Wine Trip May 7-10 2024
The trip is now Fully Booked with 33 participants
Our Autumn trip is expected to be on October 8th and 9th. We will post further information later in the year.
DO COSTERS DEL SEGRE
The Wine Trip Team this year will be to the DO of Costers del Segre which is in the Province of Lleida in Catalunya.
We will be based in the small town of Balaguer, the capital of the Noguera region. It is located beside the river Segre, a tributary of the Ebro, which gives its name to the DO. The town was re-conquered from the Moors in 1106 by the Count of Urgell and its historic centre is one of the few that have retained the original Moorish plan, with the market place being the largest porched square in Catalunya.
Please see below the final itinerary and joining details.
CBWS Wine Trip to DO Costers del Segre – May 2024
Please note that all the wines and prices quoted are subject to change depending upon availability. Purchases should be made in cases of 6 bottles unless otherwise indicated by the bodega. All bodegas accept credit cards. You will be provided with sheets of name stickers to identify your cases on the coach.
The dress code for the trip is casual for the bodega visits, although you should remember that the cellars can be very cool, even on the hottest days, so make sure you bring something warm. For the two dinners that we have arranged for you the dress code is smart casual, as it would be for a CBWS meeting, with optional jacket and ties for the men.
For the farewell dinner we will use the ‘numbers out of the hat’ system of table seating. We have 4 members who are joining us on a Wine Trip for the first time and are welcoming back 6 members who came on the last trip to this region in 2011!
Our timetable ensures that you can have a leisurely breakfast in the hotel before joining us promptly on the bus at the time indicated on the itinerary.
Please remember to bring your passport or residency card as this will be required at check in to the hotel.
We will not be providing printed copies of these notes so if you wish a hard copy please make your own arrangements to print them.
Itinerary
Tuesday May 7
08.30 Depart Jávea Bus Station
Coffee/snack Stop at Service Area Sagunto own arrangements
40 mins
14.00 Arrive Bodega Clos Montblanc for visit and tasting with snacks
18.00 Arrive Hotel el Santuari, Balaguer. This tranquil hotel, built alongside the Sanctuary of Sant Crist de Balaguer, is modern and comfortable. It is situated on a hilltop overlooking the town of Balaguer with extensive views in all directions and as far as the pre-Pyrenees. The hotel has a cosy bar where drinks and snacks can be purchased. A moderate walk down a sloping path will take you into the old town of Balaguer.
19.30 Welcome aperitivo followed by dinner in Hotel
Wednesday May 8
09.30 Depart Hotel
10.00 Arrive Bodega Lagravera for visit and Tasting
12.30 Arrive Bodegas Raimat for visit and Tasting.
Lunch in Vineyard restaurant
Return to hotel and evening free to walk down the sloping path
into the town or visit the neighbouring church of Sant Crist.
Thursday May 9
09.30 Depart Hotel by bus for the short drive to the town of Balaguer. Free time to explore the narrow streets, and squares of the old town, or walk into the new town with its lively bars and restaurants. Other activities could include a walk along the old city wall or visit to the cathedral.
11.00 Meet the bus in the Old Town
11.30 Arrive Bodega Castell del Remei for visit and Tasting followed by a light lunch in their restaurant.
Afternoon free
19.30 Aperitivo on the Hotel terrace overlooking the town, with local wines.
20.15 Board the coach for the short drive to Restaurant for Farewell Dinner.
Friday May 10
09.15 Depart Hotel with luggage
10.00 Arrive Bodega Vinya els Vilars for visit and tasting
14.00 Lunch stop at Service Area – own arrangements – 1 hour
(Hospitalet de Llobregat)
19.00 Arrive Jávea
NB Apart from the morning departures, all timings are approximate
Bodegas we will visit
Tuesday May 7
Bodega Clos Montblanc, DO Conca de Barbera
We first visited this bodega in the DO of Conca de Barbera, with Tim Ladd in 2002 and subsequently returned for a second visit in 2011 on our way to another region. They have 80 hectares under cultivation with 15 different grape varieties producing 15 different wines and various cavas, and a winemaking history going back 300 years.
The wines we expect to taste are:
- Xipella White 2023 €9.00
- G de Gormand 2021: blend of Garrut & Trepat, 2 local grapes, unique blend. €9.75
- Origen 2019 €11.70
- Masia Les Comes Reserva 2017 €18.50
These prices will be subject to a 10% discount
Wednesday May 8
Bodega Lagravera
“Everything began when we transformed an old Gravera (quarry) into the Finca de Vinya Nuria.” They now have 4 vineyards with an emphasis on sustainability and biodynamic cultivation. “Every year and every bottle is unique.”
The wines we expect to taste are:
- Onra Blanco , Garnacha Blanca €11.75
- Ciclic Blanco, Garnacha Blanca €23.85
- Onra Tinto 2018 barrel aged €11.75
- Ciclic Tinto 2018 aged in foudres €24.32
Bodegas Raimat
The bodega was established in 1914 when Manuel Raventós I Domenech, of the Cordoniu bodega, bought 3,200 hectares of land near Lleida. The actual bodega bears little resemblance to the original buildings. You will see above the doorway a symbol showing a hand holding a bunch of grapes. In Catalan the words grapes /Raim and hand/ Ma gave the bodega its name.
The wines we expect to taste are as follows. Case price reflects a discount.
- Raimat Albariño €7.61/ Case €43.08
- Raimat Abadia, Rosado €7.16/ Case €40.56
- Raimat Cabernet Sauvignon €7.61/ Case €43.08
- El Silenci del Moli €10.76/ Case €60.96
- Raimat Cava Chardonnay/Xarello €9.86/ Case €55.86
ll these wines have been highly rated in the Peñin Guide.
Lunch in Vineyard restaurant
Thursday May 9
Bodega Castell del Remei
Visit and Tasting followed by a light lunch in their restaurant.
This beautiful Bodega, which purports to be the oldest in Catalunya, was last visited by the Society in 2011 and since then they have improved their facilities considerably. The old castle which gives the bodega its name still dominates the winery. It was built at the end of the 19th century as part of the most important agricultural colony of the time with a mill, distillery, bottling and blacksmith workshops.
The wines we expect to taste are:
- Gotim Blanc €7.55
- ODA Blanc: €11.95
- Garnatxa Castell del Remei: €14.60
- ODA: €13.85
All prices will have an additional 10% discount on wines purchased.
Friday May 10
Bodega Vinya els Vilars
Visit and tasting
This small, family run bodega to the east of the region offers good quality wines at competitive prices. The lovely Maria and her brother will show us their installations which are set in the beautiful Catalan countryside. All their wines score in the high 80’s in Penin.
The wines we expect to taste are:
- Quim Blanco 2023 €10.50
- Nena Rosado 2023 €10.00
- Vilars 2021 Tinto €11.00