Bodegas Castano, leader in Monastrell grape wines

Bodegas Castano, leader in Monastrell grape wines

By Alfredo de la Casa

Bodegas Castano is a third generation family run winery located in Murcia province in the South East of Spain.

Regardless of being just a 70 kilometres away from the Mediterranean sea, the area of Yecla where Castano vineyards are, enjoys a dry continental climate, characterised by very cold winters and very hot summers, with vineyards located 700 metres above sea level. This is perfect climate to produce great wines, and Bodegas Castano is a great example of producing exceptional wines.

Castano family have been pioneers in making wines using Monastrel grapes, in fact when you mention Monastrel wines in Spain most people associate them with Bodegas Castano, producing such high quality wines that they export 80% of their production.

The family started producing wines in the 70’s which they used to sell wholesale, to later on start making quality wines in the 80’s and gaining their international reputation in the more than 42 countries they export to.

Their vines don’t see any artificial irrigation, leading to better maturation and better quality of the grapes. With six different wine lines, all their wines offer great value for money.

The winery is currently run by the three brothers who also cultivate olive trees making exceptional olive oil.

I had the chance of meeting Mr Daniel Castano, who is very proud of his wines, not surprising considering the large amount of prizes won and high scores earned by even some of their medium range wines. For him, working close to their markets and customers is the secret of their success, the key is having a good

connection with them, listening and acting on advice.

You can enjoy many of Bodegas Castano’s wines at Vino. Just to name two of them, if you are after something refreshing, delicate and full of fruit, try the Castano Rosado, and for something full bodied, and one of my favourites with 91 Parker points and a great price, try Hecula.

Humilitat, Priorat. Spain

Wine: Humilitat

Producer: Franck Massard

Region: Priorat

Country: Spain

Colour: Red

Year: 2011

Grape: Garnacha, carinhena

Supplier: Vino* (soon)                                                                           

Restaurant: Lubu* (soon)

Price (VND): A

Points: 90/100

Pairs well with: We had it with rabbit confit and vegetables, which was a great match. Roast lamb would be another good match.

Notes:

Dark purple colour with an amazing nose of dark red fruits, cassis and some sweet notes.

The palate is equally amazing, a bit too alcoholic feeling at the beginning, but showing complexity and a good combination of power and delicacy. Something different to traditional Spanish wines, but exquisite.

We had it with rabbit confit and vegetables, which was a great match. Roast lamb would be another good match.

Mas amor, rose, Spain

Wine: Mas Amor

Producer: Franck Massard

Region: Catalonia

Country: Spain

Colour: Rose

Year: 2012

Grape: A

Supplier: Vino* (soon)                                                                           

Restaurant: Lubu* (soon)

Price (VND): A

Points: 74/100

Pairs well with: Pairs well with gnogghi, grilled prawns, saldas.

Notes:

Pale lovely pink colour.

The nose brings spices, strawberries and fresh red fruits.

The palate is also fresh with a touch of bitterness and medium length, light and refreshing.

Pairs well with gnogghi, grilled prawns, saldas.

Herbis, Verdejo, Spain

Wine: Herbis Verdejo

Producer: Franck Massard

Region: Rueda

Country: Spain

Colour: White

Year: 2012

Grape: Verdejo

Supplier: Vino* (soon)                                                                           

Restaurant: Lubu* (soon)

Price (VND): A

Points: 78/100

Pairs well with: Pairs lovely with octopus salad, spicy seafood.

Notes:

Medium light in colours. The nose brings lots herbs, lychees and asparagus.

On the palate, this wine is crisp and beautiful offering a rather long length with lots of complexity and a good balance. Pineapples, exotic fruits and a touch of green melon.

Pairs lovely with octopus salad, spicy seafood.

Franck Massard wine dinner in Lubu

Some weeks I go I announced the wine dinner with Franck Massard wines, and Franck himself, at Lubu, Jim's (from Vino) new restaurant.

As you would expect, it was a great evening, not only for the delicious wines and delicate food, but for the atmosphere and having the opportunity to speak to Franck and hear his love and passion for his wines.

Here are some pictures of the event, and reviews of the wines will follow very soon.

Epicure Wine Dinner

Franck Massard wines + Jim Cawood (Vino) and Lubu (his new restaurant) guarantee for a great experience.

I cam across Franck Massard and his great wines a few years back in London when i was working with Naked Wines. This Saturday he will be here, presenting them at Lubu, Jim's new restaurant, a real unique opportunity for those of us who love great wine and great food.

So if you want to have a great exclusive evening, join us at 7pm, I have already booked my place!

Wine, grapes and relaxation.

Although there are many reasons to visit Spain, including good weather, history and food, wine tourism has become one of the latest trends with foreigners and locals alike. You may enjoy drinking wine, but the next step is visiting the cellars.

As a result of this new trend, some of the best wineries have decided to cater to the new demand and have opened up restaurants (giving visitors the opportunity to try local cuisine with fabulous wines), or even luxury hotels, for those of us who apart from great food and wine, also want to enjoy the tranquillity of the vineyards and surrounding landscapes.

For history and wine lovers alike, wine tourism brings the best of all worlds: good food, great wine, and an adventure through the countryside being able to visit old towns and villages, as well as the array of historical relics such as churches, monasteries and the like.

Rioja, around 150 km from the Spain’s Northern coast, is the most famous wine producing area in the country, especially internationally, due to the wine production tradition, but above all for providing some of the top wines to the country and the world.

If you decide to visit Rioja region, you will be spoilt for choice of wineries to visit as well as high-quality restaurants, so you should choice wisely to make the most of your trip! I have travelled a lot in Rioja, so when I recently returned to the region, I was clear on what area to visit - Rioja Alavesa, as they are famous for the best wines within Rioja.

After having visited several wineries, I am sure which one I will visit again once I am back to Rioja: Bodegas Eguren Ugarte.

Five generations of wine makers and a lot of passion for top-quality wine is what has made Eguren Ugarte wines so famous and successful. Their winery is located a few kilometres away from Laguardia, where you can visit the winery, the cellars, a fine dining restaurant or even have a wonderful stay in their boutique hotel.

The winery and vines are placed in a premium location: in a flat area in between two sets of mountains, providing not only amazing views, but a particular climate ideal for wine making.

The hotel, which has been built on top of the cellars, offers unique accommodation - sleeping amongst wine barrels and vineyards is quite an experience especially with comparatively low prices.

The winery has two fine dining restaurants, where they combine traditional local dishes with modern cuisine, all under supervision of one Spain’s top chefs, Eneko Atxa, who has three Michelin stars.

The visit to the cellars is unique and worth the trip: you will be guided through several kilometres of underground caverns, some containing private wine holdings for top customers so that they can keep their precious wine in prime condition; what’s more, in several areas inside the cellars, you can find dining areas. It’s not everyday you're able to enjoy great food and wines in a candle-lit wine cellar. Another reason to visit this incredible winery is the soon-to-be-open spa, where you can get many treatments based on wine - ready for a wine bath?

Laguardia village is just a few minutes away by car, and worth a visit, but due to the large amount of cellars there, you may not enter the village by car, as doing so could lead the ground to collapse under you and the potential destruction of priceless wines. You wouldn’t wanna be that guy.

Once in Laguardia, you can visit the local Church as well as many of the local bars. Likewise, you are just minutes away from many wineries and small villages with lots of history behind them.

In order to visit, your best bet is to fly to Bilbao airport, and hire a car (which in Spain is rather inexpensive), and you will be less than two hours away of Laguardia and the amazing Eguren Ugarte winery and hotel.