There is one thing in common throughout Spain in summer: the heat.
There is one thing in common throughout Spain to better handle the heat: summer terraces and a nice cold glass of wine!
Where there are terraces, there are restaurants, and if it gets too hot, an air-conditioned interior is perfect for us.
In this post, we will reveal three denominations of origin ideal for visiting also in summer, three refreshing wines, and three restaurants, which are the best-kept secret of the winelovers from the respective areas.
Ready for the first stop of Raíces On Tour Summer Edition?
Welcome to the Costa Brava! Welcome to the DO Empordà
We are in the land of great artists; Dalí, the Roca brothers, and Ferran Adrià are children of this coastal strip in the province of Girona.
This wine region distributes its 1,770 hectares of vineyards and 42 wineries into two areas, Alt Empordà and Baix Empordà, whose visit offers different and enriching wine tourism experiences.
In Alt Empordà there is a higher density of wineries and vineyards, which descend from the mountains to the coast. In Baix Empordà, alongside viticulture, another wine-related industry coexists, cork production. Here the vineyards alternate with cork oak forests, creating a landscape worth exploring.
This area is privileged for vine cultivation for several reasons, among them, the Tramuntana, a north wind that keeps the vineyard free of parasites. Also due to the particularities of the terroir, mostly sandy and poor in organic matter, making it the perfect breeding ground for producing wines of the highest quality.
The DO Empordà holds a surprise, an almost unknown native variety, the Garnacha Gris, a pinkish grape color that is quite unusual, which, when well worked, produces distinct and interesting white wines.
To discover its potential, we recommend the fun Garna cha cha cha, elegant and refreshing but, above all, surprising.
You already know that at Raíces Ibéricas On Tour we love to recharge at the best restaurants, so here is our choice in this area, Restaurante Villa Más, in Sant Feliu de Guixols. With privileged sea views and a delicious gastronomic proposal based on the Mediterranean.
Let's keep going!
Bobal Land, in Requena, the best-kept secret of inland Valencia
We keep the Mediterranean in sight and will travel south along it. Once at the height of Valencia, in less than an hour inland, we reach the DOP Utiel-Requena, located at an average altitude of 750 meters above sea level.
It is important for you to know that you are entering what is considered the oldest wine-producing center in the entire Iberian Peninsula, with remains from the 5th century B.C. that you can visit at the archaeological site of Las Pilillas.
Also, in this area, an indigenous variety is grown, sidelined for decades, and that we recommend you get to know, Bobal.
A little over 20 years ago, this variety was the ugly duckling. A grape destined for bulk wines, where it was very effective due to its color intensity, body, and powerful structure. It was common to blend it with other grapes, as on its own it was rough and complex to work with.
But what had to happen, happened. The pioneers arrived. A handful of wineries in the area began to treat it with a different affection, seeing its virtues and not just its complicated character, and the Bobal universe began to shine like never before. It is true that the first single-varietals were too complex and somewhat elitist in price, but everything changed with the arrival of Pasión de Bobal.
This wine is said to have democratized Bobal because it appealed to a very wide spectrum of wine lovers. Sierra Norte is the winery responsible for producing this organic wine that has enchanted even Robert Parker himself.
Obviously, we recommend this red wine; you must try it no matter what. But in this Wine Trip, we will give more prominence to its namesake rosé, summer demands it!
Pasión de Bobal rosado is made from old vineyard grapes. Its special character is noticeable as soon as you see its beautiful color, a subtle and elegant light pink, and after detecting aromas of red fruit and rose petals. It is a wine with good structure, broad and balanced. A Bobal rosé like few others.
If lunchtime finds you in DOP Utiel-Requena, take note of the restaurant we're going to recommend, Finca Calderón. It is located in the middle of the vineyards, in a small village named Calderón, 10 minutes from Requena, the capital of the region. The restaurant is housed in an old winery, built in 1900, and recently restored by Bodega Sierra Norte. Its cuisine is based on traditional recipes and ingredients from the area, with a surprising signature touch. At Finca Calderón Enoresort you can also enjoy wine tourism visits and even stay overnight in its hotel among the vineyards.
Two Grenaches, two territories, and a very special sparkling wine
But today it's time to continue the route, so we pick up the pace and move again northward, to place you in two opposite territories, DOP Terra Alta, in Tarragona, and Béziers, in southern France. Opposite but with one element in common, the influence of the Mediterranean that has accompanied us throughout the journey today.
From these two areas comes the sparkling wine Bassin Brut, made fifty-fifty with French Grenache from Béziers, and White Grenache from Terra Alta. A true ode to the Mediterranean.
Each varietal is influenced by its terroirs and the nuances of the Mediterranean climate in both areas. In the DOP Terra Alta the temperature is warm and its soils are clayey and calcareous. In the Béziers area, temperatures are cooler, there is a higher rainfall index, and the soils are mostly pebbly.
Bassin Brut is a rich and mineral sparkling wine, with aromas of white flowers and a final touch of pineapple. With fine bubbles, you are facing a different and elegant sparkling wine concept.
The freshness that a glass of Bassin brings will surely whet your appetite, and we'll solve that at the restaurant Mirall de Tres, in Reus. There, chef Manuel Hidalgo offers you signature, Mediterranean, and market cuisine. And you will truly enjoy it.
With this last stop we say goodbye to this special summer Raíces On Tour. If you want to keep traveling through Designations of Origin, don't miss the full series, winelover.
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Photo credits:
Cover image DO Empordà: estucasa.catalunya.com
Image 2 DO Empordà: femturisme.cat
Image 6 DO Terra Alta: vinosdo.wine