The final day of Paula and Lawrence's visit found us once more heading out of the city, this time south to the Penedes region for a half-day of wine discovery before heading over to the ship. On the way down we talked about Spanish wine, why it has a reputation for being the cheap little brother of it's bigger neighbor across the Pyrenees, and how that reputation has been a blessing and a curse. Upon arriving at the first winery, we were treated to Marta's wonderful explanation of wine, encompassing everything from the family history to the current state of the wine region and the plight of the region's farmers. Despite the previous night's storms, the land was still dry enough to get out and walk through the vineyards. We learned about the different grapes and even how to recognize them by their leaves (they were still green although the red moscat grapes were starting to turn, and both Paula and Lawrence found them quite tasty).
After enjoying a tasting of the wines, served with fresh bread
on a sunny patio with Marta, we headed off to see (and taste) some hand-crafted
cava. Ernest and Ricard were gracious hosts, and our guests were particularly enthralled with the machines that they (still) use to bottle each and every bottle of their artesanal product. A sampling to show the difference between various
cavas and we headed back to get them to their ship. What a way to Spanish way to say goodbye, with wine and a glass of
cava!
Thanks to both Paula and Lawrence for making my job easier, and hope their cruise goes as smoothly as their time in Spain!
For more information on planning your own private guided tour in Spain, contact
The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.
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