Wine tasting in Andalucia – finding a vineyard
There are plenty of official wine tours departing from Malaga, but we decided to organise our own visit because – as is the case with holidays – the planning is half the fun! We wanted a vineyard that was within easy walking distance of Ronda and its hotels.
And so, Googling away, I found one that looked beautiful and interesting, where the barrels of wine were stored in a building that looked like a chapel. And the owner, Flavio, was flexible enough to change the normal vineyard tour times from 12 noon to 5pm to suit us. All arrangements were made via WhatsApp, as that seems to be the preferred way of communication in Spain. How exciting to go on a small group outing for the first time since COVID-19 struck!
Ronda
Hilary and I have been to Ronda a few times over the years, and we are always awed by the amazing gorge and bridge, the beautiful houses, and stunning scenery. What was different this time was the fact that the roads, the pavements, the bars, the restaurants and the shops were quiet. For us, this was great. We had lunch at an amazing restaurant overlooking the gorge and managed to get a prime table at peak lunchtime. The streets were much quieter than before, and we could see the views without having to wrestle with numerous tourist parties for the best spots.
Prime location for lunch
On the downside, many shops, hotels and restaurants have closed down. We talked with the owner of the small hotel we stayed in and she explained that she used to employ five staff for cleaning and serving food. Now it’s just her husband and herself who do everything. Consequently, she was there when we checked in, she served us breakfast, we saw her at lunchtime, and also late at night when we returned after a pizza and a beer. Hard work, seven days a week. But it’s the only way they can keep the business going. The amazing thing about our encounter was that she remained positive, friendly and helpful, despite it all. Kudos to her!
A quiet Ronda bridge over the gorge
Tourism with mask
The wine tour and tasting in Ronda
We walked the 2km from our hotel to Finca Descalzos Viejos in the gentle warmth of the late-afternoon, and met up with Flavio who showed us around. We spent three hours with him at the Bodega, looking at the wonderful old monastery buildings where the wine was kept in oak barrels, the beautiful gardens, and the vineyards below in the distance.
The one regret was that the Bodega wasn’t closer to the vineyards. So we couldn’t walk through the vines, picking up tips and tricks, which would have been helpful as we’ve just planted a vine to grow up our pergola in front of the house. But we had great fun, and tasted four different wines, accompanied by the best manchego cheese ever!
Flavio hosting our Spanish wine tasting …
The views from the vineyard over Ronda were astounding and because our wine tour was in the early evening, the skies were turning pink and orange. Though maybe that was partially because we didn’t exactly take tiny sips of each of the wines on offer, but drank a healthy glass each time …
A gentle walk back in pink & orange skies
Spanish wines
I have to confess that I know very little about wine, apart from the fact that I like drinking it! A year or two ago when we traveled from the UK to Spain by car, we were told by a hotel owner that there are only two wine regions of note in Spain: Rioja and Ribeira. But actually, when you look at what’s available in supermarkets, there’s an enormous amount of choice in wines, made of different types of grapes. Prices are ridiculously low too, with good wines available for as little as 3 euros per bottle.
Plenty of modern wine-making equipment
But one day I really fancied a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc – with all those happy memories of London wine bars! And so we started looking in our local supermarkets, and found that there are very few non-Spanish wines available. Even in the Carrefour, which is a French-owned hyper-market with massive stocks of wine on display, there was only a tiny half-shelf displaying ‘vinos extranjeros’. Much more expensive too, so we’re happy to discover more about Spanish varieties that are available locally. And maybe I will find a locally grown Sauvignon Blanc somewhere near here …
Haven’t found a Spanish Sauvignon Blanc yet
Welcome home…
After a great breakfast of pastries and toast, with lots of strong coffee, we decided to explore Ronda some more. What a lovely town, with fantastic views from all sides. Not suitable for those who suffer from acrophobia (or fear of heights as it’s more commonly known). There were moments when, looking down the gorge, I felt slightly dizzy. Or perhaps that was the effect of the wine the previous day – who knows!
Dizzy heights!
We eventually made it back home after our lovely wine tasting trip in Ronda, having left our two kittens alone for more than 24 hours for the first time. We opened the door with some trepidation and there they were, looking healthy and happy, so we were very relieved. Until… we found a ginormous – larger than the kittens’ own size – dead rabbit in our sitting room. Yikes, nothing like a dead rabbit to move quickly into cleaning mode. It was soon disposed of in el campo, where within minutes it disappeared – presumably taken away by some other animal. I will never look the same way at our lovely, sweet little kitties again!
Butter wouldn’t melt …
Beautiful Ronda