The Bodegas Bentomiz winery, just off the Sayalonga-Cómpeta road, is a beautiful modern building built by André, who is now running the wine-centred restaurant serving gourmet lunches, but whose first love was architecture. It is in one of the most beautiful places in the Axarquía, with stunning views of the mountains and the sea, and is open right through the year, including December and January.
If you take in a tour you hear the story of how Clara and André came from Holland some 23 years ago and got into wine-making as wine-lovers and amateurs before turning it into this amazing business and producing the award-winning Ariyanas range – some of the best wines of Málaga and of Spain – now served in over 20 Michelin-starred restaurants. The tour and tasting going together and you can follow that with a meal in their lovely wine salon. André, who with Chef Juan Quintanilla, designed the menus, serves beautifully crafted gourmet food to go with the wines. This is what they mean by the complete wine experience – you get to understand the development of the bodega and how it was inspired by the exceptional Malaga grapes – before you taste the wines, and then enjoy them with a perfect food pairing. It is unusual, interesting, beautiful and delicious – and the attention to detail is exceptional. They are open right through the Christmas period.
Of course you might be looking, at this time of year for a different kind of outing. It’s the season to push the boat out, go the Full Monty and enjoy a little pizzazz! For that you should book for one of the bodegas’ special events in December and January. They are hosting a pre-Christmas Music & Dinner on Thursday 20th. The meal will be a 5-course gourmet special with wine; the music is live, performed by the exceptional folk musician, composer and poet Keith James. Keith, described by The Independent as playing “some of the most emotive and compelling music you will ever here” has been performing for over 20 years and sold out the bodega with two gigs last Easter. He will be performing his own ‘best of’ set. Spaces are limited so if you are interested in going to the event email
reservas@bodegasbentomiz.co
straight away to see if they can squeeze you in.
If either dinner or the date does not suit your plans then there is the option of lunch: Christmas day and New Year’s Day, André is planning a 7 course menu with cava and wine. Again there will be live music, classical this time, with a pianist and soprano singer Rosa María Caballero coming from Seville to entertain guests with repertoire that ranges from operatic arias to Christmas carols and songs from Broadway musicals.
Whatever will we do when it is January though, and we are stuck in the post-Christmas doldrums?
Don’t worry – you can keep the party going! If you book for a meal at the bodega in January and, when booking, quote code GRAPEVINE-01-MV you can enjoy the wine pairing menu of 3 or 5 glasses of wine for half price. Just put the code into the ‘comments’ when you make your booking on line at . Just put the code into the ‘comment when you make your booking on line at www.bodegasbentomiz.com.
A little post-Christmas present, for Grapevine readers, from Bodegas Bentomiz
