Tag Archives: Wine tasting

Australia

Adelaide National Wine Centre of Australia

Shelley and I spent a wonderful afternoon at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide. It was a great spot for anyone who enjoys a fine wine and a touch of history of the wine industry.

The building itself is an elegant architecture, designed to reflect the rolling curves of wine barrels and the beauty of Australia’s wine-growing regions.

We began our visit by wandering through the interactive displays that explain Australia’s winemaking heritage. The exhibits walked us through the process of wine from the vine to the bottle.

There was a map which explained the diverse wine regions spread across Australia.

 

We were intrigued by the digital tasting tables, where we could explore information about hundreds of Australian wines at the touch of a screen.

After taking in the exhibits, we decided it was time for a more hands-on experience.

We settled into the area entitled “Wined” its a very cozy and inviting space that overlooks the Botanic Gardens.

There, we indulged in a tasting of several South Australian wines, each one unique. To complement the tasting, we shared a platter of local cheeses and meats. They paired very nicely with the wines.

As we enjoyed our wine, one of the staff members shared a bit more about the centre’s history. The National Wine Centre opened in 2001 as both a tourist destination and an educational hub dedicated to promoting Australia’s wine industry. The centre gave us more of an appreciation of Australia’s remarkable wine culture. The combination of history, taste, and atmosphere made it a great experience.

“Life is meant for good friends, adventures and wine”

Australia

Swan Valley Wine tour

While we were in Perth, we decided to take a local wine tour to explore some of the excellent wines they have there.  We headed out to one of Australia’s oldest and most beautiful wine regions, the Swan Valley.  It was just a short bus trip from Perth but it felt like we’d drove into another world. The weather was overcast and rained a bit while on the way through rolling hills and vineyards that stretched for miles. We were greeted with a beautiful double rainbow as we arrived at our first winery.

One of the highlights of our day was the visit to Houghton Winery, one of the most iconic names in Western Australian wine. We enjoyed tastings of several beautiful wines. 

We went to different wineries and tasted an array of different Swan River Valley wines. 

Ray in the field with vines in Swan River Valley

We were lucky to even walked through some of the estate and saw some unique things like sheep grazing between the rows of grapes. we even saw a few kangaroos hopping along the wines as if they owned the place.

There’s something magical about seeing Australia’s iconic wildlife living seamlessly with the charm of the vineyards.

We sampled an impressive variety of wines throughout the day, including some beautiful expensive rich reds.

Shelley overlooking the wine estate and vines

Beyond the wine tasting itself, seeing the scenery and driving through the Swan Valley was great. We were able to see a unique area of Australia known for their amazing wines.  By the end of the day, we were full, content and ready for our next adventure.

“cheers”

Spain

Aldonza Bodega Tour

We went  to take a wine tour at the Aldonza Bodega. It is located in the historic wine region of Castile-La Mancha, Spain. 

The winery is nestled in the Navamarin Pastureland, a unique geographical area that imparts special characteristics to the grapes.

The combination of the region’s specific climate, soil, and altitude makes the grapes grown here develop robust unique flavours and balanced acidity.

The winery’s emblem features the iconic figure of Don Quixote on horseback, a nod to the cultural heritage of La Mancha, the land that inspired Cervantes’ famous novel. 

We were greeted by a guide who took us through the entire winery explaing the different aspects of the wine making. 

He explained how the winery has received numerous international and world-recognized awards for its exceptional quality. 

some of the wards for their wines

 

Aldonza Bodega created a perfect blend of traditional wine making with modern innovation.

Modern and clean facilities

The modern facilities are equipped with cutting-edge technology, yet the wine cellar is designed to look like an ancient, natural cave, evoking a sense of history and authenticity.

“Cave” area of the bodega

Even the lighting was made to look like lanterns with flickering lights simulating flames. 

This balance between the old and new is also reflected in their winemaking approach, which honors traditional techniques while leveraging modern methods to enhance the quality of their wines.

We were treated to an experience that celebrates their award winning wines. We enjoyed a wine tasting session, which included not only their award-winning wines but also olive oil produced on-site, offering a complete taste of the region’s artisanal products.

Shelley, Ray, Sonja, Marcelo in the Bodega Aldonza

“no malgastes tu tiempo o el tiempo te malgastará a ti. disfruta de la vida al máximo”

Spain

Wine tour in Requena Spain

We went on a trip for a few days to visit the town of Requena in eastern Spain. It is located on the left bank of the river Magro. The town has a long history and at one time was used as a Moorish fortress. The moors occupied Spain for around 800 years, from 711 to 1492. 

Part of the fortress in Requena Spain

Requena is dominated by the ancient citadel of the Moors, and still has traces of the original town walls.

Church front of Arciprestal Del Salvador in Requena
The Iglesia Arciprestal del Salvador is Renaissance-style, Roman Catholic church. It was erected in the 15th century.

We walked and explored some of the streets of the older section of Requena. 

One of the narrow streets in Requena
A narrow street in Requena

Another interesting fact about Requena is the existence of a labyrinth of caves located underneath the streets. Between the 12th and 13th centuries during the Muslim period, caves were excavated and used for storage and protection. 

One of the gated and locked entrances into the labyrinth of caves under the old quarter of Requena.

There are 22 caves that can still be found in Requena today. Many homes in Requena’s old quarter have a cave as part of the house. Thanks to geology, it was possible to easily excavate the subsoil which was done by the moors.

Entrance into the Historic Murviedro bodega.

We had the opportunity to visit the Murviedro’s Historic Winery located in the old quarter of Requena.

Entering into the cave system under Requena

Through part of the tour we explored some of the ancient caves under the city.

Ancient containers used for wine storage

It was like going back in time and experiencing the sensation of a different era. The bodega kept some of the original wine containers and in the original condition. 

 

Original clay cast for storage of olive oil or wine.

After exploring the caves of the winery we were able to enjoy a fantastic wine tasting of their different wines.

Overall It was a great experience and provided us with a snapshot of ancient times through the caves of Requena.

We finished our day by walking along the small alleys that led to the edge of the city, where we admired the stunning sunset.

A very enjoyable and memorable trip to Requena Spain.

“En la variedad está el gusto”

Spain

Vallodolid

We stayed for a few days in the city of Valladolid which is located in the autonomous region of Castile and León. This is also in the Riebera del Duero area. The city of 300 thousand is very beautiful with lots to see and do. 

Statue in front of the Calvary academy in Valladolid. Spain

There were lots of statues that appeared to be randomly placed throughout the city.

Statue of person wearing a pointed hood which hides the identity. Traditionally this is done on the holy week where their faces are covered in mourning, and also as a sign of shame for the sins they have committed throughout the year. .
Statue to honour a police officer
Statues in water fountains

Many times we would be walking along a street and come across a bronze statue of some kind.

Bronze statue of a walking man with umbrella, Shelley taking a stroll with him.

It was easy to see where people sat or touched the statues by the polish on the bronze.

Bronze statue of a person with suitcase and umbrella- Note the polish of the suitcase where people have used as a seat

One in particular that we came across was part of a fountain and was a little bit unexpected and surprised us.

As we got closer to this particular statues it was clear that they were naked men. It was not hard to see where the bronze was polished.

There was a beautiful park located in the centre of the city, so we decided to walk through and check it out.

It wasn’t long after we entered the park that we were being followed.

Peacock in the park in Valladolid Spain
We stopped to take a selfie at one of the fountains located in the park.

We explored some of the many different churches in Valladolid. They were very ornate and quite beautiful. 

Modern Church in Valladolid

We explored the streets of Valladolid and worked our way to the Plaza Mayor.  

Shelley and Ray in Plaza Mayor in Valladolid Spain

The Pisuerga River flows through the city and has beautiful trails on the shoreline. We walked the trail for a while exploring this area of the city.

The city of Valladolid was a great experience and we enjoyed our time very much. I can see us returning in the future to explore more of this city. 

“La vida se trata de las aventuras que tomas y los recuerdos que haces.”