Jamón de Trevélez, de las Alpujarras.

Alpujarra specialities:

Jamón de Trevélez.

What makes "Jamón de Trevélez" so special?

The special climate in Trevélez and surrounding Alpujarra villages is the reason why the people dry hams in the Alpujarras for ages.  The cold en dry mountain air makes it possible to hang the fresh hams in the "secadero" in winter and spring without losing quality.  By late spring, early summer, when temperatures rise, the ham has yet a well dried outside that protect the meat inside.  This unique mountain climate makes it possible to dry the hams without preservatives, and without man made climate steering.  The next fotos give you an impression how the process of Trevélez ham drying goes.

The salting:

The fresh hams go into a refrigerator covered with sea-salt.  The hams, all approximately the same weight, stay in there one day per kilogram ham.  So the most common fresh hams of about 13 kg stay in the salt for only 13 days.  Halfway this period they turn the top ones for the bottom ones so they get all the same amount of pressure and salt.  

The first drying:

The fresh salted hams are pushed into a same shape,  The flesh side gets a good rub with pork fat.  This protect the fresh meat.  After that the hams go in a temperature controlled area for a couple of weeks.

The curing or "curatión":

The hams move to the "secadero".  In this area the Alpujarra climate does the "curatión" or curing. This is the slow drying process where the ham loses about 30% of it's original weight.  Depending the weight of the fresh ham the "curatión" varies from 12 to 36 months.  The most produced hams dry for about 20 months, and weight after the drying between 8 and 9 kilograms.

The commercialisation:

with the stamps on the skin of the ham, the "secadero" knows when the perfect time to sell the ham has arrived.  The ham get tested, with a piercer of pig-bone, they pierce the ham on two different spots and with an experienced nose they can tell if the ham is well cured.  The ham get labeled. 

Local marketing:

Thousands of people come to visit the Alpujarras every year.  Especially the Spanish visitors can't leave the area without a ham of the Alpujarras.  So most of the "secaderos" have a shop where you can buy ham and other cured meat.  The best way to buy a ham to take abroad is to choose a complete one and let it debone.  So you get 4-6 pieces of vacuum packed ham that you can safely take home. The pieces of ham you don't cut you can keep in the freezer till you want to open them.  Leave the unpacked ham defrost and rest for a day or two and enjoy this marvelous product long after your trip to "Las Alpujarras".

Thanks to José Antonio to give me the information for this article.

Inauguration Centro Temático del Vino Alpujárride Torvizcón

Nine months after the first stone was laid, the Centro Temático del Vino Alpujárride above Torvizcón was officially inaugurated this afternoon. The simple, yet stylish design of the buidling provides a pleasant atmosphere inside. Thanks to large windows and balconies, you´re continously in contact with its breathtaking surroundings; the vineyards and almond orchards of the finca Juan de Reyes, part of the Sierra de Contraviesa, Sierra Nevada, Sierra de Lújar and the Mediterranean Sea. The Centro Temático del Vino will be open (on reservation) Thursdays to Sundays from 12.00 to 17.00 hours and on bank holidays.
For more information:
Centro Temático del Vino Alpujárride
Carretera Haza del Lino a Murtas Km. 4, Torvizcón
Tel. Juan Parrillas 622-959500 or e-mail: gerencia@alpujarride.com







Related links:
- Arquitectos José María Olmedo Espigares, José Miguel Vázquez Martín DTR_studio see proyecto BODE

Related articles:
- Wineries or ´bodegas´ in the Alpujarras

Related key words: wine museum, wijn museum, bodega, wine region, wijngebied, wine tastings, wijnproeferij, cata de vinos, restaurant

Bar - Pizzeria La Posada in Bérchules

A few weeks ago bar La Posada in Berchules reopened. Two brothers, Valentín and Ezra Ocaña, run this small but cozy place at the Plaza Abastos square. They serve home made pizzas, salades and soups. A place that makes a difference and is worthwhile checking out.
Opening hours are from 10.00 till 23.00 hours. Mondays closed.
Telephone Valentin: 669023972 Ezra: 628577021
La Posada on Plaza Abastos used to be a Bed and Breakfast (hostal) but rooms are no longer rented out.
The owners have renovated another guest house (casa rural) in the villages in calla La Platera

Centro Temático del Vino Alpujárride in Torvizcón

Yesterday, the 20th of December, the first stone was laid for ´Alpujárride´ - Centro Temático del Vino that will be built high above Torvizcón on one of the hill tops of the Sierra de la Contraviesa. This centre will contain a winery, an interactive museum and a restaurant. It is an initiative of Ignacio Nestares who mentioned in his speech that five generations of his family have been making wine at fince Juan de Reyes. After his grandfather had died there were a number of years that he did not visit the cortijo, but one day when he went back with his father and he became fascinated with the idea to continue with the tradition of wine making. Visiting other bodegas the idea grew that he not only wanted to reinstate the seven hectares of vineyards and make good quality ecological wines, but that he also wanted to develop a centre that would be attractive for visitors in more respects. The result is this idea of an interactive museum  in which all aspects related to the history of wine making in the Sierra de la Contraviesa will be explained making use of the latest technology. People will be invited to participate in the harvest and gastronomic workshops will be organized. The aim is that people who visit ´Alpujárride´ will have a singular, unforgettable experience.
We think that its location is flabbergasting and will already leave a lasting impression on everybody visiting the centre. It is situated on the top of a hill at an altitude of 1,389 metres, four kilometres from Haza del Lino. Looking southwestwards you see Monte Salchicha with an altituted of 1,545 metres the highest mountain of the Sierra de la Contraviesa. North- and eastwards you can contemplate the majestic Sierra Nevada and southwards the enchanting Mediterranean Sea. The local linear walk Ruta Pedro de Alarcón that starts in Torvizcón passes right at its doorsteps. Arriving at a place like this after having climbed seven hundred metres through vineyards, almond, fig and olive groves will be unique. We are looking forward to it. The first phase is expected to be completed in June 2011. In the meantime we would like to wish Ignacio and his family all the best with their project.



Official start of the Alpujárride proyect with Ignacio Nestares (to the left), David Moreno the mayor of Torvizcón and José López Gallardo as Diputado de Turismo de Granada laying the first stone.



Above the GR-5204 at about km-4 you can already see the white containers on the construction site. Alpujárride will have a unique location to attract visitors to the Contraviesa part of the Alpujarras.

Related articles:
- Wineries of the Alpujarras
- Museums and private collections in the Alpujarras

Related links:
- Discurso Ignacio Nestares
- Nota de prensa

Related key words:
Museo interactivo, interactief museum, interactive museum, enoturismo, wine tourism, wijn toerisme

Jornada de la Seta Mecina Bombarón 2010

Yesterday the III Jornada de la Seta en Mecina Bombarón was organized. A group of about thirty people gathered to go up the pines to pick mushrooms. Around two o´clock the participants came back to the village with baskets and boxes with many different types of fungi, curious to hear from José Herrera which types they had collected. This expert mycologist told the names and curiosities, but regarded the ´níscalo´ or the Lactarius deliciosus as the only edible one. He agreed that a few others could be eaten, but did not have the desirable taste or aroma. The absence of poisonous effects is apparantly not the only aspect to put a mushroom on the list of ´setas comestibles´ of this micólogo experto. The couple that stayed with us and that took part in the different activities was given a beautiful violet mushroom by other participants and had told them it was a delicacy. José Herrera explained that it was a Lepista nuda. After looking for more information on the Internet, we found out that it is sometimes called Clitocybe nuda, in English known as Wood blewit. In the salón cultural the níscalos were prepared and stirfried for the participants that wanted to try their own mushrooms. Apart from this, Luis of cafe bar La Huerta in Mecina Alfahar had prepared delicious ´mico tapas´ with níscalos for a tasting. This ´degustación´ was well organized by the town hall of Alpujarra de la Sierra for which we want to congratulate all the people that contributed to make this Jornada de la Seta such a successful event.







Related links:
-Article in Granada Hoy: La Alpujarra pone el arte de la micología al alcance de todos
-Programme Otoño Cultural 2010 of Alpujarra de la Sierra

New white wine from Bodega García de Verdevique

The wines of Antonio García Santiago of bodega Garcia de Verdevique are well appreciated in our guest house El Paraje. They are natural wines from the Contraviesa with a lot of character. White wines do not have a large tradition in the Alpujarras, but Garcia de Verdevique makes a nice 100% Vigriego, which is an autoctonous grape variety.
A few weeks ago Antonio García Santiago announced a new white wine, that modest as he is himself, does not have a special commercial name. It is a mixture of Vigriego, Vioguier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
It can be described as wine with a profound gold yellow colour, a subtle flowery bouquet, a long complex taste with a light nutty flavour and a fresh, slightly dry ending.  Character again.
No doubt that we will keep this wine on our list.
¡Felicidades Antonio!



Related articles:
- Wineries or ´bodegas´of the Alpujarras
- Information on wine from our website

related keywords: wijn, vin, vino

XV Feria ´Hecho en la Alpujarra´ 2010 in Orgiva

From the 1st to the 5th of April, the trade fair ´Made in the Alpujarra´ is organized for the fifteenth time in Órgiva. This Feria del Turismo, Artesanía y Alimentación ´Hecho en la Alpujarra´ 2010, is a an exhibitition of tourism, crafts and local products that can be visited on four consecutive days from 11.00 to 21.00 hours.
No official announcements are yet to be found on the Internet, so we checked with the town hall and got the confirmation that it will be organized again this year.

Related links:
- Article in the IDEAL newspaper 2-April-2010 on the feria 2010
- Official blog with all participants of the feria Hecho en la Alpujarra 2009
- Web of the town hall Orgiva (ayuntamiento)
- Orgiva on Turgranada tourist board
- Videos on Youtube of the feria 2009

related keywords: eventos, evenementen, evénements, veranstaltungen, comer y beber, eten en drinken, manger et boir, essen und trinken

Bar-cafe El Duende opened in Berchules

A few weeks ago, Miguel and Carmen opened their new bar in Bérchules called ´El Duende´. They decided to give it the same name as their discotheque along the Bérchules - Alcútar road.
The bar is located at the parking annex busstop square at the village entrance. Years ago this location was used as bar Edelweiss. Bar-café El Duende offers space and atmosphere that you might not expect from the outside. They serve excellent coffee, tapas and sandwiches and have planned the opening of the dining room at the Puente de Andalucía next weekend.
Opening hours are every day from 09.30 - 02.00 hours.
WIFI internet service available.
Telephone 679 823 200 email: mikilaser@gmail.com



Related keywords: comer y beber, eten en drinken

Cafe-piano-bar Cueva de Mora Luna

"La Cueva de Mora Luna" is a small café piano bar in the village of Mecina in the Taha valley.
In a relaxed and casual atmosphere, the cheerful owner Carlos Anibal di Palma Acuña, serves drinks as well as nice food amongst which a wide variety of salads and pizza´s. It is situated along the road that connects Mecina Fondales and Ferreirola. There is a small terace with nice views over the Sierra de Mecina. Carlose´s place is often filled with life music, and whenever a musician knows how to play a tango, the Argentine host will join in with a song.
It is an excellent place to stop for lunch while doing one of our Taha walks.

Opening hours are from 12.00 - 24.00 hours in summer and 12.00 - 17.00 hours in winter.
Mondays closed.
telephone: 958 765202
montebaires@yahoo.es



Related links:
- videos of performances on Youtube

related keywords: musica, muziek, musique, musik, comer y beber, eten en drinken, manger et boir, essen und trinken

Bodega Barranco Oscuro, video

The Bodega Barranco Oscuro is situated on the high slopes of the Sierra de Contraviesa, above Cádiar. Manuel Valenzuela is a passionate winemaker with a very personal philosophy on organic wine making. This video, broadcasted on Canal Sur television on the 2nd of Janury 2009, shows Manuel and his bodega as we got to know them in our first year in the Alpujarras, helping out with the harvest. In this video he explains the making of the sparkling wine or ´cava´ using the local vigiriego grape variety. It is a ´vino natural´ so no additional sugars are added, not even from other grape varieties. These grapes, growing on the highest vinyards of europe, were actually harvested after snowfall but as he explains, without killing the natural organisms needed for fermentation. Although Manuel´s personality and talking are convincing, ´the proof of the pudding is in the eating´. Salud!



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- Wineries or ´bodegas´of the Alpjarras
- Rubaiyat of Barranco Oscuro at El Paraje

related keywords: wines, wijnen, vinos, vins, weine

Guia de vinos de Granada 2009

´Guia de vinos de Granada 2009´ is a wine guide of the Granada province that was published in 2009. It is a comprehensive guide with beautiful illustrations of Juan Antonio Martín Jáimez. The Alpujarra Granadina covers about two hundred of the four hundred pages. Almost all the local bodegas that can be found in a earlier blog article about Alpujarran wineries are covered in this guide. Of the different bodegas a description is given of the winery, wines, vineyards, tastings and recognitions. Distribution, address and website details can also be found in this guide.
Fundación Caja Rural de Granada
ISBN: 978-84-613-2168-1
tel. 958-242475

related keywords: wines, wijnen, vinos, vins, libros, books, boeken, livres, bücher weine,

Drying red peppers

One of the evocative images of autumn in the Alpujarras, are strings of red peppers against the whitewashed walls of the village houses. Many people still have their own allotment where they grow all sorts of vegetables. When they do, there´s a great change that they have a row of peppers. They are easy to grow, and they can be eaten fresh and used dried. People string them up when they are ripe and make sure they get as much sun as possible. We took this picture in Tímar where one of the inhabitants tied them up on the window bars. A new sign at the entrance of this village, mentions that ´gachas de pimiento´ or ´pepper porridge´ is typical example of local gastronomy. We found a recipe of this dish on the website of the cultural association of Lobras. After having a look at the other recipes on this website, we can conclude that red peppers play quite an important role in the local gastronomy in general.

Mesón Los Granaos in Lobras

Two of our walking routes pass through Lobras. Apart from the ´bar de pensionistas´ which was hardly ever open, there was no possibility to have a drink or a bite in this pretty village We are therefor pleased with the new initiative of the town hall to open a bar-restaurant. From now on, we will suggest our guests to do one of the Lobras routes in a weekend and have lunch in Mesón ´Los Granaos´. This establishment, which can be found in the former school building, opened a couple of months ago. The word is spreading quickly that Miguel and Ángeles, ´los Granaos´, serve good food at lunchtime on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Miguel is in charge of the meat from the grill and they offer a choice of dishes wish fresh fish and tapas. The place is nicely decorated and there is a terrace to enjoy the fabulous views of the Contraviesa. For groups special arrangements can be made on other days as well. For more information Miguel can be contacted on 679-793678.

Wineries or ´bodegas´ in the Alpujarras

The Alpujarras is an up-and-coming wine area. Most Alpujarras wines or ´vinos de las Alpujarras´ produced in relatively small bodegas. In the publication of the ADR Alpujarra ´El Sabor the la Alpujarra´ which we mentioned in an earlier post a list of local bodegas can be found. Here we give the complete list of wineries from this publication after having checked and updated the links. This post has a permanent link in the side column.

ALPUJARRAS GRANADINA
Bodegas Adela Gualda - Albondón
Bodegas Antonio Manzano Gualda - Albondón
Bodegas Fco. del Castillo Martín - Albondón
Bodegas Felix García Santiago - Albondón
Bodegas Francisco Manzano Santiago - Albondón
Bodegas Hnos. Moreno - Albondón
Bodegas José Rodríguez Lupiañez - Albondón
Bodega los Astacios - Albondón
Bodega Mayla, S.L. - Albondón
Bodega Vinos la Fragua de Albondón - Albondón
Bodegas El Sotillo - Albuñol (La Rábita)
Bodega Lorente - Albuñol
Bodega Alquería de Morayma - Cádiar
Bodega Barranco Oscurro - Cádiar - (video on this blog)
Bodegas García de Verdevique - Cástaras - (video on Youtube: IX Feria del Vino y la Denominación de Origen 2008
Bodega de Maria - Laroles
Bodega Fuentezuelas - Laroles - (video on Youtube : XIV Feria de Turismo, Artesanía y Alimentación "Hecho en la Alpujarra" 2009)
Bodega Maria Carmen Ramos Martín - Laroles
Bodega los Barrancos - Lobras
Bodegas Cuatro Vientos - Murtas
Bodega El Trovador - Murtas
Bodega Piedras Blancas - Torvizcón
Juan de Reyes - Torvizcón (see related article Alpujárride)
Bodega Dominio Buenavista - Ugíjar (vinos ´veleta´)

ALPUJARRAS ALMERIENSE
Bodega El Pintao - Abla
Bodega de Alboloduy - Alboloduy
Bodeja Cortijo La Vieja - Alcolea (vinos ´iniza´)
Bodega Finca Anfora - Enix (vinos ´vega enix´)
Bodega Fuente Victoria - Fondón
Selección de vinos de Fondón - Fondón
Bodega Cortijo El Cura - Laujar de Andarax
Bodegas Valle de Laujar - Laujar de Andarax
Bodega Condado de Ojancos - Laujar de Andarax
Bodegas y Viñedos de Laujar - Laujar de Andarax
Bodega Hacienda Capellanía - Nacimiento
Bodega Antonio Jiménez - Padules
Bodega Barea Granados - Padules

On our website http://www.elparaje.com/ we have a section on the bodegas from which we have wines on our wine list.


Related articles:
- Guía de vinos de Granada - Granada wine guide
- All articles with wine index label

related keywords: wines, wijnen, vinos, vins, weine, bodega, wijnmakerij, weingut, wijnproeverij, vineyards, wijngaarden, vignoble,

XIV Trade fair ´Hecho en la Alpujarra´

From the 9th to the 13th of April, the trade fair ´Made in the Alpujarra´ is organized for the fourteenth time in Órgiva. This Feria del Turismo, Artesanía y Alimentación ´Hecho en la Alpujarra´, is a an exhibiticion of tourism, crafts and local products that can be visited on four consecutive days from 11.00 to 21.00 hours.

Publication ´El Sabor de la Alpujarra´

The Asociación para la Promoción Económica y el Desarrollo Rural de la Alpujarra-Sierra Nevada (ADR Alpujarra-Sierra Nevada) published ´El Sabor de la Alpujarra´, a beautiful book on the tastes and flavours of this region. There are chapters on the local wines, olive oil, meats, cured ham, cheeses, honey, bread, sweets and pastries. It has beautiful pictures, traditional recipes, useful addresses and a lot of information on all the tasty products from the Alpujarrra. Free copies can be obtained at the tourist information centre in Orgiva. There is also an online version available. Once the whole document has been loaded you can turn the pages by clicking at one of the corners.

Fa Re tetería in Ferreirola

A visit of La Taha valley with its pretty villages we quite often recommend to people, because there are many fantastic hiking possibilities. In this area it is easy to ´devise´ your own route with copies out of one of our books. As Ferreirola is in the centre of this valley, it´s likely that you pass through this village. If you do, we can highly recommend having a break at Fa Re Tetería-Cafetería. Fátima and Rebecca, the two ladies that opened their Morrocan style tetería at the end of July, gave the place a lot of character. Apart from a wide choice of teas with lovely home-made pies, a good glass of wine with some cheese can also be enjoyed at Fa Re. When the weather is good it´s possible to sit outside and enjoy the views down into the valley. You can find this coffee and tea house at the bottom of the village in Calle Soledad, and it is open from Thursday to Sunday from 10.00 to 23.00 hours. (FaRe)

Lactarius deliciosus

Guests that recently walked the GR-7 from Juviles to Trevélez had told us about people collecting wild mushrooms in the pine woods. From local people we heard that they were looking for ´níscalos´ or ´robellones´. These saffron milk caps are apparently a type of fungi that finds its way to shops and restaurants in different parts of Spain. Today we went out mushrooming ourselves in the pines above Juviles. We soon found out that this red pine mushroom is completly covered with earth and needles so you need to look for small heaps and just try your luck. The forest had obviously been cleared quite thoroughly by other people, but nevertheless we did find enough to make a nice risotto. After some rain these saffron milk caps can grow overnight, so this might not be the end of the wild mushroom season yet.
 

Chestnut anniversary

Five years ago we were busy with the last preparations for the opening on the 1st of November. Friends from Holland that came over drove up in the mist and had at that moment no idea what the views could be like. Luckily the sun broke through the morning of the inauguration and we were able to roast chestnusts outside as we had planned a ´castañada´. Today the views are as good as ever, like the day of the opening. From the terrace we can see the sea clearly and the first snow on the mountains in the distance. A perfect day to cherish special memories and collect chestnuts.

Figs

Figs are a popular product of the Alpujarras. The small white or green figs are dried and sold as such, or used to make Pan de Higos, amongst other things. Our favourite type are the blue figs of which we have a number of trees. The first weekend of September we were able to put the first ones on the fruit-bowl on the breakfast table and use them in different types of desserts. The big tree that on sunny days offers shade on the terrace is our most mature and precious tree and will probably continue to bear fruit for three more weeks.