Sunny Southern Spain!

Spain, with it's miles of coastline boasts shores on both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.  Along the "Costa Calida", on the Mediterranean Sea, the Calblanque National Park offers almost 6,000 acres of pristine beaches, hidden swimming and diving coves, hiking and biking trails as well as salt flats complete with flamingos!  The mountains, part arid, part evergreen, offer dramatic landscapes as sheer cliffs drop to the sea below.  There are long stretches of sandy beach as well as secluded coves. These coves, called "calas", can be sandy while others are rocky and the crystal clear waters provide an amazing view of mother nature's rock formations below the water's surface.  The park has no services but surprisingly offers a section with shaded parking!  Remember to pack a lunch, bring your blanket and umbrella  - then you'll be ready to sit back and watch (and listen) as the surf gently rolls in.

Cabo de Palos 

The town of Cabo de Palos sits at the edge of the Calblanque National Park and is known among other things, for diving.  The protected marine reserve is located between the Cabo de Palos light house and Isla Hormigas.  On any given day, several dive boats carry divers and snorkelers to explore the mystical, colorful world that lies below.  Of course, after a day at sea, whether diving, snorkeling or swimming, a good meal and a refreshing "cerveza" (beer) awaits at any one of the many restaurants, cafes or pubs that circle the fishing boat marina.  The marina is filled with working boats that belong to the local fisherman - the catch of the day is always fresh!

Chiringuito - Faro/Cabo de Palos

For those that prefer the land side of activities, there is a easy but absolutely beautiful walk from the fishing marina to the lighthouse and back.  The treat upon arrival to the lighthouse is the "chiringuito" - a beach bar.  So while not exactly on the beach, beachgoers can walk up for a chilled glass of wine, cold bottle of beer or ice cold water.  Food is minimal at best, although some larger ones do offer a menu. Fast, friendly and affordable - and we're taking on the challenge to visit as many "chiringuitos" as we can find!



Whether a day trip or short stay along the Costa Calida of Spain, a visit to the Calblaque National Park and Cabo de Palos should be on anyone's list of "to-do"!  The Spanish people are kind, warm and friendly.  Spanish food is delicious and fresh produce abounds.  Sangrias, "cervezas" and vinos are refreshing and the tapas are the tastiest - and prices won't break any budgets!!  All the more reason to put Spain on your travel radar today!

Spanish Wines - Ole'

Since spending time in Spain, one tends to do as the locals do and sip a glass of wine and watch the world go by....just like in France.  But what to drink?

Being new arrivals to Spain, the need to explore the the wines seems like an important task - because it is!  The only Spanish wines I knew were Freixenet Cava (sparking wine) and Rioja wines, from the NE section Spain.  However, Spain is large country and many areas produce wine:
Jerez (sherry), Rioja, Ribera de Duero, Jumilla and Rueda just some of the regions I've sampled so far.  With more than 70 wine producing regions, there's a whole lot of sampling that still needs to be done!

Rioja Wine - Some of these vines came from Bordeaux region of France (read the label on a bottle of Rioja wine from wine maker Marques de Riscal).  The Rioja wines are an excellent alternative to Bordeaux wines.  These are full bodied red wines and I absolutely love them!
Try:
Marques de Caceres, Campo Viejo, Juan Gil and Ramon Bilbao - all under $20 a bottle
For something I thought was a little lighter, I enjoyed the Marques de Riscal Proximo.

But red wine isn't the only wine made in the Rioja.   The region produces beautiful white Rioja wines, too.  Well worth trying these dry wines; served chilled, it is perfect for enjoying alone or with a meal.

And Rioja isn't the only region to make whites!  Countless other wine regions throughout Spain make delicious whites.  For example, the Verdejo grape from the Rueda region makes a great refreshing, dry white.  I rather much enjoy the whites from Rueda! Again, the cost for these are very easy on the wallet and very tasty on the palate!

Of course, many of us know the sparkling wine (Cava) Freixenet.  This winemaker makes several varieties of the "fizz" and they just keep getting better and better! There's Cordon Negro (Brut=dry),
Cordon Negro Rose' and Carta Nevada (Brut)....great sparkling wines to celebrate anything and everything!

Wines in Spain are rated as follows:
Classification:
DO covers about 70 regions
DOC only the two regions of Rioja and Priorat

Aging:
Vina de Mesa (table wine) and Vino de la Tierra (country wine)
Crianza - aged minimum of 2 years (with a minimum of 1 year in oak barrel)
Reserva - aged minimum of 3 years (with a minimum of 1 year in oak barrel)
Gran Reserva - aged 2 years in oak and 3 years in the bottle
Try:
The Campo Viejo Gran Reserva is about $22 a bottle
Muga Especial Reserva is about $35

Take a trip down the Spanish wine aisle of your local wine shop.  Our "Total Wine" shop carries a great selection of Spanish wines, so it makes it real easy to try new varieties and enjoy a lazy afternoon!  Hope you have the chance to try some of the suggestions!

Enjoy!