Vino blanco y vino tinto. :)

Today we went to CC vineyard about an hour and a half outside of Valencia to sample some local wines. They harvest 11 different types of grapes, and the spanish variety are the least cultivated (the french kind of had a head start) but it was a really fun experience and we had a great guide!

I learned a few interesting things, first off, the vineyard was gorgeous because there were bright red rose bushes on the end of each row of vines, and this is partly out of tradition and partly scientific. The roses are the most sensitive to a type of fungus that can kill the grapes, so the gardeners would plant rosebushes on the end to prevent the vines from getting the fungus.

This is an example of a spanish grape vine, they are significantly larger than the french varieties, but as time passes, they should lessen in size. (he estimated in about 20 or 30 years these grapes will be genetically engineered to be more successful)

We saw where the wine and cavas (spanish champagne) were bottled and packaged, as well as stored, and then we were able to enjoy a tasting. We tried a sparkling white wine first, and then a regular white wine (sauvignon blanc), then a red wine low in tannons, and one high in tannons.

I ended up purchasing a few bottles, but hopefully I can share one with my host family before we go home so I am not carrying 3 wine bottles of weight in my luggage!

Overall, I learned quite a few interesting things, and would return in a heartbeat for a more in-depth tour.
Our San Fernando guide (who has been to many of the vineyards in this region) stated they are all pretty similar when it comes to the flavors of the wines (since they are all the same climate and same breeds of grapes) but that this one was particularly bonita (pretty).

Hasta luego!