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.
