Dear members here is the May Newsletter for your information and action as appropriate. Hope you find it of interest. 
April Tasting
In my absence, Vice President Tim Fawle welcomed 42 members and their guests to Ca La iaia for a tasting of wgines from Bodega Los Frailes in the DO of Valencia, As no representatives from the Bodega were present, due to other commitments, the wines were presented by Tim Fawle and Keith Pacey. Keith Pacey introduced us to the bodega of Los Frailes. It is a family owned estate of 162 hectares with vineyards, Mediterranean forest, almond and olive trees with a unique terroir. It sits at an altitude of 650-700 meters above sea level, the soil is extremely calcareous, it has a Mediterranean climate influenced by continental climate, and has vines of 40-years-old average of the native grape: Monastrell. A more detailed report on the tasting can be found on the web site under “Tastings – Recent Tastings” or by clicking on April Tasting.
May Tasting
The May Tasting is a special event. We have a Guest Speaker Ed Adams an innovative Winemaker and a Master of Wine who is coming over to Spain to talk to us. His theme is “Old world wine with a New world finish” This tasting will be at Punta Negra in the hotel Les Rotes Denia on the 16th May.
What happens when you take a Master of Wine and a multi-award winning South African winemaker and put them together? La Báscula has two meanings in Spanish: – either it’s an old fashioned weighing scales or a large weighbridge for lorries. When deciding what to call their new Spanish wine range, Englishman Ed Adams MW and South African winemaker Bruce Jack chose the first definition on the basis that a weighbridge would not look so good on a wine label. The philosophy is small volumes and really high quality; also the lead varietal or varietals in all the wines are always native Spanish grapes which is very important for typicity and integrity. We believe all the wines represent excellent value for money and really show off the areas they come from.
Come and taste the wines and listen to this intriguing story from Ed Adams himself on his personal visit to The Costa Blanca Wine Society. We are very lucky to host a Master of Wine and would hope that as many of you as possible will attend. Feel free to bring your wine loving friends to this fascinating tasting.
Please remember that the booking deadline is the FRIDAY before the tasting. If you have to cancel after the deadline you will still have to pay! Reservations and choice of main course please to: Penny Floodgate Tel: 965794996 or email: pennyfloodgate@gmail.com. Reservations must be received no later than the deadline 12.00 noon on Friday l0th May. Penny will always confirm receipt of your booking. If you have made a reservation and do not receive a confirmation from Penny you are not booked, so in that case please check with her.
The Hotel are offering special rates for members staying overnight. Single room with single occupancy 62.05€: Standard double with single occupancy 79.80€; Standard double with double occupancy 96.05€; Superior double with double occupancy 102€. Just tell them you are a CBWS member and attending the tasting
Menu
Starters
Surtido de nuestros mejores panes artesanos
Assortment of artisan bread
Ensalada de brotes tiernos, tartar de tomate, judías verdes y verduras confitadas a 65º con jamón ibérico
Salad with tender sprouts, tomato tartare, green beans and confit vegetables on 65º with Iberian ham
Ravioli de foie con consomé de setas
Foie-gras ravioli with mushrooms consomme
Vieira con alcachofa y caldo de galeras
Scallop with artichoke and mantis sauce
Sorbete de fruta de la pasión – passionfruit sorbet
PLATO PRINCIPAL A ELEGIR – MAIN COURSE TO CHOOSE
Lubina con bullabesa de verduras y calamar
Seabass with vegetables and squids
or
Solomillo de ternera con salsa de tres pimientas
Beef tenderloin with three pepper sauce
POSTRE – DESSERT
Carpaccio de piña y melón con frutos rojos y espuma de fresas
Pineapple and melon carpaccio with berries and strawberry foam
Cafés / coffee
Cost 35€ per member 40€ for guests
I look forward to seeing you at the tasting on the 16th May, which should be very interesting. Please try and bring a friend
Maureen Holliday, President