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Such enchanted countyside, not like I ever expected, and - yes, there are millions of castles in Spain. As we drove south we saw we were in another heavy grape-growing region, and were not aware of any wine from this area. Guys were out in the vineyards, all over, picking, and hauling, the dark grapes. We found a bodega open, and got a tour, some tasting, and the scoop. They grow grapes here that, for the most part, they sell to Rioja, but some stays here to be fashioned into local wines. There is a grape here I have never heard of, "bobal". They use that, plus temperanillo, merlot and cabernet, and cabernet franc. Donīt care for merlot and cabernet, especially after getting happily accustomed to Riojan temperanillos and garnaches. We picknicked in the vineyards, and, then, stopping in Almansa for gas, and to plot our route east to the coast, ran into a major speed bump, when Kozmo accidentally put gas into our diesel tank. We had to call the rental car company, and wait 3 hours for them to bring another car for us from Alicante. |