Brandon's Trip to Spain - June 2011, Part 3

All of our managers and wine staff travel at least once a year to a wine-growing region somewhere throughout the world. Traveling is one of the many aspects of Joe Canal’s that sets us apart from other wine shops. We know that by meeting the winemakers, walking the vineyards and tasting new wine from the barrel, we can see first-hand the passion that goes into each bottle. We can then convey this commitment to quality to our customers. Rather than having you just looking at a label and a score, we believe it is our responsibility to bring you closer to how the wine was made and the people who made it. We'll be sharing their trip reports with you here on the BottleBlog.

In June 2011, Brandon Bartfalvi, Wine Manager of the Lawrenceville store had the privilege of traveling to Spain and immersing himself in Spanish food, culture, and most importantly, wine! Here is the third installment of Brandon's trip.

DAY THREE: MI CASA ES SU CASA

THE WINERY: The starting point for the creation of this new bodega in Castilla-La Mancha was the acquisition of the Finca Valdelagua estate in Yepes (Toledo) by the Bodegas Olarra Group. With their know-how, the most advanced technology and three decades of winemaking experience in Rioja, the wine group's technical experts started to implement this major project in 2000.

The bodega is surrounded by 100 hectares of new vineyards growing the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah varieties, chosen for their great suitability for ageing and their well-defined personality and character.

MY DAY: We took a lovely five hour trip from Rioja to Castilla- La Mancha area on a beautiful, warm day. The weather was perfect the ride was relaxing and the with our group, the laughs didn't stop. We were on our way to the Casa del Valle winery and I had no clue what to expect. The topography changed as we got closer to our destination and the temperature definitely climbed. After a wrong turn and a slight delay (but I did have a Fanta Lemon soda that was thirst quenching) we made our way to the final destination: Casa del Valle. This is a beautiful estate with wide, sweeping vineyards and a well-manicured, landscaped, large front yard.

We were welcomed by Daniel Martin Cestero, the technical director for the winery (basically, he runs the show). Daniel was passionate and knowledgeable and as he led us on our tour we realized that he is involved in every aspect of the winery. From field to finished bottle, Daniel is monitoring every little detail. Most importantly he loved sharing the information with us! This was his life and he loved the sharing it with us.

He took us into the fields to see the vines and to show us the boundaries of the estate. We walked though the fields discussing vines, soil types, rocks, vegetation, pests, wildlife and just life in general. After we left the fields we returned to the winery to walk through the interior and view where the wine was created. Daniel's passion was evident as he became excited when he explained the equipment and the winery's processes. This winery was impressive and its still in its youth.

After the tour we returned to the main house (which is attached to the winery) for our meal. There is nothing like home cooking and the meal involved several local dishes. By the time I left the table I didn't think I could eat another morsel for the remainder of the trip. BUT the meal wasn't completely about the food. We tasted the wineries offerings and were very impressed by the value they represent. The Casa del Valle Cabernet Sauvignon is heady and bold and steal for the price. The Syrah was unique and I can't wait to try it again. The higher end offering is the Finca Valdelagua which is an impressive blend of Cab Sauv, Syrah and about 20% Merlot.

At this point the day was coming to a close and Daniel had to leave to return to his family. As we said our thank-yous, Daniel reminded us that the house was ours tonight. He told us to do as we please and to have a great time. Five grown (possibly immature) men given free rein to the house, good times. Daniel showed us to the liquor cabinets, the wine rack and the stash of Cuban cigars and told us that his was ours so make sure we enjoy ourselves that night. Believe it or not, we didn't get crazy but really just sat back on the balcony and talked about life the entire night (over a few choice liquors and a few cigars). This was living and I would not trade it for the world.

The next morning we arose to a delicious breakfast and prepared ourselves for a little drive to Madrid but first we had to stop by Toledo.

I could go on for hours about the beauty of Toledo and its architecture but I will not expound upon this. Just take my word for it, you must visit and spend time in this city and bring a large memory card for the camera. If you would like to know more about this segment of the trip, feel free to ask me next time you are in the store.

After walking through the streets of Toledo and having a tapas (and drinks) we made our way to the van to start our short trek back to Madrid.

WINES TO LOOK FOR: CASA DEL VALLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
WINES YOU MAY SEE SOON: CASA DEL VALLE SYRAH, FINCA VALDELAGUA