Newsletter Winter 2009

Of all of the destinations where we work throughout Europe, Granada has to be one of the most romantic with its bewitching mountain scenery, intricately carved Moorish palaces and enchanting, narrow cobblestoned laneways in the Arabic quarter. February is generally a cold but bright and sunny month, and the backdrop of the snow covered peaks is breathtaking. What better place to spend Valentine’s day weekend?

Sample Program for Private Luxury Tour of Granada for Valentine’s wknd:

Day 1 Friday February 12

• Your private driver & Mercedes will pick you up at the airport in Granada or Málaga and you’ll head to your luxurious hotel, the Palacio de Patos- best address in town. A bottle of bubbly awaits. This afternoon, enjoy the relaxing, candlelit Arab baths and a fusion Spanish/North African dinner after. Check out a flamenco show after dinner in the gypsy caves.

Day 2 Saturday February 13

• The day is yours in Granada on your own today and then at sunset, explore the absolutely magical Alhambra Palace and grounds. A wine tasting dinner will be organized for you in an elegant eatery with alluring views of the illuminated Alhambra.

Day 3 Sunday February 14 Valentine’s Day

• Spend Valentine’s morning in the spa and finish with a champagne (“Cava”) gourmet lunch. Stay another night or head back home today. ¡ Muy romántico!

If you are interested in this private luxury tour of Granada, contact us at info@cellartours.com

Friuli is hot, hot hot and Edi Kante is even hotter- one of the best producers in Italy, particularly for whites, and consistently a 3 glass (“Tre bicchieri”) winner. Considered by Gambero Rosso to be “one of a kind” and “artistic and stubborn by nature”, and by Greg St.Clair (K&L's Italian wine specialist) to be “God amongst producers in this area”, he is refreshingly non pretentious. When our Italian wine specialist Simona Piccinelli last met him at his estate, he cheerily greeted her on the tractor. She describes him as a simple, energetic and practical man; a great character. Awards and accolades aside, Kante is credited with bringing the native Friulian (and Slovenian) grape Vitovska back into fashion (no small task).

His family run estate is made with 3 floors going underground as he vinifies by natural gravity flow. His unique and unusual wines are characterized by extra long maceration, even for the whites. There are a few different lines of wines, organic included and we especially love Kante’s Malvasia, which just happened to get 90 Parker points for the 2006 vintage, but we love it because it is quite simply delicious. This is a wine lover’s wine, if you understand- with terrific minerality that show off the terroir. Not a bad gift idea for the holidays, either!

Wine Style: Dry white wine
Appellation: DOC Carso
Region: Friuli-Venezia-Giulia
Grape Varietals:Malvasia Istriana
Food and Wine Pairing: Lidia Bastianich’s “Frico Friulano” (Friulian Montasio Cheese tart), hearty winter ham dishes.

While the south of Spain has the monumental architecture and grand cities, the north of Spain is where you will find the absolute best food and wine, not to mention gorgeous scenery. Ask Madrid and Barcelona foodies where they like to travel in Spain and they say “San Sebastian, naturally”. Spain has 7 restaurants with 3 Michelin stars (for 2010) and 3 of these are in Basque Country alone, not to mention other single starred eateries there. The wine is another big reason to come! In the far north, on the Atlantic itself practically, you have the fascinating Txakoli wine region; heading south then you have Navarra and Rioja; and finally Ribera del Duero- all “must visit” regions for wine lovers interested in Spain. We have designed this nine day tour as a gourmet “taster” of Northern Spain and it includes private driver and comfie Mercedes as always, a mix of fine dining and informal tapas and Basque pintxos, an excursion to the French Pays Basque and more.

More info on this sample luxurious Northern Spain Tour

Talk to any self respecting gourmet and say the word “Perigord” and watch their eyes glaze over as they earnestly tell you “oooooh Perigord black truffles, Foie Gras, duck confit, oh yeeeeeeeeeeeah”. Visiting Perigord is one of the tastiest trips you can take in Europe! All in the name of research (nobody believes it, but it IS work), we ate our way around the Dordogne and famed Perigord sub regions this summer and found some extraordinary places and experiences for our special clients. On our new culinary tours of the Perigord you will stay in romantic Relais & Châteaux in ridiculously picturesque villages like Tremolat; learn how to cook innovative dishes with traditional products with super talented chef Marion Geerdink; go truffle hunting and learn how to cook with truffles; meet French counts and South African-Irish organic winemakers at supremely charming small wine estates in Monbazillac, Soussignac and Bergerac; visit fairy tale medieval villages like Sarlat, Domme and Rocamadour; taste local Caviar and much, much more.

If you are interested in our new culinary tours of the Perigord, contact us at info@cellartours.com

Back to Friuli again, we just can’t promote this beguiling region enough. Like Sicily, Friuli is close to our hearts! The Bastianich family, of Friulian blood, have done much to introduce the English speaking (mainly American) public to the delights of this region but it is still a bit of a best kept secret. And yet so close to Venice! Friuli is the Alsace of Italy, a region whose borders have changed over the centuries and whose culinary and wine traditions have incorporated the best of both sides. In the same way that you’ll find sauerkraut, schnitzels and spicy, decidedly un-French wines in Alsace; in Friuli (which belonged to Austria and hugs the Slovenian border), you’ll find incredibly aromatic white wines that have more in common with their neighbors than with other Italian whites and comforting dishes like goulash and dumplings!

More info on Friuli Wine Region

As if you needed a better reason to visit this delightful restaurant in Asturias, our absolute favorite region in Spain (and the birthplace of celebrity TV chef and restaurateur José Andrés), Casa Marcial de Arriondas has just been awarded its second Michelin star in the 2010 edition. Chef Nacho Manzano has achieved this in a “crisis” year like 2009 and on top of that for a restaurant in a rural corner of Green Spain, not in a big city. Perhaps the secret is as simple as great food, great wine list / wine service and great hospitality? Well yes, this plus imagination, talent and some would say, art! And not to mention that the tasting menu here is one of the best value tasting menus in the country.

Nacho’s cuisine is creative with firm roots in tradition and you will find dishes considered classic like Fabada Asturiana, croquetas de jamón caseras and revuelto de la casa sobre torta de maiz; alongside “gastronomic” dishes like oyster and fragranced red cabbage and fancy rice with scallops and “freshness” of cucumber. Fun and charming place, in an idyllic green rural setting. Asturias is almost entirely protected mountain (the Picos de Europa) and seaside, and the pastoral and coastal landscapes are soothing and utterly relaxing. Come for a week and enjoy the nature, the charming small “Casona” hotels of the region, and some “slow food” and long meals, with an obligatory stop at Casa Marcial de Arriondas. Congratulations on the 2nd star, Nacho!

Looking for the ultimate grand luxe destination in Tuscany? Il Salviatino is the most exciting luxury hotel to open this year in Italy. Located just outside Florence in the aristocratic and super chic Fiesole hills, this hotel is an impeccably restored 15th century palazzo set amid lush gardens and with views of Florence. Each bedroom and suite here has been customized with hand selected antiques, 100% pure Tuscan linens and with all the extras you’d expect these days (plasma, king sized beds, free Wifi, rain showers, etc). A fun thing you have here are their personal “service ambassadors” whose job is to satisfy your every whim and request. That might be a private painting class, olive oil tasting, a round of golf or a Thai massage- all are possible. The young staff are beautiful, professional and eager to please.

Needless to say, they have a top class spa, offering Oriental inspired treatments and atmosphere. This is a wonderful hotel for honeymoons and other ultra special occasions. As much as we love Florence it can be uncomfortably packed with visitors and after a day of competing for elbow space with other tourists in the city’s magnificent art museums and beautiful piazzas, it is a pleasure to escape into cosseted luxury at Il Salviatino. Recommended.

Fennel is a Mediterranean plant (wildly popular in Italy and France) with two types; one is a feathery plant used as an herb; the other is a bulbous root plant which is eaten, and whose seeds are dried and consumed as a spice. The taste is fresh, slightly bitter and reminiscent of Anis. Fennel has an enormous array of uses, both culinary and medicinal. In Europe, it is eaten raw in salads and with carpaccio (it pairs well with citrus fruits and avocado) and cooked in risottos, baked with pasta and parmigiano, etc. In Indian, Middle Eastern and East Asian cooking, dried fennel seeds are used in everything from curries to egg dishes and of course it is one of the ingredients in Chinese 5 Spice. Fennel pairs well with meat and the seeds can be thrown into meatballs or bacon and potato dishes to give it a punch. And don’t forget the health benefits! Fennel aids digestion (in Spain, Italy and France it is often distilled to an after dinner digestif), is said to help breastfeeding mommies improve milk production and is even good for your eyesight. Oh, and practically zero calories!

Mulled wine and spiced cider are perennial holiday classics, but admit it- they are a bit boring. Why not bring a little sunshine to your parties this winter with clementine-infused martinis? The Clementini is a stylish, glamorous and fun cocktail and adds a much-needed splash of color to those dull, gray winter days!

Recipe:

• 1 part fresh clementine/mandarin juice (freshly squeezed)
• 3 parts Absolut Mandarin Vodka
• 1/2 part Grand Marnier/ Cointreau
• Mandarin/orange curly rind to garnish

Preparation

Shake all the ingredients over ice. Strain and pour into martini glasses straight out of the freezer. Garnish with curly orange rinds. Throw on some Dean Martin or Yma Sumac and you’ve got the perfect cocktail party started!

If you would like us to customize a luxury private tour for you in France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal or Spain, contact us and we will prepare a tailored itinerary just for you. Let us show you our favorite gourmet corners in Europe!

Cellar Tastings S.L.
Address: C/ Zurbano 45, 1st Floor,
28010 Madrid, Spain
Spain Headquarters Tel: 34 91 182 9790
Calling from USA (310) 928-7559
Calling from UK 020 8144 6806

Email: info@cellartours.com
Web: www.CellarTours.com
Blog: www.CellarTours.com/blog

Contact us today!

CELLAR TASTINGS S.L. is a Fully Licensed and Bonded Tour Operator and Travel Agency, and a proud member of ASTA and the IACP.