Galicia
I landed in Madrid just in time for breakfast at a coffee house and bakery I spotted very close to my hotel, so the first thing I did, after leaving my bags at the hotel, was walk down the streets of Madrid to sit at Acid Cafe for an oat cappuccino and puff pastry cinnamon roll. As I walked there, I noticed that Madrid was different. I would soon discover that Madrid changed the way I saw it - much more sophisticated and beautiful. After sipping my coffee, I walked the streets to buy violet candies at La Violetta and turron and pestinos at Casa Mira Madrid. Both have been classics in Madrid for decades, and I have no idea how they were ten or twenty years ago, but nothing has changed for at least six years. To clarify, that is in the best possible way.
But, neither that coffee nor my cinnamon roll nor the candies and pestinos were the reason I landed in Madrid. It was for the wine and some food. Particularly - Galician wine to be explored a few days later. Yet the start was with a beautiful Manzanilla and a plate of artichokes and soft egg yolk, later at a lecture learning about local and indigenous grapes, such as Viura, Moscatel, Xarello, Malvasia Volcanica, Verdejo, Bobal, Mencia, Maonastrell, Garnacha, and Tempranillo.
The day after, an early morning fast train transferred us from charming and romantic Madrid to the region of our studies (life, not school) and tastes - Galicia. To the region of breathtaking landscapes, very different climates, wines, and regions that you, if at all interested in wine, should keep in mind - Valdeoras, Monterrei, Ribeira Sacra, Ribeiro and Rias Baixas. To ask me which region is worth visiting would be the same as asking me to choose which child I love more, YET, in case of an emergency of limited time in Galicia and places to see, start with Ribeira Sacra for the views or Rias Baixas for the taste.
So, what does one expect from Galicia? Heat in one part, the ocean and Mediterranean climate in others. Fresh and floral, slightly acidic wines in one part, more subtle in another. Seafood in one place, some meat in the other. Flatlands in a few places, hills in more, and mountains in others, all combined by Mother Nature to keep your eyes feasting and heart bouncing because of the beauty you see.
Some cities beg you to visit them for the sake of their beauty - Ourense, Pontevedra, Vigo, and others. But then, there are the wineries that you see and fall in love with because they offer that holy whole package - place, architecture, welcome, wines, and views - and to visit them during these days was a blessing. That's what it was.
Scroll down for places to visit.
Wineries to visit:
Pazo Senorans
Bodegas Regina
Pazo de Toubes
Bodegas Martin Codax
Wines to take back home - the list is here.
Restaurants to visit:
Ourense - Pulperia Asador a Feira Ourense
Bodegas Regina Viarum - they have a fabulous restaurant
Bodegas Martin Codax - book a meal at their restaurant with a spectacular view and good food (mainly seafood)
Other great places to visit:
Pontevedra - HI! Coffee & Bakery
Pontevedra - Et Sucre for the most delicious churros
Pontevedra - Market
Pontevedra - Juncal Alimentation for local meats, cheese, wines, and many more products
Ourense - for a well-prepared cappuccino Kaldi coffee (I sneaked out of the hotel to go there at 7:30 a.m. before leaving for another city)
Madrid
Acid cafe - coffee, croissants, sourdough bread, some granola for breakfast
Casa Mira Madrid - turrons (hard and soft), pestinos (fried pastries, you usually get around easter, but here you get them all year round)
La Violetta - Violet candies, pate en fruit, violet leaves covered in sugar, honey, mustard, etc.,
Distinto - local and simple food with a very local wine list. Simple, yet worth it.
SUA by TriciClo - great food, beautiful place, good wine list, and an excellent restaurant.
