Grape pressing

The 21st Century way. We went on a coach trip today to a Bodega, very interesting day. The Bodega is a co-operative, and the farmers bring their grapes to the Bodega, at the entrance to the Bodega is an office, where a sample of the grapes are taken. They are then tested for acidity, sweetness etc, and the farmer is then paid on the quality of his grapes.

Once this has been ascertained they are then tipped into this large vat, the grapes are crushed and the juice, skins and pips, go one way to start the fermentation process and the stalks go a different way to be made into animal feed, this is then fed to the local goats. Apparently the goats cheese and milk from the animals in the Jumilla region is particularly good.

Eventually the skins and pips are used to make skin care products. We then had a wine tasting, some excellent wines, then onto the shop, where we bought a couple of bottles of very good red for 4 euros a bottle and a very, very good red, called Gemina, which cost 9 euros, which we will save for my birthday next year.

Then off for a long lunch, several courses, more wine, coffee and brandy, and then home. A very good day for the princely sum of 29 euros.