Sardinada 2022

 

September 11th is the "national day" of Catalunya on which they commemorate a defeat by the French in 1714. Don't ask me why. Everybody takes the day off and they usually throw a big party in the Plaza de Vila. Today was the first one since Covid so we were all looking forward to it. 

The idea is for everyone to turn out and have a traditional Catalan breakfast. Ordinarily, they offer salt-cured sardines but this year they offered fresh fish. The salt-cured fish are almost too salty to eat. The key word here being "almost"! You can get at least a week's worth of sodium chloride in one serving.  Fortunately, someone put a bag of salt on the table so I was able to bring the sardines up to speed.

 This set off a lively discussion at the table about my blood pressure. I pointed out that I only eat one salted sardine a year (if I'm lucky) so it wasn't likely to kill me outright. This seemed to make everyone feel better. We enjoyed a warm, clear, beautiful morning. Everyone was very happy to get back to normal.

MUCHAS GRACIAS EL MASROIG!!!

My sardinada rig. Table, bag chair, sardine cooker and backpack for accessories.

"Mare's nipple" table grapes. Note the distinctive shape. This is an ancient variety that dates back to at least the 7th Century. One reference describes it from the 2nd Century B.C. in China. You never know what's going to turn up around here.

I was invited to sit with these folks. They're all wonderful people!

Cooking my sardines (bottom right). Some people bring their own sausage.

Passing out the goodies. For 1€ you get a sardine, loaf of bread, tomato, onion, olives and as much wine as you can drink.

They have peculiar way of organizing public events. You have to purchase a ticket and then give the ticket to whoever is handing out the food, drinks, etc. I thought for a moment I was going to get some whisky with my sardine. Alas, it was a clever deception.

Pilar (on the right) and a friend. Pilar has been a good friend to me!

Freya's Birthday!

Freya had a birthday recently and I wanted to take her out to celebrate. Sammy flew in from England to join the festivities. Unfortunately, Siebe is in Australia on family business. We'll catch up with him for his birthday in October. 

We started out on my favorite beach. The weather was glorious and the water was refreshing after sunning in the heat. It's been a little warmer than usual. Ordinarily fall arrives around the first of September but it's a little late this year. Anyway, a temperature of 90 F is just perfect for the beach.

We went to Brichs restaurant in Falset for dinner. It's one of the places we took the group from Barons Creek last June. I've been there a couple of times and the food is excellent! Also, I have a friend who works there.

We had a fantastic meal as you will see below. 

Sammy and Freya went to Barcelona on Saturday to do the big city thang. Sammy caught the train back to Tarragona on Sunday afternoon. I gave her a short historical walking tour. We than had lunch at a restaurant I like by the marina. It's called l'Ancora. My Spanish friends make fun of me for going there because they think it's touristy. I like the food, however, and they throw a mean plate of patatas bravas. 

I took Sammy to the airport this morning and she's now back in rainy England. ¡Pobrecita!

THANKS, Y'ALL, FOR GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Your boy kickin' it on the beach. Got the cooler, book and umbrella. Cerveza not pictured.

Sammy and Freya.

These were our starters. Grilled endive in chicken broth. Heirloom tomatoes with olive puree.

Livin' it up!

Two kinds of croquettes. Roasted chicken with truffles below. Jamon iberica above.

My entree: Confit of braised lamb shoulder with plantain, cocoa and cashew sauce.

Yeah, baby!

You can see Freya's tuna steak in the background. There is a big tuna fishery not too far from here.

Sammy's entree: Canelon catala.

You really need to watch this short video of Freya explaining dessert. 

Sammy at the Roman amphitheater.

Balco del mediterrani

Sammy got a butterfly tattoo in Barcelona. It was done by a woman known as "Señorita Dinamita" (Little Miss Dynamite). Apparently, tattoos are relatively inexpensive in Barcelona. If any of y'all are thinking about a little ink, I can hook you up!

Sammy with a demolished plate of bravas. One of the many things I like about her is that she loves patatas bravas as much as I do! She just had braces on her teeth and is trying to conceal them.

 

My vineyards have never looked better!

I'm happy to report that my vineyards have never looked better! After ten years, it's a good feeling. I have Josep Maria Beltran to thank for most of this. He took over farming last year and has done an outstanding job. I really appreciate his attention to detail and sincere interest in the vineyards.

Josep Maria has made many improvements. On his own initiative he put in iron stakes to prop up a bunch of vines that were leaning into the rows. You can see the results below. It's now possible to drive a tractor through the vineyards without running over vines. Josep Maria only works organically so there is no herbicide or other artificial material used. The vines are thriving!

I applied for permission to plant about half an acre of Grenache. We should know in a month or so if that comes through. My goal is to have 100% of the Campeon come from my estate. I've been getting Grenache from my neighbors in the past. 

The crop this year appears to be a little smaller than 2021. Last year was a record harvest for us. We've had very little rain this year. The berries seem smaller but that's okay. We've been irrigating judiciously and I'm expecting really good quality. I'm heading back to Texas at the end of the week. There is a ton of stuff that needs doing before harvest.

As always, thanks for checking in!

This picture was taken in March. Obviously no need for a scarf now!

Josep Maria at harvest last year.

Finca Vieja. Note how upright the vines are.

I will plant these two terraces to Grenache next year.

Finca Alta.

This is a volunteer olive tree in Finca Vieja. It's putting on some olives. I'm going to prune it and see what happens. Maybe get a couple of jars of olives some day.

 

First Annual Barons Creek Vineyards Spanish Wine Experience 2022

• FIRST ANNUAL
•  BARONS CREEK VINEYARDS
• SPANISH WINE EXPERIENCE
• JUNE 27-JULY 2, 2022
• Marc Chase and I have been discussing doing a wine tour of Spain for several years. He came over last August and we met with my friend Ania Andrews of Travel Priorat. We put together a six-day tour including a day each in Sitges and Barcelona.
•  The four days in between were in Montsant, Priorat and Penedes. We visited my vineyards and tasted my estate wine (Campeon) there. The wineries we visited and tasted at were Celler Masroig, Scala Dei, Merum, Mas Doix, Clos de l'Obac, Clos Mogador, Conreria d'Scala Dei and Clos Figueras. Our last stop was Sumarroca in Penedes where I make the Barons Creek cavas. 
• We had fabulous meals for lunch and dinner. We toured an olive mill where our Barons Creek olive oil is made and were served a delicious breakfast in an old olive orchard. I think I gained about a pound a day and have resolved to live on gazpacho for a few days! 
• Although I had met most of the group through winery events, It was really fun to get to know all of them better and now I have a bunch of new friends!
• Thanks so much to all y'all for coming and making this trip a fantastic success!

Ron and Mary

Taylor from BCV. One of my favorite people!

Sandy

                                                                                      

Russell in Finca Vieja. These vines were planted in 1954.

The group in Finca Vieja.

At the ancient McDonalds in Scala Dei.

Rae and Art

View of Clos Mogador vineyards in Priorat

Patrick and Annette

Ania and John Andrews

Dave, Desiree and Brenda

Charlotte and Randy

Cindy and Sy

Dave and Desiree

Denise and Todd

Mary and Julie

The totally cool and unique sun dial at Merum.

  

 

Festa San Joan 2022

 

FESTA SAN JOAN 2022!

June 23rd marks the beginning of summer in our village. It's the feast day of St. John the Baptist and coincides closely with the summer solstice. By tradition, fire is brought from the sacred mountain in French Catalunya to each village in Catalunya. A bonfire is started just before dusk. In the old days the fire was kept going all night. 

There is a ceremony where children read original poems about San Joan. Everybody hangs out to socialize for a couple of hours. They serve a traditional pastry called "coca". I'll never forget the first time I went to the Festa. Someone insisted that I needed some coca. I told them I was disinclined to chew the leaves of a tropical shrub. They couldn't understand what I was saying so they brought me a piece. You can see what Catalan coca looks like below. They are usually made with fruit and sprinkled lightly with sugar and anisado.

San Joan is much like the 4th of July. The kids set off fireworks late into the night. The children here have a game they call "Let's Make the Old Guy Jump!". It involves me walking through the village while they drop firecrackers behind me. It's fun for all ages. I consider it a public service. They do this to all the adults, by the way, so they're not actually picking on me.

Tomorrow is a holiday. Everyone will sleep in and then cook out in the afternoon. I have some friends coming from Barcelona. As we say around here:

BONES FESTAS!!!

The bonfire behind City Hall.

Cava is usually served with the coca. This year they served Vi Ranci from the Cooperativa. It's like a very dry Amontillado.

                                                   My friend Francesc serving up the coca.

                                    Children's poetry recital. All the poems are original. Pretty darn cute!

                The terrace behind City Hall. They will have a dinner here later but it's too late for me.

The Chase Family and Posse Come to Visit!

 My friends Marc and Marta Chase (owners of Barons Creek Vineyards) brought their family and friends to see me. They had just taken a Mediterranean cruise and ended up in Barcelona. They decided to spend a couple of days exploring Montsant and Priorat. The vacation was a celebration of Kaylee's recent graduation from TCU. 

We visited my vineyards and I took them on one of my famous tours of El Masroig. From there we had a fabulous wine tasting at Merum Winery in Priorat. We had lunch at a restaurant called La Cooperativa in Porrera. The meal was excellent. I took a chance on a beet-based gazpacho to start and heard the angels sing! 

The family went to see some stuff after lunch. I met back up with them at Ania and John Andrews' place that evening for dinner. It was a pleasant evening so we ate outside. John and Ania prepared an fantastic mixed grill for us. Ania will be our tour guide for the upcoming Barons Creek Vineyards Spanish Wine Experience.

It was wonderful to see them! Thanks, Y'all, and please come back!

     The Group (from back to front): Bradley, Kaylee, Marc, Marta, Garrett, Parker and Brooklyn