojaalavesa.com

Tel.: +34 945297004

Fax.: +34 945297005

via: spain.info

Aire de Bardenas Hotel - Navarra

Ctra. de Ejea, Km. 1,5
31500 Tudela (Navarra)
Phone +34 948 11 66 66
Fax +34 948 11 63 48
info@airedebardenas.com

http://www.airedebardenas.com

The Hotel Aire de Bardenas is a four star hotel with 22 rooms including four deluxe suites, piercing alongside the Bardenas Reales National Park and Biosphere Reserve in Tudela, Spain.



The restaurant invites you to sit and enjoy authentic savory dishes in the middle of nature. The chefs cultivate the same products served to your table. Vegetarians will find themselves in paradise with the vegetables from the Ribera of Navarre, their speciality.

Each room combines comfort and well being with simplicity and naturalness. Some of the rooms include a private patio with an exterior bathtub.



Aire de Bardenas is considered a masterpiece of architecture for its cutting-edge design has resulted in a spectacular building aesthetic that combines simplicity, non-traditional materials and maximum comfort in the midst of a wheat field, leading to a new concept of accommodation.













Photos by José Hevia

Oscar Hotel - Madrid

Plaza Vázquez de Mella 12,
28004 Madrid
T. +34 917 011 173
F. +34 915 216 296
oscar@room-matehotels.com

http://www.room-matehotels.com

ROOMS

74 Rooms: Standard, Deluxe, Junior Suite, Suite

LOCATION

Lying in the heart of the Chueca District, this totally renovated rationalist-style building
is located in one of the city centre’s brightest squares, the Plaza de Vázquez de
Mella at number 12, just at the periphery of Madrid’s Gran Vía avenue, between the
streets Fuencarral and Barquillo. Indeed, this is the ideal spot for urbanites with a
passion for art, gastronomy and entertainment, thanks to its proximity to the city’s
most important museums, including the Prado, the Thyssen Bornemisza and the Reina
Sofía, as well as the historic centre’s famous restaurants and Madrid’s top theatres
and cinemas.

SERVICES

Breakfast buffet included, served until 12:00 am / Room service / Safe / Minibar /
Laundry and dry cleaning service / Individual heating and air conditioning / Free
Wi-Fi Internet access / Conference room rental / Rooms adapted for the disabled /
Reception open 24 hours / Reservations for restaurants, car rentals, taxi to the airport
or any other destination, outings, etc. / Airline, train, bus ticket bookings / Wake up
service

DECORATION

Tomás Alía’s genius truly reveals itself in the new Room Mate Oscar, where trendy,
avant-garde spaces bring together light, curves, colours, large-format images, graffiti
and more. Settings that are sure to leave nobody indifferent.

ÓSCAR RECOMMENDS

Shopping along the streets Fuencarral and Hortaleza /A stroll along Gran Vía, Plaza
de Cibeles and Puerta de Alcalá / Paying a visit to the Círculo de Bellas Artes (fine
arts cultural centre) / Taking in a musical at Madrid’s Gran Vía Theatre / Going out
for drinks or coffee at any of the countless bars and cafés in the Chueca District /
Visiting Madrid’s three most important museums: the Prado, the Thyssen Bornemisza
and the Reina Sofia.

HOW TO GET THERE FROM THE AIRPORT

From the Barajas Airport, you may take a taxi or opt for the tube (Metro). If taking the
Metro, take Line 8 (the pink line, towards Mar de Cristal) to the Nuevos Ministerios
stop. There, you will connect with Line 6 (the grey line, towards Moncloa), and get off
at the Cuatro Caminos stop. Finally, take Line 1 (the blue line towards Valdecarros)
until you come to the Gran Vía stop.

GETTING AROUND THE CITY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Bus lines: Lines 10, 151 and 12 all stop at the Plaza de Sol.
Lines 5 and 120 will leave you in the Plaza de Antón Martín, just 5 minutes away from
the hotel. The closest Metro stops are Line 1 (blue line) and Line 5 (green line). Be sure
to get off at the Gran Vía stop.

EMMA Hotel - Barcelona

Carrer Rosselló 205,
08008 Barcelona
T. +34 932 385 606
F. +34 932 385 005
emma@room-matehotels.com

http://www.room-matehotels.com/

ROOM

56 rooms: Standard, Executive, Attic, Attic with terrace

LOCATION

Located in the Eixample District, surrounded by Art Nouveau architectural
masterpieces, in one of the finest residential areas of Barcelona. You will have
no other choice but to give in to the temptation of the city’s exclusive shops,
which sit alongside impressive art galleries, sophisticated restaurants and a
pleasant culture of cafés with terraces… not to mention its pulsating nightlife in
internationally famous bars.

SERVICES

Buffet breakfast included until 12 noon / Safe / Minibar / Own parking space /
Laundry and dry cleaning / Heated room / Free WiFi Internet access / IDD
(international direct dial) telephone / Internet corner / Specially adapted rooms
for disabled guests / Personalized, friendly service / Daily press / 24-hour
reception / Restaurant reservations, car rentals, pick-up from or to airport or any
other destination, day trips, etc. / Airline, train, bus ticket reservations.

DECORATION

Everything oozes creative freedom in the surprising façade of the Nadal Moneo
architecture studio. As you enter, you’ll find yourself submerged in a futuristic
world, led by the hand of renowned decorator Tomás Alía, where organic
shapes bathe in light that seems to carry you off to the corners of distant
galaxies.

EMMA RECOMMENDS

Go shopping at the trendiest shops on passeig de Gràcia / Relax at some of the
terrace bars on Rambla de Catalunya / Get to know (and love!) the Gaudí
“modernist route” / Stroll in any direction through the narrow streets of the Barri
Gòtic / Have a good paella in the fishermen’s district of La Barceloneta and take
a walk on the promenade along the Mediterranean SeA / Try a night on the
town in the Raval district or the Eixample / Visit the Picasso museum, the
Contemporary Art museum or the Science museum / Take in a panoramic view
of the city from some of its hills, such as Montjuïc or Tibidabo / Enjoy the
colourful visual and musical spectacle of the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc.

Ferran Adria Goes to Harvard

Ferran Adria/ Jose Andres Photo:Getty Images

Now that El Bulli, the world's most famous restaurant is closing, chef Ferran Adria can concentrate on other projects, like teaching a class at America's most famous college, Harvard University.

This fall Adria is teaming up with his old friend, Jose Andres to teach a 13-week 'culinary physics' course at Harvard. Andres runs several D.C. based restaurants and is often credited with introducing traditional Spanish cuisine to the U.S.

Other chefs will be joining them including Blue Hill's Dan Barber and Spanish compatriot Joan Roca (who has snagged his own Michelin star).

The course is not a typical cooking: the chefs will be instructing students on the abc's of physics and then moving onto demonstrations on how to make the emulsions and foams that are Adria's trademark.

Andres told Slashfood that "Harvard is a world-class university and when Harvard does something, other institutions around the world take notice. This is something completely new and I think you will see other universities starting similar programs." 

via:www.slashfood.com, by Nicki Gostin

Mountain stew - Cocido Montañes

Ingredients

Ingredients for 6 people: 400 g of haricot beans 300 g of marinated ribs 100 g of streaky bacon 100 g of bacon 100 g of spicy sausage 100 g of black pudding 1 kg of cabbage 100 g of pig's ear, 1 potato, 1 onion, 1 clove of garlic Sweet paprika, Olive oil for browning, Salt

Preparation

Leave the beans to soak overnight. Put water on to heat in a cooking pot, when it comes to boil, add the beans and simmer, along with the bacon for 45 or 50 minutes over low heat. As they cook, add water when necessary and let the broth thicken.Add the rib and the pig's ear half-way through cooking, bake for 30 minutes over low heat. Boil the cabbage separately and add the streaky bacon, potato, black pudding and the spicy sausage. Continue cooking for 15 to 20 minutes until everything is tender and be linked. Prepare a sauce with the finely-chopped onion, garlic and the sweet paprika and add salt if necessary.

Presentation

Pour the sauce on the cabbage. Serve the beans piping hot with the cabbage, the spicy sausage and the black pudding.