Tag Archives: sevilla

bodegas góngora

14 Tuesday Oct 2025

Posted by in andalucia, gastro guias, sevilla, wine

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Bodegas Góngora is the second oldest active winery in Spain (the oldest in Andalucía), founded in 1682 and located about 17 kms outside Sevilla in Villanueva del Ariscal. In 2020 the winery was bought by the Howden group, though seventh generation Ignacio Gallego Góngora remains involved in the project as technical director. The bodega has recently pulled out all the stops with a more than 12 million euro transformation including a wine museum, a boutique hotel and an event space, aiming to become one of the most innovative Sevilla bodegas in terms of wine marketing and luxury wine tourism.

Guided visits began this month and today the Gastro Guías were invited on a private tour hosted by Ignacio Góngora himself. This was a real treat for us because Ignacio was not only a wonderful storyteller, but sharing his own personal family experiences and obvious passion really made it an extra special visit. After being told we would probably be there just over an hour, we didn’t leave until more than three hours after arriving.

The winery continues to produce three categories of wines: white, aromatised and a classic (fortified) range. During our visit we tasted five of the classic line: fino, amontillado, palo cortado, oloroso and pedro ximénez. At the moment there are four types of visits to choose from. The hotel is projected to open in March 2026, along with a “showcooking” restaurant that will be available for private events.

blue monday

13 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in seasons, sevilla, spain

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Hobbling along I looked to my left up a side street and was stopped in my tracks by THIS. Just look at that gorgeous mackerel sky! 💙 🤍 Very autumnal though you wouldn’t know it by the temperatures, which are still above average but at least not high enough to need the AC. This is fine by me as it means I can put off the dreaded shoes & tights for a while longer. How are things where you are?

super mariano

10 Friday Oct 2025

Posted by in culture, gastronomy, restaurants, sevilla, spain, tapas, tapas bars

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I’ve known Mariano García for more than 15 years, ever since I started going to his wonderful award-winning Cafetería Donald (which is now just five minutes from my house). I love stopping in, even just for a quick Cold Beer O’clock, and having a chat with everyone. Mariano has lived almost his entire life in this restaurant, which he started working at as a young waiter and eventually took over when the original owner retired. He has since expanded to the space next door opening Bodeguita La Hermandad, with a slightly different concept, but the kitchen is basically the same. What I love about The Donald is that it has remained very much a neighbourhood spot with a classic menu and top quality product. Recently his daughter Conchi has joined the team, so it looks likely to remain a family-run treasure for some time to come.

Mariano is the epitome of a traditional restaurateur, sadly a dying breed, and the walls of his establishment are festooned with various awards and accolades that he has garnered over the years. This week he received not one but two awards: the Premio Tabernero Mayor 2025 at San Sebastián Gastronomika and another at the XIV Gala Premios Tradiciones Sevillanas, recognising his contribution to our local culture and traditions. I’d seen both of these saw pop up on his Instagram so on the way home from my long lunch with the girls yesterday I stopped in and asked to see them. You can see how proud he (rightfully) looks showing them off to me. I also feel proud to know him and to have him as a long-time friend and neighbour. It’s people like Mariano who make my life here so special.

deb’s in town

09 Thursday Oct 2025

Posted by in friends, sevilla

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Deb’s back again for about ten days, between Sevilla and Cádiz, with friends Clare and Nina, whom I know from previous trips, and we made plans to meet for lunch. I asked if they were willing to do some Tapas Research with me and visit somewhere new that I hadn’t been to yet and of course it was Game On. Well, I say new… it just opened last week and it’s the second restaurant of Javi Muñoz (aka The Sherry Chef), whom I’ve known for years. His La Carboná is excellent, so I had high hopes for Amarío and it did not disappoint.

As usual Debs brought me some treats from home, including mince pies (I can freeze them!), a Decanter magazine, and this lovely red post box biscuit tin (full of lovely biscuits) to put up on the Dan Jamón London Christmas Shelf, a  tradition that began with what would be Dan’s last visit here, though of course we didn’t know it at the time.

It was great seeing the girls again and, as usual, we ended up going for a penúlitima afterwards and, as always, it carried on so long that it became clear I was being held hostage (I couldn’t leave without them because I couldn’t carry the bag of treats on my own and they showed no signs of wanting to go anywhere). So I called Peter to ask if he would come and rescue me, which he did, though they made him stay and have a beer. So it was close to 9.00 pm by the time I finally got home from “lunch”, but it’s fun having girlfriends for a day! I miss them already.