Haro

We arrived in Haro just in time for the celebration of San Pedro, which includes a huge wine battle, see espanaplana for pictures of that.

On our first walk around the town there was free fish being handed out in the main square. Loads of Sardines being grilled and given away, lunch sorted!

We try and eat regional dishes when we can, this may look a bit funky but it was pretty good. Menestra de Venduras is a vegetable stew.

Hotel food at Asador Tinto, it was pretty average. Patatas a la Riojana

Crap Paella

Merluza a la brasa con Patatas Panadera (Grilled Hake)

Entrecot de Ternera a la Parrilla (Grilled Sirloin)

Best thing on the menu Pudin de Holjadre which is deep fried puff pastry

Fabada (Chorizo and Bean Stew)

Another (better) version of Menestra de Venduras

Our first Bodega visit was to Alta, we tried 3 wines, the first being Vina Alberdi Crianza 2006 which had lots of red berry flavour with a hint of coffee and tobacco. This Crianza, like a few of the older wineries do, is actually a Reserva but they classify it as a crianza because they already have 2 better wines from the vineyard which they call Reserva and Gran Reserva.

Next was Vina Arana Reserva 2005, this had more dark fruits and more complexity. It had a nice richness to it with mellow tannins

The final wine was Vina Ardanza Reserva 2004, again lots of dark fruits, vanilla oak and chocolate. All 3 were very traditional style Riojas

Our next visit was to C.V.N.E and first wine up was from their Imperial range. This 2007 Reserva has a garnet colour and dark berry flavours. Quite smokey, with hints of coffee. 

This is their standard white called Monopole and is made from the Viura grape. It was nice and light with melon and pineapple notes

Foie with Pedro Ximenez at Bar Los Canos

Bacalao Ajoarriero (Cod with lots of garlic)

Rabo de Buey (Oxtail)

Our visit to Roda meant we got to try 2 wines and 2 Olive oils. Roda wines are quite recent and aren't the typical Rioja style. We tried their most recent vintages of Roda Reserva 2008 and Sela 2010. Roda Reserva was quite a bright, fresh wine with lots of red cherry. The Sela tasted very youthful and was all fruit with strawberry and cherry dominating.

Our last visit was to one of the most famous wineries in Spain, R.Lopez de Heredia. The first wine we tried was Vina Gravonia Crianza 2003 which is one of the strangest whites I've had. It has a golden colour like a dessert wine which I guess it should being 10 years old but it tasted quite fresh and light. Made from the Viura grape.

Vina Tondonia Tinto Reserva 2001. Really good vintage, very rich and complex with vanilla oak notes

For good budget eats go to Chamonix, this is there Cerdo Brocheta (Pork Kebab)

As my waistline shows, I love burgers. This was the BEST burger I have ever had, seriously, and I've eaten loads. It was huge, almost the size of a 7" record and had bacon, cheese, pickles, tomato, lettuce and onion. It tasted great and was about 5 euros. The photo doesn't do it justice.

Finally had some Ice cream with Pedro Ximenez, try it.