I just opened a bottle of wine from the Valdepeñas region of Spain. We lived in a suburb of Madrid for three years while I was stationed at Torrejon Air Base. We had made a conscious decision to live "on the economy," meaning off-base housing. And we loved it!
We had Spanish, French and American neighbors. It was close quarters. These were townhouses that were so close, we shared clothes lines.
Spaniards drink red wine like Texans drink iced tea, and just about that casually. There's no ceremony to it. You just pour a tumbler full of wine and drink, if that formal. Sometimes they drink it from a bota, a bag traditionally made from goat skin. "If you can't afford to spill it, you can't afford to drink it!" Likely as not, they're drinking a Valdepeñas. It's the standard house wine at most family restaurants and tascas. For most household use, a trip to the "bodega" to refill a gallon jug, was customary.
Before we got to Spain, our knowledge of wine was mostly limited to Lancer's Rose, a big splurge for a couple still in college. In Spain, we learned to drink red wine like the natives (except from those nasty goat skin bags). For three years, red wine, "tinto," was Valdepeñas!
Today, our tastes in wine go through phases. A year ago, we were in a Pinot Grigio phase. Lately, we've acquired a taste for Syrah.
When I opened this bottle, the color, the smell and the taste of it triggered a strong wave of nostalgia for our days in Spain.
[this is good] Ron Coakley, Interested in your comment about Torrejon AB. I've been surfing and found this reference to TAB. I was there '67-'70. Great memories, great time.
Posted by: Ron Coakley | 02/23/2009 at 05:00 AM
I was in the 612th TFS from '72 to '75. My squadron is planning a reunion this year.
Posted by: Primordial Nothin' | 02/23/2009 at 06:18 AM