I am a late(ish) Boomer so the DJ electronic dance craze flew slightly below my radar. This Spring, I jumped at the opportunity to visit Ibiza to learn more about this wonderful Island and its food and wine.  There are four commercial wineries, all of whom offer winery visits.  Wine has been produced on the Island since the Phoenicians arrived in 650 BC.

I had my first taste of Ibizan gastronomy in the small village of Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, located in the heart of the Island about 13km by car from our hotel in Cala Llonga Beach.  The village has a wide choice, offering everything from gourmet cuisine to rustic local bars.  I made a beeline for Bar Costa to enjoy a selection of Tapas, washed down with a glass of local wine.

Tapas (meaning small plate) is a traditional Spanish snack, usually enjoyed with a glass of beer or wine. Tapas culture is now global, but for me, it MUST be experienced in Spain. Bar Costa, in the pedestrianised heart of the village, was packed with locals. A wise friend, who knows Spain well, once advised, always eat in the restaurants where the locals eat.  Here you will get the authentic taste of Spain, at a much lower price than in the tourist restaurants. 

In this instance we were spot on, we enjoyed slices of Jamón Ibérico served with rustic bread and it melted in the mouth. I washed it down with a local white wine made from a native grape, and quite simply, died and went to heaven.  This family friendly sandwich bar, is perfect for those on a budget and a great way to get to know the authentic taste of Spain.

Bodega Can Rich is run by Álvaro Pérez Navazo. The story is interesting, Álvaro originally from Ribera del Duero in Northern Spain, worked in the wine business before meeting his wife.  His wife’s family owned a wine farm, and in 1999 following their marriage, Álvaro began working with the family to develop the 22ha estate.

Can Rich make wine from both traditional and imported grapes. Their white wines are made from Malvasía and Chardonnay, and the reds from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Monstrell.  They also make excellent Sparkling Wine and a selection of local liqueurs including Cafe Caleta, a mixture of coffee and brandy and Hierbas Ibicencas a local delicacy, native to the Island made from an aniseed-flavoured liqueur infused with a mix of herbs.

We tasted a few stunners, the 2023 Can Rich Amphora was a revelation, made from the aromatic Malvasía grape and aged for six months in large concrete Amphora, this was floral with lovely honied notes and hints of beeswax.  The 2022 Can Rich Amphora made from 60% Monastrel and 40% Syrah was also outstanding.  I also loved the 2024 Can Rich Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine, made from a blend of Malvasía, Muscat and Chardonnay, a bubbly explosion of fruit and flowers.

As for the Hierbas Ibicencas, I made my own at Finca Can Musón, a very special organic farm founded in 2009 by María Marí.  María Marí, Ibizan by birth and living on a farm which her family has run for generations is the founder of Can Musón.  This is a woman who tirelessly fights for the empowerment of women in the countryside with a mission to maintain the traditions of rural life.Can Musón, offers an incredible experience, an organic farm with lots of animals a morning spent there is good for the soul.  It is VERY child friendly and the area where you feed the animals, goats, pigs, peacocks, birds in fact just about anything you can think of is utterly enchanting.

They have a lovely restaurant area, and the simple lunch, featuring all the food grown on the farm was outstanding.  Here I made my very own version of Hierbas Ibicencas, using herbs grown on the farm.  I infused my own herb selection in the aniseed spirit and brought the bottle home, which I will keep it until Christmas to see how it evolves!

Hotel Hyde, Cala Llonga Beach, Ibiza https://hydehotels.com/ibiza/

Bar Costa https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/restaurants/bar-costa

Bodega Can Rich https://bodegascanrich.com/en

 Finca Can Musón https://www.ibizacanmuson.com/

For more information about Ibiza www.ibiza.travel

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