Torrevieja u3a

In case you are unable to use the email link above, the Group email address is: torreviejau3awinegroup@yahoo.com

Aim of the group:

Get to know the country's wine regions and grapes so you can confidently choose a bottle to try.

We will endeavour to learn about all aspects of Spanish wines and wine making, and to sample wines from various regions, either at the vineyard, local bodegas or at other suitable venues in Orihuela Costa.

The Captain's Table will be the base venue for the group at a cost of 3.00 euro per attendee, per meeting, and will allow the Wine Group to supply it's own wine and food. Costs for wine and food will be advised by the Group Leader and divided equally between the attendees.

The group will meet monthly and each month there will be specific topics for discussion and sampling which will include one or more of the following:

• An introduction to the Spanish wine regions and wines
• Focussing on one of the major wine regions with tastings from the region
• Types of grapes
• Sparkling Wines
• Wine and food pairing
• Supermarket Stars
• Spanish wines, laws, regulations, definitions and labels

There are 16 autonomous communities to explore. That should keep us busy!

If you mostly drink wines from the New World - say, South America, California, or Australia - Spanish wines are a great introduction to the Old World. Since Spain is a peninsula, the climate varies widely from region to region. Most of central Spain sizzles under the summer sun and gets very cold in the winter. In the north-western part, Galicia, the cool ocean breezes and many rivers lead to the nickname "Green Spain". In the south, the brutal, arid land and howling winds can prove too much for most grapes. The Mediterranean to the east contributes warm temperatures and cooling breezes, while the Pyrenees on the border with France block rain clouds from making their way to the north-central area.

Such a wide diversity produces lots of microclimates and different terroirs in the Spanish wine regions and hence Spain has a lot more to offer than just Rioja and Sangria.  

New group members please contact the group leader before turning up to ensure available space and to avoid disappointment, thank you.