Valencia, Spain - The Bad Life ain't so "Mala Vida"

February 28th, 2015

Valencia, Spain

The Valencia Region of Spain is most recognized for it's "Huerta's" or farms.  This is the bread basket region of Spain and they know how to raise and grow the best crops in the climate that they have been granted:  Warm Mediterranean Sun and breezes.  Here it is in late February and they're calling for 82 degrees in a couple of days, but today it is in the upper 60s.   Regionally in Spain they do have their own DOC, but they are mostly known for their white wines, which go great with their Paella Rice dishes.  

Valencianos will all agree on one thing, Paella was invented in Valencia.  They have the rice fields and the history that will prove them correct.  From there, a traditional Paella can be one with Chicken, Pork, Rabbit and vegetables, or one with Mussles, Lobster, Calamari and any other fresh seafood that was caught that day.  They prepare the dish in a large shallow pan that allows the rice to stay in constant contact with the heat of a fire, preferably wood, and stirred slowly to keep the bottom from becoming entirely crusted over.  The rice will soak in all the goodness from the added ingredients, including shots of Bourbon or Whiskey depending upon the family preferences.  

The white wines go fantastic with this dish, and of course with the many Tapas that are served during the long hot evenings in the region.  Their acidity and balance really bring out the flavors of the region.  One time in a class, the teacher told us that one should almost always defer to the local wines to go with the type food that you're eating (Italian Wines with Italian Food, French Wines with French Style foods, etc.) because the food has been developed over centuries to compliment the wines that are grown there.  So the local tapas will go with almost any local wine.

After a late start, we managed to get to the Mercado Central to get some food and wine supplies for an outdoor picnic.  We rounded up jamon (Spanish ham), queso (Spanish Cheese), fresh bread, a vibrant red local tomato, and some 

Marcona Almonds and cookies.

We made out way to the now dry riverbed in Valencia which was diverted years ago and left the city with a park that runs through it with public buildings, museums, Opera House and Soccer Fields.  We sat out in the sun on the bridge and feasted on the fresh goods.  The cost for our two bottles we were tasting today was 5.95 and 4 Euros.  Two very good bottles of wine for under 10 Euros.  You can still find great wines at a bargain in Spain.  One was Mala Vida and we'll be looking for that again.  Mala Vida means Bad Life, but this was anything but a bad time.

Valencia does have some red wines that are good, but due to the climate, they will be more challenged than their cooler northern regions like La Rioja and El Duero.  We also had a Rioja wine at lunch and it was good too.  We saw that there is a Petit Verdot that is grown in the area by Juan de Juanes.  Hopefully we can find that later.  

Valencia, Spain

Valencia, Spain

February 26-27, 2015

We arrived in Spain yesterday after a long travel day.  We left in a hurry on Wednesday night to go to the airport in order to be close in case the snow storm predicted would snow us in our house in Winston-Salem.  However, it wasn't as bad as they expected, but still bad for North Carolina. About 4 to 5 inches.  We stayed close to the airport and were able to get there early for our 3:30 flight to Philadelphia and then on to Madrid.  Due to the storm, our flights were delayed and then the plane's arrival was too late to make the Madrid departure.  Fifteen minutes earlier, and we would have made the connection.  Thanks to our good USAirways agent Sandy, she had us backed up on USAirways to London, and then Iberian to Madrid.  So instead of getting in at 8:30 AM, we arrived in Madrid at 3:30 PM.  Fifteen minutes can make a big difference.  

Question - Has anyone ever thought that we shouldn't be judging airlines On Time Departures and should be looking instead at On Time Arrivals?  Seems to me that because they wanted to make their departure on time, they pulled away from the gate in Philadelphia and then they sat out there for another 1/2 hour.   I don't care if they depart on time, it's more important to me that the flights arrive on time.  And more importantly, we got here safe and sound.  Thanks USAirways and Iberian!

We then got our rental car at Thrifty, and we had a great experience with our person there too.  Very helpful and polite.  She told us how to get to Valencia - M40 to A3 and all the way to the City.  We are without a data plan and we opted to not rent the GPS for the month - we made it in about 4 hours.  Cathy couldn't believe it when we arrived in Valencia and in a few turns, our hotel Ad Hoc was right there.  In fact it was - "Un - Blanking Believable".  Our Friend Vinny said that the area we were in was designed by the Muslums to help deter invaders from conquering the city because the streets don't make sense - they lead all over different ways.  We'll see how long the sense of direction holds out for us.  

We did a quick little walk around Plaza de la Reina in Valencia.  The marble courtyard/Plaza looked shiny and new, like it had just been waxed and ready for you to skate across.  It was reflecting the yellow glow of the spotlights that were flooding the plaza,which would be seen by hundreds of thousands of people as they pass through over the next weeks as the Fallas would develop. On one side borders a small park that has orange trees and a slanted pine tree that looked like we felt, ready to lie down and relax.  

We had a quick meal at a small Italian Restaurant and they offered up a great Rioja Wine that we had to complement our Italian pasta dinner.  Appetizers were Fried Eggplant with Ham and Mozzarella between the eggplant, and a wonderful mixed salad with the freshest greens and vegetables.  Then Pasta Carbonara and Pasta with Artichokes.  Finished off with a Tiramisu and then off to bed.  

We both were exhausted after the long journey, and when we finally hit the bed, we didn't wake up until 11:00 AM the next day.  As my mother would say "Well, you must have needed it!"  I just hate that we missed our free breakfast!

Wikipedia description of Las Fallas

City of Valencia Tourism

Our Wine Flights

Wine Flights (noun) - an activity where one tastes multiple wines to discover the wine's characteristics by comparing and contrasting.

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Who -  The founders of Our Wine Flights are Dan and Cathy McLaughlin.  We have traveled extensively over the past 30 years to over 47 US States and Territories as well as 20+ counties in Europe, South America, and Asia.

What - We are about to embark on a journey that will share the stories of how the wine makers from around the world discovered their love of wine and what has driven them to create their libations.

Where - We will will board many flights and hope you will share in our discoveries.

How -  We will be posting to this blog after each winery to give you the background on what drives the vinters to create their unique wines.  We'll also take an occassional side trip that would complement a visit to the vineyard and enhance your knowledge of what the location has to offer.

When -  We are starting in 2015 to explore some of the fastest growing areas in the viticulture landscape.  From European slopes to the foothills in the Americas, we're telling a story that continues to evolve and intrigue.

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