amsdon

OK, I know the title said tinto, but I stumped upon this & I'm hungry too.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72sapXB2aFA

pdx

Waahhhh! Again, I'm feeling sorry for myself. Though I suppose I could put together a cheese plate and sit in the back yard it just I'd much rather be hanging out in a courtyard or at a sidewalk cafe in Spain.
They made the wine tasting look so good and tasty. I want a nice bottle of wine. I've had some bummers recently.

josele

Ten years ago when travelling in New England, I found Viña Alberdi, for 12 bucks I think. It was (surprisingly) very good. Because wine in the US depends on your likes, and availability, and how it's been kept.

amsdon

Yes Josele we have some decent wine (as long as it's not in a box)Hope all is well.

ribeirasacra

I know you can purchase white wine (Rias Baixas) from Galicia in the USA, but does anybody know where you can purchase Ribeira Sacra over there? The reason I ask is for a friend as they are having difficulty location a source.

kybourbon

Maribel - Do you know of any good brands of serrano that can be purchased in the states? DD really misses it from when she lived in Madrid. We've tried a couple of brands available locally, but they just aren't as good. We especially didn't like Redondo Iglesias.

amsdon

Kybourbon while we await our beloved Maribel....

1. http://www.laespanolameats.com/Merch...vc?Screen=main

2. http://www.tienda.com/?CMP=KNC-Overt...ID=96775772012

3. http://www.spanishtable.com/

ribeirasacra

I thought Maribel is here in Spain at the moment.

Robert2533

There are no "great" options when it comes to Serrano, only a few good choices. You best option would be to order some from "The Spanish Table" (www.spanishtable.com) with stores in Seattle, Berkley, Santa Fe and Mill Valley. They sell a 4oz vacuum packed Jamon Iberico de Bellota, as well as the Redondo Iglesias Serrano you don't like. That's about all there is unless you know someone smuggling it in.

amsdon

"unless you know someone smuggling it in."

Not that I tried doing that or anything, but the little beagle at LAX will go staight to you if you are carying any jamon or chorizo.

pdx

Personally, I am appalled that they would spend my tax dollars training a little beagle to sniff for someone's personal stash of jamon. Hmmmph. Stick with the heroin and whatever those doggies are supposed to sniff.

amsdon

me too!

CathyM

amsdon-
I've been able to find 2005 Campo Viejo at Vons easily here in Southern California. In fact, they've had a special for the last few months where it's around $7 a bottle if you buy six. It's currently my "house" wine.

Trader Joes has Estola for $5.99 a bottle. It's not as good as the Campo Viejo but is still a good value for the quality.

amsdon

Hi Kathy thank you.
I will look for it.
I did see te Campo Viejo at Valley Produce too.
You & I are not that far apart I think, I am in Simi.

I sure wish the reserva would be a little cheaper.

Did we ever get a run down of your trip this time?
How was it? Was it for Feria?

CathyM

My last trip was to Sevilla for the Feria but also for the May crosses in Granada and the patio festival in Cordoba. I'm awful at posting formal trip reports - I just don't think I'm a very colorful writer. Then when I get started I just ramble. But I've organized my restaurant and hotel notes in case somewhat has specific questions. Although I enjoyed the feria I missed Semana Santa so much....next year. The big surprise highlight of this trip was Priego de Cordoba. It's already on my return list for next spring. I loved this place.

amsdon

Cathy don't every worry about the writing. In fact just sharing notes is sometimes more helpful....

When I read my mom's handwritten notes she kept in a little notepad it is really fun & helpful
stuff like: Hotel such & such, rooms just OK, beds hard. Dinner at XYZ, very good. I treasure those.

So you go every year? Was it Hotel Alminar?
Please share the name of your favorite restaurant in Sevilla with us!

CathyM

Hotel Alminar is my favorite hotel in Sevilla. It's not a 4* luxury hotel but I love it. It's small and well located. Francisco, the manager and the staff (Maria & Boniface in particular) are great. It's the kind of place where you can sit in the foyer and share a fino with the person working reception that evening. I stayed there the first time within a month of their opening so I've got to know everyone over the years - it feels like home.

As for food, I don't generally splurge here as I love the tapas. Most of my favorites are in Maribels guides or exploreseviille.com

Favorite place for lunch is the La Taberna del Alabadero:
http://www.grupolezama.es/

For tapas I have too many favorites to mention but just to name a few: Bar Estrella (I prefer it over it's sister Bar Giralda), Enrique Becerra (love their avacado and shrimp salad and tosta de foie) and Bar Eslava. I visited Bar Yebra in the Macarena this year for the first time and was very impressed - no tourists or menu - I just let them bring me the recommendations. Their tapas are modern and innovative. On the other hand, I also love Los Golondrinas in Triana, C/ Antillano Campos 26. It's down an alley and doesn't look like anything from the outside. However, the traditional tapas are wonderful and very inexpensive. I love their beets and mushrooms. They just opened up another location close by but I prefer the atmosphere at this location.

I'm trying to take my handwritten notes from each trip and put them in an electronic file to better organize and share. Maybe someday I'll write a real report!

amsdon

No worries. This is packed with great info. Thank you Cathy.

By the way I called for you on the 2 yr old post re Preigo de Cordoba....but now realized that was not tagged Spain.

josele

CathyM, the Estola is a good Mancha wine, about 3 eur at my usual supermarket, I'll check next time I go. Mancha wine (and other "lower" denominations) have improved greatly in recent years, and prices are generally lower than Riojas or Riberas.

josele

I wonder what happened with those 2007 Priego de Cordoba visitors...Anybody knows? I am very familiar with Priego, but not hotels, usually make it a daytrip. They are tagged in Europe.