Vino del País

I learned about vino del país this past November.  Someone was telling me that on December 3rd there would be a festival in the Plaza Mayor of Baza where people would set up tables and bring their own wine for others to try -along with wintery tapas like bread and sausage.

I didn't fully understand the idea until I experienced vino del país for myself.  One afternoon, the two people who my roommates tutor took us to a bodega to try this "land wine."  We didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into until we got to the bodega.

We sat down and right away Antonio ordered us a liter of wine, a plate of olives, some chorizo, and other wintery, fatty tapas.  When the waitress brought us our liter of wine, we thought it was funny that she brought us these tiny glasses to drink it in.  We found out, after we had been sitting at the table for a couple of hours and after a second liter that the vino del país is extremely strong and very delicious.

Vino del país with jamón serrano, queso manchego and of course olive oil

I think it is really special that vino del país is a local Baza tradition.  People in the Baza area all make their own wine and drink it while it is at it strongest.  The wine is usually pink-ish and very sweet.  Vino del país is generally served in cozy bodegas filled with smoke because the meat is being prepared directly in the fireplace and the walls are covered in miscellaneous hunting equipment and animal heads.  The wine is served with filling, wintery tapas like sliced sausages, bread, potatoes and lots of different types of meats.

Generally it is only served for about 3-4 months of the year from December -February/March.  Here is the website if you want to see a map of all of the bodegas and restaurants that serve vino del país in Baza.

(Photo credit goes to Kelsee)