Flavor of Spain

This is the first of a series of episodes I am going to talk about the wine regions of spain. Also I created for your reference and futures tastings a Jumilla Vintage Chart that you can download for free. I hope you enjoy it. Download your free Jumilla Vintage Chart

Today I am going ot talk a little bit about Jumilla area. The Jumilla D.O Denominacion de Origen is located in the South East of Spain near the Mediterrenean Coast.

Talking about Jumilla appellation is talking about grape varietry “Monastrell” and iteration of the french “Mourvèdre” but it deserves far better. Is a variety of high resistence to drought, what makes the prices very affordable and the value high. For bargain wine hunters is difficult to beat the Jumilla wines.

So what distinguishes DO Jumilla wines from other wines from Spain is that they are elaborated from the “Monastrell” grape.

Red wines, with their dominant presence of the Monastrell grape, have a strong colour, normally intense purple red, very expressive edgings and a fruity aroma (black and ripe fruit, plums…). They have live tannins in your mouth and big body. Red wine will pair fantastically with meat like barbequed ribs, grilled pork, beef and french fries.

Also is amazing that wine advocate Robert Parker rated the wines of Jumillaand this is the verdict: “After tasting around 700 Spanish wines, the prestigious North American critic Robert Parker affirmed the big international boom of Spanish wines, ratifying the relevance and extraordinary quality of the Designation of Origin Jumilla wines. At the tasting of these Spanish wines, which Parker considered one of the most exciting of his 26 years as a professional”

As a sample and tasting reference for all of you between the huge selection of Jumilla wines those are my favourites after tasting them, also comes with Robert Parker ratings:
Bodegas Juan Gil, Juan Gil , 2002 vintage: 91 points.
Bodegas Juan Gil, Juan Gil, 2003 vintage: 91 points.
Bodegas El Nido, Clio, 2002 vintage: 93 points.
Bodegas El Nido, El Nido, 2002 vintage: 96 points.
Bodegas Finca Luzón, Altos de Luzón trademark, 2003 vintage: 89 points.
Bodegas Finca Luzón, Castillo Luzón trademark, 2002 vintage: 87 points.

The best of all is that most of those fantastic wines like “Juan Gil” and “Finca Luzon” are (still) under $15 dollars a bottle. Never better said cheap is good!

Cheers

Samuel

Light, fresh and organic, this salad with mozzarella will persuade all cheese and salad lovers.
With oregano as spice gives an enjoyable twist to this classic salad traditionally done with basil. Enjoy the summer!

Ingredients:
Bufala Mozzarella
1 Romaine Lettuce
1 Tomato
1/2 Cucumber
Oregano
Olive Oil from Spain
Salt to taste

Procedure:
Clean the lettuce and tomatoe. Chopped tomatoe and cucumber in 0,5 inch-thick slices. Cut the lettuce. Finally cut mozzarella in 0,5-inch-thick slices.
Serve it in a dish.
Dress the salad with olive oil and sprinkle a little bit tomatoes and mozzarella with oregano. Put salt to taste.

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If something is more typical spanish than toros, sangria and flamenco that’s ‘Siesta’. Now a days Siesta, is not that much typical spanish anymore, ‘Siesta’ cross borders to others countries and now has a lot of supporters. In this case at least globalizacion has some positive aspects. 😉

‘Siesta’ now is not a practice for lazy people anymore, so don´t be scared to crush in your sofa. It´s good for health.

1) Romans already knew it:
‘Siesta’ from the latin “sixta” that´s how they called the sixth hour of the day after luch to get some sleep. ‘Siesta’ in not an invention of the modern days and stressed way of live, our ancestors already did it. Is was a necessity back then also.

2) Sofa, the favourite place.
A survey done by the high end italian sofa Natuzzi revealed that the most wanted place for siesta between spanish population was the sofa, preferibly with the TV on
and watching old western movies or documentaries are the best the fall sleep.

3) Doctor Recommendation:
With only 15 minutes a day, ‘siesta’ reduces possibility of hearth attack, arteriosclerosis, anxiety and enhances your memory. In words of a frenchman Michel Billar: ” Siesta is the best spanish contribution to the humanity “.

4) Is a Polical Issue:
Japanesse, pioneers for long time a go on sleeping at work, Corporations have specials rooms to get some sleep at work. Productivity increased 20%.

In Hungary want to create a law to regulate the siesta time, they need the support only of 200,000 signatures.

In Huelva(Sevilla) between 3 and 6 PM they have to stop making noise near an area called ‘Playa de la antilla’.

5) Hotel Siesta Rates:
Every day is more common Hotels between certain hours give special rates by hour to do ‘Siesta’ in Spain and other countries. Perfect choice after a bussines or coworkers lunch.

Other perfect summer dish, my handy recipe of “Patatas Hervidas con Judias Verdes y Huevos” goes very well with hot weather. For my it´s been very usefull and fresh resorce because is light, healthy, delicous and it´s organic.

Ingredients: for 4 servings
5 Potatoes
4 Eggs
1 Pound ( 0,5 Kilo) Fresh Green Beans
Olive oil for dressing
Salt

How to:
Boil the potatoes, eggs and green beans. Boil them separetely, first potates, then the green beans and finally the eggs.

Boil potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until they are soft. Once the potatoes are done remove the skin. I recommend you to check the potatoes with a fork, if they are soft mean they are done.

Boil the eggs, once are done remove the skin.

Finally boil the green beans for 15-20 minutes or until are done and soft.

Add for every serving one potatoe cut in half, one egg cut in half and the green beans. Don´t forget to dress it with olive oil and salt to taste.

Aaaaa I almost forgot…Serve it cold.

Tip: Personally when I do this dish I like to mash it all together. To mash it I use my fork.

Buen provecho!

Samuel

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