Valencian Cellar Tours                                       **  Xàtiva Castle & the Clariano Wines - Full day **

The Wines The Clariano in the south of the province is part of the D.O Valencia and can be divided into 2 distinct areas; one closer to the sea with a majority of white varieties and the other, on the inner part part focusing around the town of Fontanars dels Alforins; Vastly dominated by black varieties such as monastrell, cabernet sauvignon & tempranillo. We visit the area known as "la Toscana" in the Vall d´Albaida. The town of Fontanars has an ancestral art of winemaking dating before the Moors whose low number of estates produce distinctive outstanding wines with an emphasis on organic winemaking. Vinum magazine chose a vintage red from a Fontanars estate as one of the top 10 organic wines in Europe.  One of the wineries we visit recently released their first 100% organic wine without sulphites. With minimal filtration this is a young wine with abundant red fruit, ruby-purple, dense & powerful yet fresh with almost 15% graduation helping maintain stability. An interesting addition to the growing organic market!      In the past one mainly thought of Valencian wines as the sweet white Moscatel variety but as one wine critic wrote,  " Heres another organic red to show how far and fast things are changing. It is ambitious, richly flavoured and has voluptuous  scents of ripe black fruits infused with the toast & vanilla of oak casks, this is the new face of the Med."  Yes times have changed, with these wines now found along side the Riojas & Priorats on the Valencian restaurant wine list.

Winery visit  Our visit is to a leading "organic" winery where the bodeguero will explain the history of the bodega & family house. We have a walk through the vines and find out about the varieties grown on the estate. We then tour the winery process, the harvesting of the grapes; the fermentation processes; the art of oak aging and the final bottling. You then have the pleasure of tasting some of the wines. Of course you may buy some bottles from the winery & savour a tasting moment with friends at home. We then stop for a morning coffee, or maybe try a carajillo! It's a small coffee with a shot of brandy...mmm...a typical local´s morning expresso.

Xàtiva visit        Above Xativa run the ruins of a once grand castle of 30 towers. Home to General Hanibal in 218BC it remains an impressive fortification. Xàtiva capital of the Costera district is an elegant market town with wide tree lined avenues & shady cafes. The old walled town still retains an "old world charm" with its many pretty squares, fountains, churches and cobbled streets. It was declared Historico-Artistico ensemble in 1982 due to the wealth of historic buildings & emblematic monuments. The most notable include; the Castle with its 30 towers & 4 gates, The Collegiate de Santa Maria XIV- former cathedral rebuilt in renaissance style, the Hospital Mayor De Pobres XV-XVI, the ermitas de San Felix XIII, San José XVIII & Santa Ana XVI, the church of San Pedro XVII & San Francisco XIV, the Gothic Fountain In Plaza de la Trinidad, La Puerta Gótica de los Trinitarios XIII, house of Pope Alejandro XVI & numerous other palaces of noblemen.      On our visit to Xàtiva we have a chance to explore the old town, walking the historic streets before a well deserved lunch.  Lunch. We have a table reserved in a Berasetegui award winning restaurant in Xàtiva where you will be welcomed by the chef on arrival. It´s a 3 course meal of creative mediterranean cuisine accompanied by a select bottle of wine from the "Clariano area".   We then make our way up to the castle, but don´t worry about the hundreds of steps, we drive to the gate via a local road. You then have time to explore the castle and admire the 360 degree valley views as the Romans once did, before finally we return to Valencia early evening.

Price:         Euro 155 per person (Inc.3 course gourmet lunch & 91pt wine, w/tasting & Castle admission)  Itinerary:   Pick-up Valencia City  9.00am                   Winery visit vineyards & tasting, panoramic vineyard drive to Xàtiva                    Xàtiva town/castle visit with lunch                    Return to Valencia city Duration:  Full day Call us to arrange a visit !                                                                                  + 34 617 969 975