CONTRIBUTIONS

WINE TOUR STORY by Donna Campos (August 2005)

Donna Campos did the Classical Wines Tour with us last year in August and she sent us her wonderful impressions of the tour. August 30th to September 1st.

Dear Cristina,

The first thing that you did right was to communicate with us before we arrived in Spain.We enjoyed being a part of the planning. Our participation enhanced our anticipation. We looked at maps, read guide books, and imagined ourselves in Spain. Of course, we were glad to rely on your knowledge of the area and leave the final arrangements in your hands.

Our first real contact with Vintage Spain was Gaetán who gave us a terrific tapas tour. I found the narrative about the neighborhood extremely interesting and his selection of tapas places was very good. We began at La Venencia which we returned to on our own when we came back to Madrid. Our stop at La Casa del Abuelo was so deliciously enticing that we returned there also on our own. After more stops, it was time to call it a night. We hoped that we had not kept our knowledgeable guide too long. He was good company and by the end of the evening we invited him to our annual July Fourth party in New Jersey.

We did use some restaurant recommendations from Gaetán. We dined at Alkalde in the Salamanca district and La Paella Real near the Teatro Real de la Opera. We were pleased with both dining experiences. We also stopped at a tapas bar near our hotel, and it was a place that Gaetán had pointed out to us.

Cristina, from the moment you picked us up we were comfortable and so glad that you were driving. Even though Eduardo speaks Spanish and can read the signs, he did not know the roads as you do.To have the landscape of Ribera del Duero encircle us as we headed to Tinto Pesquera was dreamlike. Then to arrive at Pesquera where the wine that we drank on our first date was made was a dream come true. Our gentleman host was wonderful. Eduardo and he both clearly loved that wine. We shall enjoy every bottle of Pesquera more since the taste of the wine is now associated with two memorable experiences, our first date nad our visit to Pesquera.

As we continued through the arid countryside, we took pleasure in the ride. I enjoyed the scenery, and Eduardo favored naps. We both found the view from the castle of Penafiel lovely.Our lunches from the first day were great. Trying the local specialties was exactly my idea of how to experience a country. Cristina, we were glad to have you order and to chat with you over the tasty food and the wines of Ribera del Duero.

With our fully satisfied stomachs, we headed to Valsotillo for another sensory experience. We were greeted with such gracious hospitality once again at our second family owned winery of the day. The son of Ismael Arroyo shared the process of making quality wine from his tempranillo plantings. The cellars dug into the mountain were particularly new and unusual to me although not to the Arroyo family.Our visit culminated with more delicious nectar of the vines.

A drive to Burgos finished at a hotel with a historic facade and a very modern, tasteful interior where we made ourselves comfortable in our well appointed room. The hotel was conveniently located and made a stroll around the very old town's center a most pleasant way to spend the evening. We surveyed the tapas scene and chose the second busiest place where we found a much prized table. More wine, tapas, and checking out the Burgos scene finally left us ready for our king size bed at the Hotel Palacio de los Blasones. A good night's sleep and breakfast at the hotel's dining room put us in shape for the next full day.

Before we ventured deep into enchanted Rioja, we toured the cathedral at Burgos. Then into our vehicle with you, capable Cristina, at the wheel we embarked upon a day of more mouth watering local fare, wines to search for in the U.S., and views to remember on a cold New Jersey day.

After passing through the striking green of Rioja and savoring lunch, we arrived at Marques de Riscal which makes the wines Eduardo first tasted in Cuba. Eduardo had wanted to go to this winery although he found this wine tasting experience the least satisfying. The winery guide was not a family member or someone with a long history with the wine.She was pleasant and spoke English, but she was not passionate about wine as our other contacts were. Cristina, you had indicated to Eduardo that he might not be completed satisfied with the visit since it is a very large, more commercial establishment.

The wine museum was certainly worth a visit.

The charming Los Calaos in Briones was delightful. Our room had the loveliest view of the vineyards and the Sierra Cantabria Mountains. The inn's restaurant was excellent. I am still remembering the orange ice cream covered with warm chocolate. The smallness of the town would be limiting for a longer stay.

I think one of the highlights of our trip was our visit with Miguel Merino, who was so incredibly generous with his time as we toured his winery. He is a true son of the vineyards with his genuine love of winemaking. Eduardo just went to NYC this week and bought 4 bottles of his wine. He is on the lookout for more.

The visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was worthwhile. I should have listened to the entire recording about the architecture of the building before I looked at any art work.I think I could have spent more time at the museum, but I'm a museum type. You graciously offered to wait while we continued on. At that point I didn't elect to return to the museum. It's not a problem. I think in the future you might want to ask people about their museum going habits. I am an extreme case who can spend hours and read every description about every work of art. Eduardo is different and was glad when the labels were in Spanish, so I couldn't inch my way through each museum in Spain. You may have had more quick visit museum types than the ones who could spend an entire vacation in the Prado. The Guggenheim isn't the Prado, so it might be good for an afternoon.

Our last day with our visit to Segovia was a swell ending to our truly wonderful tour. It seemed very strange to be back in Madrid and on our own. The rest of our stay was enjoyable. We took in the sights we missed in our first days in Madrid. We toured the Palacio Real. Then we decided to go to El Escorial and the Valle de los Caidos on a Pullmantur bus with a group and a guide. Cristina, you had spoiled us. Traveling with you was like flying first class, and traveling on the Pullmantur was like flying economy. We hope to win the lottery and forever after travel first class in Spain with our Cristina. We thank you for the pleasure of your company. You managed to be both warm and professional at the same time. We will be delighted to see you if you come to NYC

Donna Campos

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