We left Sevilla around 9.30 on Monday and arrived at Cinco Jotas in Jabugo shortly after 11.00, after dropping our bags at the hotel in Aracena. María Castro was there to greet us and took us on quite the VIP tour. Unlike the last couple of times I visited we were allowed into the drying and ageing areas (had to suit up first!) which was not only super interesting, it was just what I needed for my upcoming articles. After our tour María and Marco gave us a wonderful tasting of the fabulous 5J black label jamón and also some of their charcuterie, paired with sherry wines from the exquisite Osborne La Honda / Coquinera selection.

We had been invited for lunch at Finca Buenvino and I was really looking forward to seeing everyone again. Of course María knows the Chestertons (everyone in and around Aracena knows everyone else) so she dropped us off and stayed for a quick visit. And then we sat down with the family – Sam & Jeannie and sons Sam & Jago – for a wonderful home-cooked meal, with plenty of wine and lots of chat. I was enjoying myself so much I totally forgot to take any food photos, also it didn’t seem the thing to do there. Suffice to say Jeannie and her son Sam (who is taking over the reigns at Buenvino) put on an impressive spread. All too soon it was time to get back to Aracena and finally check into our hotel, so Jeannie gave us a lift over.

Turned out that we (well, me) ended up being a “prisoner” in the hotel as, after attempting to go out for an evening drink that first day at a “nearby” bar (7 mins away according to google maps, more like 30 mins for me up and down very steep cobbled streets) I knew that was it. I’d have to leave the joys of Aracena for after my knee op. Which also meant having to eat the hotel breakfast for two days… ufff.

Anyhow, for now just leaving short snippets of the Aracena Getaway here. More coming up on Bitesize Sevilla. Stay tuned.