Romantic Getaways
As the snow falls like luxurious sheets over the world, on the other side of the window glass, there’s nothing better than enjoying the warmth of the fireplace, accompanied by the ‘crack crack’ of the stacked logs, consumed in their majestic dance of untiring flames.
To free oneself from the mundane routine of winter, perhaps it is better to simplify rather than seek out the most exotic retreat. Such modest pleasures can be found in each and every country cabin nestled in the beautiful corners of La Rioja. For couples to share an extraordinary weekend away and celebrate these special days to come, these little cabins provide the perfect setting.
Winter marks a time of tranquility in many places and gives us the perfect excuse to take refuge within the coziest place of La Rioja. For the more adventurous visitor, there remain many other ways to enjoy lively festivals of the region, especially with the arrival of San Blas at the beginning of February.
Photo by elizabethEPIDEMIC
Resolve to Relax in 2012
Christmas has come and gone. A new year full of possibilities lies ahead. It’s time to start crossing off items from that long list of resolutions for 2012. New Year’s resolutions from year to year generally run in the same vein: loose weight, find a new/better job, learn a language etc. However, perhaps this year more resolutions will revolve around how we spend our time and some of life’s simpler pleasures.
My proposed list of time-resolutions includes: taking time to get away, time to disconnect, time with our loved ones. As life seems to move faster and faster around us, it becomes more difficult for us to find the time to dedicate to our family or ourselves.
Where better to escape the hustle and bustle than the tranquil setting of La Rioja? With its relaxing stillness in the winter months, there is no better place to snuggle up by a roaring fire, enjoy an excellent glass of wine and forget about the rest of the world!
Photo by: badhairday24
Times of Change
Winter is upon us! Nearly everyone has pulled their winter coats out from the depths of their wardrobes, tucked their fingers away in woolen gloves and hidden their ears as best they can. In the vineyards, preparations have begun to affront the long, oncoming winter. The cold is necessary in the cultivation of grapes and in the production of wine. Some grapes produced in La Rioja, especially La Garnacha, are particularly susceptible to changes in temperature and wines elaborated with this grape can vary substantially depending on the year. An ideal winter in the vineyard is cool with an abundance of water, but those responsible for the vines well-being, always one step ahead of the weather, take all the precautions to protect the plants when the mercury drops below zero. What tasks await us in the vineyard now?
It is pruning season. Red and yellow leaves carpet the ground and the canes of the vine remain, naked against the grey autumn skies. These were the newest shoots this past spring, sustaining bunches of grapes through the long summer days. Now the canes represent a serious danger for these plants. To save the plant from wasting necessary energy and resources the viticultores (vine-growers) will spend the next weeks strolling through their fields, accompanied by their pruning sheers.
The change in the landscape between autumn and winter is dramatic. From the splendid patchwork vineyards of yellows, reds and bronze to the grey days of December in which the quiet snow falls on the living statues of the vines. Days in which it is worthwhile to take a moment to contemplate the beauty of this sleeping landscape.
Photo By DreamingXInXTheXSky
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