WINE TASTING & GASTRONOMY TOURS

One fabulous way of discovering Spain is to take a wine tasting holiday or gastronomy tours sampling the different wines, olive oils, hams, typical traditional dishes and of course Tapas.These have become increasingly popular as the myth that they are only suited to connoisseurs is dispelled. Wine is one of the few products left which is totally dependant on the elements and the skills of the producers, making every bottle unique. If you enjoy a fine wine, no matter whether your palate is finely tuned to the complexities of the grape or you simply love a glass, a wine tasting trip will suit you down to the ground.

Wine regions are usually found in some of the most scenic rural areas across the globe, and with fine wine usually comes a similar standard of gastronomy, which makes taking a self catering holiday villa in a wine region a real haven of indulgence and relaxation. Taking holiday accommodation for a wine tasting holiday does not mean that you have to spend the whole week on a vineyard however, especially if you organise your holiday independently.

Spanish wine tasting holidays are a magnificent way to combine culture, sun and scenery. The current wine revolution in Spain means that the wine produced is some of the finest in the world, and the methods being used to produce them are ground-breaking.

Think of Spanish Wines and your first thought will probably be, red Riojas. The Spanish have been well known to lovers of wines worldwide for years as a reliable source of good value, red wines. However white wines are now made all over Spain. Wine is part of the culture in Spain.

Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world, the largest two being France and Italy. There are more than fifty wine regions in Spain. Better known are the quality reds from Rioja and Ribera del Duero and white wines from Penedés and Rueda, "sherries" from Jerez, and a fine sparkling wine known as cava (Spanish champagne)

Until about 25 years ago, Spanish red wines were generally of mediocre quality. Many were aged too long in wood, overpowering their freshness and fruit character. However, quality has risen to the point that they compete successfully in the international market. Very high quality Spanish wines have recently become “trendy” in some circles

Spain has a similar classification system to France and Italy, with all classified wine regions regulated under the Denominación de Origen (DO) system. Red wines are often labelled as Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva. In Rioja and the Ribera del Duero, Crianza wines are two years old, with at least twelve months spent in cask (elsewhere the oak ageing may legally be restricted to just six months). Reservas are three years old (at least one year in cask), Gran Reservas five years old (two in cask, three in bottle).

In general, in Spain the food culture, the way that a meal is planned and eaten is more relaxed than in the UK, people seem to be in less of a hurry to get through their food.

The cuisine of Spain is amazingly varied. The gastronomy varies by region dramatically.

The gastronomy in Spain is heavily influenced by the different cultures which have passed through the Iberian peninsula: Roman, Visigoth, and Arabic. Other major influences are the Phoenicians, the Greeks and important events such as the discovery of the Americas. For this, Spanish cooking is rich in flavour and aromas.

Of all the mentioned events, the ones that have had the most influence on Spanish gastronomy are:

• The Roman Invasion. They developed wine, oil and wheat production. Part of this production was exported to other areas of the Roman Empire.

• The Invasion of the Moors. They contributed their knowledge of water management for agriculture to what the Romans had left. They also introduced oranges, lemons, rice and aubergines to Spain.

• The discovery of the Americas. The Spanish brought from the Americas: potatoes, maize, cocoa, tomatoes, and peppers. All of these products form a part of our current gastronomy.

Tapas