Ann Colclough writes:
Visit to la Finca Hoya de Cadenas:
Bright and early on the morning of Wednesday 10th June, 47 U3A Members gathered outside the Wok Express in Moraira.
Photo from bodega website
10th June 2009 - trip led by Pamela Kershaw & Ann Colcough
Ann Colclough writes:Visit to la Finca Hoya de Cadenas: Bright and early on the morning of Wednesday 10th June, 47 U3A Members gathered outside the Wok Express in Moraira. |
Photo from bodega website |
| The destination was to be the winery Vincente Gandia, West of Valencia, and thanks to the very prompt arrival of both the bus and the passengers, we were away at 9.05. Our driver was Miguel, and he was very impressed that we left "on time"! | 
Photo by Gerry Bird |
Photo from the bodega website |
Photo from the bodega website |
With a short stop for coffee and (in some cases) breakfast, we arrived in Utiel at 12.05, just 5 minutes behind schedule. We were greeted by Herman Potgieter, the young man who had helped us arrange the tour, and Shaila his colleague. The little train which was to take us on the tour was waiting and off we went. |
| Our tour guide was Shaila, a very knowledgeable young lady who gave us an insight into the history of the original Finca. It was a real treat to go through the house, and see how much of it has been preserved. | 
Photo by Gerry Bird |
Photo by Gerry Bird |
Photo by Ann Colclough |
|
After a visit to see the old farm machinery, it was back into the train and off to the modern plant. Amazingly this huge (and very noisy) building is run by 5 men, and of course computers! |
Photo by Gerry Bird |
Photo by Gerry Bird |
Photo by Gerry Bird |
Photo by Gerry Bird |
On then to the building where the full barrels of wine are kept. There was a wonderful smell of old wood in this building, and once again Shaila took us through the processes used, amazingly this building also uses only 5 men to keep it going! The information Shaila gave us included a description of how the barrels were cleaned, and how oxidisation in the barrels is avoided (you just make sure they are totally full by topping them up apparently), and she also told us that the old barrels were sold to whisky makers. I wonder if any of them end up in Scotland! |
Photo from the bodega website |
Photo by Gerry Bird |
Then on to the part that most of our group was waiting for, the tasting of the wines. This took place in a room full of bottles, glasses, and plates of breadsticks. Herman himself took over and led the group gently through the type of wine, the history behind its creation and the characteristics of it. He then invited people to try it. There was a cava, a white, a red, and finally a muscatel. Herman is originally from South Africa, and won a scholarship to study wine in France, he then made his way to Spain, and having decided he liked it, he has stayed! His talks were interesting, very informative, and easy for the novice to understand. He is clearly very proud of the winery, and rightly so. |
Photo by Ann Colclough |
| We then made our way to the hotel where we were having lunch, and we seemed to cause quite a stir as the 47 of us trooped our way through the dining room! Lunch was served quickly, and by general consent everyone agreed it was delicious. We were in the bus and on our way home again at 4.45, and arrived in Moraira at 7, a long day, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. |
Photo by Ann Colclough |
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