Newsletter Spring 2006

The Spanish winery Abadia Retuerta´s sexy “Selección Especial” recently had the honor of winning the title “Best Red Wine in the World” in the 2005 International wine challenge in London. Interestingly, the wine beat over 9,000 wines from all over the world. The best of all is that this phenomenal wine is also stunning good value. Anyway, back to the wine itself: the “Selección Especial 2001” is a bright, vibrant blood red color in my glass. On the nose, I get youthful fruits with the tiniest hint of vanilla. First attack on the palate is voluptuous fruit. Later, I notice the wine´s impressive length. Conclusion: this wine is charming, unpretentious and fully deserves its recent attention. In my opinion, Abadia Retuerta is one of Spain´s best wineries, de verdad.

Our Rating: 99/100
Type: Red Wine
Appellation:Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon
Region: Valladolid province, Spain
Grape Composition:75% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot
Pairing: Roast lamb, Veal, Manchego cheese and other cured sheep cheeses

Abadia Retuerta is considered one of the fastest "up and coming" wineries in the entire Ribera del Duero region, after only establishing itself commercially in 1996. Since it won the “Best red wine of the world” last year at the International wine challenge in London in 2005, it has sold out of many of its wines! The winery is located on a 700 ha estate in Sardón del Duero. Apart from the modern cellar, there is an incredible 12th century Romanesque monastery on the property, which lucky visitors can see. Wines are tasted in the centuries old, high vaulted monk’s dining quarters. The monastery was originally founded in 1145, by the aristocratic Doña Mayor. She was the very wealthy daughter of Count Ansúrez, Lord of Valladolid (the city at the heart of the Ribera del Duero wine region). The Abbey was one of many monastery-fortresses built during the Christian “Re- conquest” in the region of Castile (which in fact means “castle”). The grounds around the Abadia Retuerta property were actually donated to the church by the aristocratic owners. They left "terras et vineas" (land and vines) to the French-based order of St. Norbert which was the beginning of this estate’s history of producing wine.

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Looking for a luxury wine tour in La Rioja? These private tours begin and end in the cutting edge Basque city of Bilbao. The weekend focuses on La Rioja wine and Basque cuisine, and also takes in top art museums and fairy tale castles. You'll sleep in a medieval hilltop village in a vineyard-covered valley, with the dramatic backdrop of the silvery Cantabrian Mountains for 2 nights. Your last night is also a treat, and your hotel is located right on the half moon bay of lovely San Sebastian. In San Sebastian, you'll enjoy the famed "Tapas" and "Pintxos" of the charming old town, and above all the gorgeous coastline. If you love fine wine and dining, architecture and art, then this weekend is for you!

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Milan is the capital of Lombardy, a wealthy region synonymous with gourmet cuisine, celebrity chefs and Michelin starred "ristoranti". The Lombard wine region of Franciacorta (only an hour and a half from Milan) is a delight for wine lovers- virtually untouched by tourists. Franciacorta is full of picturesque vineyards on rolling hills and medieval villages. We have designed this itinerary in mind for those looking for a pampering weekend away, with a focus on wine tasting, fine dining and sumptuous accommodation. Highlights of this wine tour include: Wine Tasting in a historic silo, now a lovely wine estate with a wonderful tasting room and a unique experimental vineyard; a Romantic secluded luxury hotel, set in a fairy tale setting amid the vines; option to enjoy Spa Therapy and/ or an Italian Cooking Class, Michelin starred dining and excursions to historic villages such as Bergamo, Lake Iseo or Brescia. All transport is by your own private chauffeured Mercedes.

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The Mediterranean Diet has long been championed as the healthiest in the world, and this Gourmet Cooking Weekend in Barcelona will give you a solid introduction to the secrets of the Med. You'll enjoy a private cooking class in downtown Barcelona with a top chef, learning about the benefits of olive oil, vegetables, seafood, nuts and wine. An introduction to Catalonia's four main sauces (sofrito, samfaina, picada and ali-oli) will also be made. A guided market tour of the colorful Boqueria market will give you the inside scoop as to where Barcelona chefs buy their truffles, their local cheeses, their fresh fish, etc. Apart from cooking, you'll also enjoy a VIP wine tasting excursion to the fashionable region of Priorat. Robert Parker, Wine Spectator and Decanter all agree that Priorat is one of the best wine producing regions in the world, and you'll have the chance to visit a 12th century hamlet, vineyards and a top cellar, followed by a marvelous tasting.

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Ravello, Positano, Capri... some of the most beautiful locations in Italy. The region of Campania is firmly on the tourist’s map, but curiously not on the wine lover’s map. Yet, Campania is a fascinating wine region. There are superb wines being produced here, with its Ancient Greek grape varietals to produce unique and little known blockbuster reds and fragrant and delicate whites. “Greco” (a white varietal) and “Aglianico” (“Hellenic”) both mean “Greek”. Pliny, the Roman historian, wrote about both of these grapes in his ancient encyclopedia. Naples is the capital of the region, and is certainly one of the most interesting cities in Europe- at once chaotic and melancholic; degraded and beautiful. For food and wine lovers, it is a treat! Is there anything better than the sublime spaghetti and clams at La Bersagliera in Naples, served perfectly al dente with nothing more than a splash of good olive oil?

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The setting of Fortaleza do Guincho is spectacular. Perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, you could not pick a more scenic location to enjoy a Michelin starred lunch in Portugal. The Fortaleza is indeed a restored 17th century fortress that was built upon the orders of the Portuguese King João IV in 1642. Today it is a small boutique Relais & Châteaux hotel with one of the best restaurants in Portugal. Fortaleza do Guincho is situated near the coastal town of Cascais (where the Portuguese and Spanish aristocracy vacation) about 30 minutes north of Lisbon. The chef is Vincent Farges, a young French dynamo who trained under 3 Michelin starred Antoine Westermann (Buerehiesel restaurant, Strasbourg). Vincent is head of a team of 18, and the facilities are spectacular. The menu is inspired by regional French and Portuguese classic dishes, with a creative twist. We enjoyed a “Menu du Gourmand” here on our visit last August, and what a treat! Monkfish, foie gras, shellfish- all superbly prepared and cleverly presented. The wine list is one of the best we have seen in Portugal, with all the big Portuguese names and top French crus (and also fabulous wines from Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, California, etc). If you are a “foodie” looking for a unique dining experience, we highly recommend Fortaleza do Guincho´s restaurant as a lunch outing from Lisbon, or a dinner option from Cascais.

Book a table at Fortaleza do Guincho: www.guinchotel.pt

Enjoy luxury Portugal Culinary Tours with Cellartours

Lapa Palace is quite simply one of the best hotels in Europe, and certainly the best hotel in Lisbon. It is the kind of place that you arrive to and instantly relax. The setting is spectacular and the facilities top class. Lapa Palace is located at the top of a hill, overlooking the Tagus river, in the plush Lapa district (home to Lisbon´s creme de la creme, and most of the embassies). The hotel is actually a converted palace, that was originally built in the late 1800´s by the Count of Valença. The Count went all out on the construction and hired some of the most famous artists of the day such as Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, one of the greatest Portuguese ceramists of the 19th century (who created many of the tiles we still see today). Columbano was a renowned portrait painter (written to have been the 'painter of broken souls') and he was hired to paint the walls and ceilings of the original ballroom (today it is called the Columbano Room, where we organize VIP dinners and wine tastings). The Lapa Palace hotel has preserved most of the palace´s art and frescos. Many of the Count´s private rooms have been transformed into sumptuous suites such as the Tower Suite (our favorite suite at Lapa, with spectacular views and your own turret), which was the Count´s private dressing room. Even pieces of the Count´s original furniture (mirrors, lamps, paintings) decorate the rooms of this luxury hotel now.

Orient Express bought the hotel in 1998 and added a wonderful new villa (where the garden suites are now). There are a variety of room types and unique suites in both the original palace and the tasteful newer villa. Lapa has a delightful spa and also has the only outdoor heated swimmning pool in Lisbon, set amid a tropical garden. There is a formal restaurant for haute cuisine (Cipriani), a gorgeous bar where you can taste an array of ports by the glass, along with light snacks, and a casual chic restaurant near the pool (Pavillion). The spa features include a Turkish steam bath, sauna, solarium, a fantastic Hydrojet machine (perfect to get rid of jetlag), Shiatsu and Reflexology and a nice little “Le Prarie” beauty center. All in all, a stay at Lapa Palace is a simply fantastic experience. You cannot hope for a better hotel in Lisbon.

Special Note: This year, Lapa is offering their clients a chance to participate in their famed cooking school. They bring in chefs from all over the world (France, Brazil, etc) and organize cooking classes for their lucky guests. Contact Lapa or Cellar Tours for more information on these luxurious gourmet packages.

More info on Orient Express Lapa Palace: www.lapa-palace.com

Enjoy luxury Portugal Wine Tours with CellarTours

Reserva y Cata is one of Madrid´s best kept secrets for wine lovers. This is a chain of small wine merchants in Spain’s lively capital. Rather than mega wine emporiums, Reserva y Cata believes that small is better. The formula to their success is: small neighborhood shops stocked with a selection of unusual and excellent wines that you don’t find in all the other shops, and expert staff- similar to the Oddbins wine merchants in the UK. Apart from the classic Spanish regions - such as La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Penedés and Jerez- Reserva y Cata has an interesting offering of wines from up and coming regions such as El Bierzo (home to the phenomenal Dominio de Tares winery), from Málaga (dessert “mountain wines”), from the Mediterranean region of Yecla (such as Hécula) and Conca de Barberá (Josep Forester). Reserva y Cata also sells gourmet preserves, small production olive oils, even “boutique” vinegars. The most charming shop is the one located on the swish “Conde de Xiquena” street in between Madrid’s two fashionable quarters of Alonso Martinez and Chueca. If you are in Madrid and looking for expert advice on Spain’s best wines, go visit Ezequiel, the extremely friendly and knowledgeable owner, at the Xiquena branch.

Address: Conde de Xiquena, 13,
28004 Madrid,
Spain
Tel: +34 913 190 401

Visit Ezequiel www.reservaycata.com

Calçots, native to Spain’s Catalonia region are tender green onions. They are not your average onions though! They take nearly a year and a half to grow (they are planted, re-planted and stored) and are milder and sweeter than other green onions. They have an exquisitely delicate flavor, and are the protagonist in a wonderful culinary tradition: the “Calçotada”. The Calçotada is a food event that takes place during calçot season (approx November to April). At wonderful rustic restaurants throughout the Tarragona region (particularly in and around the town of Valls) you can participate in a calçotada. This is an event! Upon arrival, you are given a bib. You will see the huge calçots being grilled on an open flame over grapevines, while you drink your first swig of wine from the “Porron” (traditional Spanish wine pitchers with long spouts). They char almost completely on the outside and are brought to your table on terracotta tiles. You peel pack the layer to reveal a delicious tender onion. This is a fun and messy process, hence the bib. Plus you tend to do this part of the meal standing up at long wooden tables. You then dip your calçots into the Romesco sauce that will be on your table. Romesco sauce is the most delicious sauce in the world! Traditionally made in the Tarragona province (south of Barcelona), it is a thick paste made with a mortar and pestle with almonds, hazelnuts, red peppers, olive oil and tomatoes. After your calçot dipping session, you sit down to a wonderful, enormous Catalan lunch that could include Escalivada (roast eggplant & peppers), Pan amb Tomaquet (rustic bread smeared with olive oil, garlic, salt & tomato), Faves (Catalan white beans), Chorizo (paprika sausages) and Chuletillas de Cordero (lamb chops). Sublime!

Interested in organizing a Calçotada in Catalonia as part of a gourmet tour? Contact us for details! info@cellartours.com

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 luxurious cooking vacations starting from 1 day, to weekends to longer food and wine discoveries. Private tours, just for you....

Let us show you our favorite gourmet corners in Europe!

Contact us today! info@cellartours.com