Best New Bodega – Spanish Wine Cellars

Lanzarote has been producing wine for  centuries, back to the malvasia wine which graced the tables of  Europe´s elite in the 16th century.

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Now a  new and innovative bodega has opened up and already won  the title of Best New Bodega 2008 at the 7th Open Wine Assembly in Madrid. 

Stratus uses high tech methods combined after intensive research conducted by the director  Alberto González Plasencia.

 Bodegas Stratus is the result, an almost cathedral like central hall where the wine is produced. The production so far includes   Stratus a dry Malvasia wine, with a fruity, citrus flavour, a red wine with the aroma of mulberry and a sweet Moscatel which is a Malvasia  and Diego grape combination. A rosé is planned to be added to the range shortly.

Stratus Bodega, Lanzarote

 

Photos thanks to http://www.lanzaroteguidebook.com/

Best Spanish Wine Learning Experiencee

In the heart of the famous Spanish wine region of La Rioja, Dinastía Vivanco wine cellar, wine museum and research foundation is home to The Foundation’s Documentation Center.

It houses over 8,000 documents and  works relating to vine growing and was awarded Best Of Art and Culture by The Great Wine Capitals International Network.

The Cellar Dinastia Vivanco, Rioja

A visit here is included in two of the trips organised by Epicurean Ways for this year why not try:

  • Wine Roads of Rioja & La Ribera del Duero
  • Wine Lover’s Rioja

Both trips take place in May and September/October and spend half a day at the Dinastía Vivanco Museum and tour its bodega or cellar.

The Best Spanish Wines?

According to the U.S. magazine Wine Spectator, six Spanish wines have made it into its  annual Top 100 List. The list  is their  2008 pick of the top 100 wines in throughout the world.
The six Spanish wines that are included are, in number order:

  • 34 – Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero Crianza 2005
  • 36 – Bodegas y Viñedos Maurodos ToroSan Román 2004
  • 52 – Bodegas LAN Rioja Reserva 2004
  • 65 – Bodegas Muga Rioja Reserva 2004 
  • 71 – Bodegas Sierra Cantabria Rioja Crianza 2004 
  • 90 – Churchill Douro Churchill Estates 2006

With christmas just around the corner what better time to sample some of the best Spanish wines or plan a visit to the wineries that produce the best. Cheers!

See here for the full Wine Spectator list

Superb Little Hotel, Wine, Art, Books and Fine Rooms

This amazing little hotel has a wine shop as its reception and only three guest rooms. Choose the intimate Antique Baroque Style,  Silk Route or the modern La Lluna de Valencia with its roof top terrace providing fantastic views of the city.

 

Designed by Herme Ciscar and Monica Garcia the  ground floor wine shop also has glamorous books and wine-related pieces of art.

 

Located in front of the Central Market in the heart of Valencia Casa Azul is a little gem, wine, rooms and a city centre hideaway – superb.