Newsletter March 2005

The Quercus suber, is the unusual looking tree that natural cork comes from and is the source for the cork that is used to seal wine bottles. This strange tree has flourished in Europe for thousands of years. Monks from the Benedictine monastery of Barcelona visited their French brothers in the wine region of Champagne where, at the end of the 17th century the monk Dom Perignon discovered the art of making champagne. Dom Perignon also discovered that by the use of the cork stopper, the natural sparkle of the wine was retained, and that still wines improved with ageing thanks to the "breathing" the cork allowed. Before that discovery, wines considered to be of high quality had been sealed by a type of wooden bung, semi-sealed with a bees-wax cloth.

Winemaking has evolved over the centuries and yet we still owe a lot to the discoveries of those Benedictine monks. Today, cork is used worldwide, as a sealer for both Champagnes & sparklers and quality still wines. For wines not meant to age such as young white wines, "corks" made with non-organic material are starting to become more and more popular. The debate about cork these days is if it is necessary in an age of modern technology, and if the synthetic corks can do the job that cork is meant to do without the potential damage to the wines (such as wines being "corked").

In my modest opinion, wine is a living liquid, and needs the cork to breath from the first day of bottling. Without this organic seal, wine would not evolve in the bottle and it would be impossible to differentiate a 1975 Petrus to the 2004 vintage. In France, Portugal and Spain we had the opportunity to pre-test those plastic corks on still wines during the 80s. I can remember the Spanish Savin, or the Portuguese Veleiro, used for young wines to be drunk immediately after bottling. The results were fine for young wines but there has been no study to date proving that synthetic corks can benefit a wine destined for long term ageing in the way natural cork can. So, while the debate rages on, the noble Quercus suber is harvested every 9 years in the beautiful Iberian countryside.

Gourmet Tours including the Cork Forests of Portugal and VIP wine tasting in the Alentejo:

Wine Tour Alentejo

This gourmet culinary tour of Central and Northern Spain is designed for those who don't want to concentrate exclusively on a uni-theme vacation, rather "taste" a bit of everything, from cooking to wine tasting to sightseeing. On all of our tours, there is always huge importance placed on food and wine and on this tour you will dine at some of the best restaurants in Spain, as well as take in unique experiences such as visiting a historic olive oil mill, a "tapas tour", VIP winery visits and much more. Accommodation is selected carefully, and all of your hotels are charming and historic, many in old palaces. Many small surprises and gifts will be presented throughout the tour, as well as "extras" in your rooms. Some of the most beautiful cities and villages in Spain are included in this food and wine tour including Madrid, Toledo, Avila, Salamanca, Burgos, Lerma, Laguardia and San Sebastian
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Private Cooking Classes in Spain

Oporto, Portugal's dreamily atmospheric northern city, is an ancient metropolis located right on the mighty Douro River. Oporto is extremely interesting to visit, particularly for food and wine lovers, as there are a host of historic Port Lodges (many of them over 300 years old). The old center of Oporto, or "Porto" as the Portuguese call their city, is full of tiled facades, charming narrow streets and lively seafood restaurants, where you can taste delicacies such as baby squid, clams and "Sardinhas", with slightly bubbly Vinho Verde or Port wine. Just over the bridge, is Vila Nova de Gaia, home to the famed Port Lodges, where the port is stored, before being shipped downstream for export. Visiting the Port Lodges is extremely interesting for wine lovers and history lovers alike, as the architecture of some of the lodges is exquisite. The dimly lit caves evoke all of the romance many of us associate with wine and Portugal. This is a special VIP tour arranged in the best Port wine lodges, for Cellar Tours guests.
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The winery of Pedro Domecq is one of the most romantic in Spain. The bodega is called "La Mezquita", the Mosque, and has gorgeous whitewashed walls and Moorish arches. This Sherry house was founded back in 1730, making it one of the oldest commercial establishments in the region. The winery produces an awesome 15 million liters of wine per year. 90% of production is exported, "La Ina" a lovely, elegant Fino, being the bread and butter of the company. Pedro Domecq became quite famous internationally not only for its classic sherries, but for Ignacio Domecq, called "The Nose" (for his almost superhuman sense of smell and tasting abilities). Don Ignacio died in 1997, and his son Beltrn Domecq is competently at the healm. The winery has come to be known for its innovation and consistent quality. They have divided their profile of wines into a "premium" range (including "La Ina" Fino) and "Rare" selection (including "Venerable" and "Sibarita"). Pedro Domecq is a fabulous destination for the wine tourist, as its cellars are so atmospheric and the wines of such a high quality.
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Wine Tours of Sherry Country:

Quite possibly Spain's most beautiful town, Salamanca's buildings appear to glow. The local sandstone used to construct most of this 13th century university town's churches and historic mansions, seems to turn gold when the sun beats down. Salamanca's old town is in remarkably good condition and boasts the highest concentration of Plateresque architecture in the world. International prestige came to the town in 1254 when the Pope named Salamanca's university as pre-eminent in the world, on a par with Paris, Bologna and Oxford. The university was considered to have one of the best science faculties in the world and was quite avant-garde, having female professors as far back as the 15th century! The golden age of Spain (the 15th and 16th centuries, when Spain benefited outrageously from the spoils of its colonies in the new world) was also a golden age for Salamanca. Many beautiful palaces and religious building were erected during this period, including the lovely Palacio de Monterrey (considered to be the one of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in Spain, currently owned by the Dukes of Alba).
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Cinc Sentits is the hottest restaurant in Barcelona at the moment, with brother-sister duo Amlia and Jordi, making waves in the local and international press. This month, Jordi Artal, head chef and owner has contributed one of his gourmet recipes for our "Guest Chef" series. Bon appetit!

Pan-Seared Red Mullet with Braised Endive and Pinenuts with Browned Butter

Ingredients:

6 Red Mullet each
2 Endive each
3 Tb. Butter
3 Tb. Pine Nuts
1 Tsp. Sugar
Parsley
Olive Oil

Preparation:

The 5* Hacienda Zorita, located only 20 minutes from the beautiful town of Salamanca, is one of the most unique hotels to open in Spain in recent years. The hotel is located on a gorgeous estate that dates back to the 14th century and is full of quite an impressive history. In 1366, the aristocrat Doa Ins de Limoges donated the estate with its manor house and chapel to the Dominican monks. It was the monks who began wine production on a wide scale. From 1400-1800, the Zorita was a prestigious inn for important guests. The estate is perhaps most famous for having received as its "VIP", the explorer Christopher Columbus, back in 1487, during the conferences of Valcuelvo. Today, you don't have to be famous to stay at the Zorita, this unique wine hotel with 600 years of history.

The Zorita breathes history. Arriving to the estate, you'll see two enormous Sequoia trees. Those same trees were planted the in the late 16th century with seeds sent back from the Americas. The Dominican chapel, called "Saint Nicholas of the Vines" now houses wine barriques, as the estate is a working vineyard. There is an ancient mill that overlooks the Tormes river, and a beautiful Dominican cloister where wine is now stored. The hotel is located in the manor house (la Casa Grande), with 22 rustic decorated bedrooms all named with a historical theme (such as the Pinta, Santa Maria, etc). The restaurant is a treat with stylish, creatively presented food paired with the estate's wines.

We are pleased to feature Zorita on our wine tours of Ribera del Duero with a city break in lovely Salamanca. Contact us for more information on the Duero wine tours on info@cellartours.com

This luxury wine tour of Tuscany features private tours and vineyard walks at superb wineries in Chianti, Montalcino and Super Tuscan wine country. Visits to Florence and Siena, two of the most spectacular cities in Italy, are also included. You'll have a private chauffeur and wine guide for the duration of this Luxury Tour, along with excellent local guides. The accommodation chosen for this tour is extremely luxurious, three of the most beautiful hotels in Europe and certainly in Italy. All are magnificently located in Tuscany's unspoiled countryside. Your hotel in Florence is a 500-year-old Medici Villa, now a tiny luxury hotel where movie stars and musicians flock to. You're likely to run into somebody famous at the pool or the bar here. Your hotel in Siena is a castle dating back to the 14th century. Originally a monastery (complete with cloister, gardens and adjoining villas), now it has been completely renovated to its former glory as a hotel and gained Relais Chateaux status.

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If you would like us to customize a luxury wine tour for you (in Spain, Portugal or Italy), contact us with your requirements, and we can send you a free itinerary and quote with no obligations. We organize chauffeured wine tours and cooking packages starting from 1 day, to weekends to longer food and wine discoveries.

Let us show you our favorite corners in Gourmet Europe!

Contact us today at info@cellartours.com