Looking for the best place to raise a glass this week?
Look no further than the Galician town of Cambados, where you can join in the revelry and enjoy sampling a glass or two of Albariño, which is modestly considered to be Europe’s best white wine. Join in with the music and entertainment, pack your corkscrew and clink your glass as we say: Cheers to Cambados!
Local liquid gold!
The Wine of the Sea
Pop!
Albariño, known as the ‘wine of the sea‘ due to the proximity of the vineyards to the coast, is probably the most revered white wine in the whole of Spain, and widely regarded as the best white wine in Europe. Festa do Albariño is it’s yearly party – and what a party!
Revelers gather in this lovely coastal town to celebrate, and hang a glass by a string from their necks, tasting all day. Accompanied by fireworks, art shows, theatre, music, usually well known artists, and wandering the various tents sampling the wine and tasting the excellent local seafood.
Alive Alive O
Sometimes taking place at the end of July, but this year the fiesta runs from next week, starting on the 3rd August and ending on the 7th. This coastal area of Galicia is very beautiful, and known as the Rías Baixes, in the province of Pontevedra. An area perhaps better known for it’s pilgrims route of Santiago de Compostela, this little corner, the town of Cambados, is highly regarded for it’s seafood, locally caught ‘A Seca‘ which is in a body of water around the San Tome tower which empties out at low tide. This in turn leaves a treasure trove of seafood such as clams and cockles just perfect for collectors.
scallops with Jamon and Albariño wine
A tunnel of wine
This 59th anniversary of the Fiesta, features for the first time a ‘ Túnel de Vino‘. From the morning of the 4th, it will be open to the public situated in the Salón de Congresos y Exposiciones José Peña. Sommeliers will be on hand to discuss the merits of the wine available for tasting, and this year they plan to get through 26,000 bottles! Wow! No less than 40 different bodegas will take part in the festivities and there will be a further 39 different stands to visit.
No wonder it’s a festival of National Tourist Interest!
Striking a chord in Cambados
Wine, music and dance
Various groups, bands and classical music, poetry and literary readings. This year sees a visit from Álvaro Cunqueiro, a famed Gallego writer, and lots of other activities. Gastronomy lovers will not be left out of the party either, rows of stands loaded with seafood await, freshly caught shellfish to accompany your glass or twenty of cold white wine of the sea!
After all that delicious indulgence you may want to sway your way and lay your head! Try choosing from this list of holiday homes in the area…..if you’re not seeing double of course!
A wander around the church
What else is there to see?
Well, if you can possibly tear yourself away from the party, then take the time to enjoy your surroundings. What a pretty town! The large imposing Plaza is made up of the Prazo de Fefinans, fortified and now housing a bodega (of course!) and an elevated church. Behind and to the side of the church is Calle Real, lined with granite houses, flower filled balconies, and lots of shops selling….you guessed it, wine, and a host of restaurants offering fine dining amongst elegant surroundings. The seaside promenade, the busy little harbour….The tower of Saint Saturnine, formerly a watchtower against Viking advances. Lean against the statue of the famed poet Ramon Cabanillas, born here, of course he was inspired to write!
The local Poet
Imagine a perfect holiday…
No wonder Cambados has been called the gem of the province, it’s just so obviously appealing.
Stone columns, wooden beams, glistening granite walls.
Scented pine groves, secret coves, white beaches.
Hiking, swimming, horseback riding…
…all of this and a wine filled fiesta too? Look no further, come to Cambados!
The main square, the fortified Prazo
@FLICKR mariadel2007/Pilar Ponte/wysarri/Cambados Web Eventos/BocaDorada/arquera/Kevin H.
