Ricardo's Blog

A Visit to Bodegas Torroja.   A visit to Bodegas Torroja in  Requena´s hamlet of El Azagador had been on the cards for some time and was confirmed after tasting the Tardana Blanco twice in as many weeks. Founded in a restored bodega dating to 1910, Torroja  belongs to the Garcia family and is run by three brothers. With some 30 hectares of vines several varieties are planted including Tempranillo

Serraltur 2010, Pedralba   Last weekend 15 and 16 May saw the latest fair celebrating the gastronomy of the Serranos and Alto Turia mancommunidad take place in the village of Pedralba, some 30 km out of Valencia and although not yet connected by a path, right at the head of the new Turia National Park.   The  celebrations actually started earlier in the week with the 2nd Art and Gastronomy event

¨Primeras Marcas¨ and Verema Host a Tasting in Valencia.   10 May saw a tasting in the Hospes Palau De La Mar Hotel in Valencia organised jointly by Verema and ¨Primeras Marcas¨ the Barcelona based distributors with a catalogue to match the name. The tasting was primarily organised for professionals in the wine and restaurant trade and was much more ¨organised¨ than some I have reported on

Pedralba Hosts Serraltur 2010   Pedralba plays host to Serraltur 2010 next weekend 15-16 May 2010. This is an itinerant gastronomic fair showcasing the products found in the Serranos and Alto Turia comarcas of Valencia. In the past it has been held in Tuejar, Calles and Serra. Around 40 stands will show local business from the region including Bodegas from Titaguas, Alpuente, Villar d´Arzobispo,

  May Brings Thunder, Lightning and Hailstorms to the Valencian Vineyards.   The beginning of May has brought with it a sharp drop in temperature allowing huge storms to develop across the Valencian Community. Hailstones which have taken some time to melt away have once again caused damage to the vineyards of Utiel-Requena where the new buds, particularly around Caudete de Las Fuentes were

Two Sides of the Coin in Valencias Vineyards.   The two sides of Valencian winemaking seem to be at odds this weekend over the future of Valencian wine. The problem seems to be essentially related to the difference between the Bodega owners, or `bodegueros´and the families who grow grapes, the`cosecheros´, but who do not make their own wine, choosing to sell to the Cooperatives instead.     The

Utiel-Requena Seeks UNESCO Cultural Heritage Status.   Tomorrow, 22 April  Vicente Perez, President of the controlling body ( CRDO) of the Utiel-Requena wine region near Valencia will sign an agreement at a press conference together with Carmen Perez,  the Director of the IVCR ( Valencian Institute for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage ) and  with the Archeologist responsible for

Valencia´s Wine and Food Fair Reaches New Heights! - Part 2.   This year I made a special effort to visit the stand showcasing the Vins de la terra de Castellon. People forget that Castellon once had a thriving wine industry that exported huge quantites of wine the UK annually as well as Bordeaux to bulk up claret. Phylloxera, new wine laws, the Civil war and compulsory replanting of vineyards

Valencia's Wine and Food Fair Reaches New Heights! - Part 1   Valencia's dry river bed this weekend is hosting the 22nd Valencian Wine and Quality Food Fair organised annually by PROAVA, the wine and food promotional body here in the Community. And to my mind this has been the best yet, a view clearly shared by fellow visitors and exhibitors alike. Several of the bodegas are exhibiting for the

22nd Wine, Cava and Spirits Fair and 20th Traditional Foods Fair of the Valencian Community. 18-22 April 2010.   PROAVA, Valencia´s promotional body for the food, agriculture and wine trade will today announce details of the best wine and food fair held annually in the CV. This years event will be the biggest yet and the organisers are confident it will attract some 500,000 visitors to the space