Saturday, May 20, 2017
Day 3 in Madrid; day 10 of the Spain trip. Wine day trip tour with David. We found this tour on winetourismspain.com: Ribera del Duero day tour from Madrid. Stopped for coffee in Segovia. Winery tour by Ben at Bodega Sarmentero who took us for a short walk to the vineyards in warm, breezy weather before a tasting indoors. Winery tour and lunch at Aster with the interesting and unique second story at the tops of the wine vats. Lunch was on the salty side and exquisitely prepared with excellent service: ham and mushroom brochettes, piquillo peppers, white asparagus for Wayne, ham croquettes, morthilla, salad with sliced onions, roast lamb, mille-feuille, coffee and tea, grappa. Perhaps the best mille-feuille I have ever tasted. Winery tour at Bodegas Ismael Arroyo ValSotillo with the fantastic caves which reminded me of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Anaheim. Rested at the VRBO. Dinner at the VRBO prepared by Danny: steamed white rice, veggie omelettes, leftover stewed pork, salad, sautéed fish. Others went barhopping while I rested at the VRBO.