{"id":5750,"date":"2013-09-05T15:18:35","date_gmt":"2013-09-05T15:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/taylorwimpeyspain.com\/blog\/?p=5750"},"modified":"2013-09-05T15:24:56","modified_gmt":"2013-09-05T15:24:56","slug":"malaga-spain-sunshine-tapas-and-a-glass-of-excellent-wine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taylorwimpeyspain.com\/blog\/malaga-spain-sunshine-tapas-and-a-glass-of-excellent-wine\/","title":{"rendered":"M\u00e1laga, Spain \u2014 Sunshine, tapas and a glass of excellent wine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most people have heard about Spain\u2019s wine, especially from the famous La Rioja wine region. What you might not know is that M\u00e1laga, on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, produces some pretty darn good wine of its own and at affordable prices too.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Spanish wines are famous worldwide, but a lesser known fact is that M\u00e1laga has been producing wines all the way back to Phoenician times and possibly has one of the oldest wine-producing histories in the world.<\/p>\n

Reportedly, M\u00e1laga enjoyed a profitable export of its wine in the past, with the Greeks, the Romans and the Moors all enjoying the quality. However, during the 19th century, tastes changed and along with vine-destroying plagues, M\u00e1laga’s wine industry was all but decimated.<\/p>\n

Things have most definitely improved since then and today, M\u00e1laga is the largest of the DO (Denominaci\u00f3n de Origen or Designation of Origin) wine producing areas in Andaluc\u00eda. There are around 3,000 acres planted in some 30 vineyards (Bodegas) and the area produces over 2 million liters annually.<\/p>\n

The M\u00e1laga area is best known for its sweet wines, produced from the Moscatel and Pedro Ximenez grape varieties. These two grape varieties are mainly grown in the Axarquia growing region of M\u00e1laga province, close to the town of V\u00e9lez-M\u00e1laga.<\/p>\n

The larger Moscatel grapes, mostly for eating, are grown around the village of Manilva and a sweet variation of the Pedro Ximenez variety predominates just north of Antequera.<\/p>\n

What is interesting to note is that despite where the grapes are actually grown, pressed and sometimes fermented, M\u00e1laga wines are all aged in the city of M\u00e1laga itself. Part of the culture and social life of Andaluc\u00eda is to enjoy a small glass of sweet wine, and M\u00e1laga has some original and very interesting wine bars in which to do just that.<\/p>\n

Antigua Casa de Guardia<\/strong>
\nAntigua Casa de Guardia was founded in 1840 by Don Jos\u00e9 Guardia and is the oldest wine bar\/tavern in M\u00e1laga, and has been producing and serving wine in the same way for the last 172 years.
\nMore than just a wine bar, Antigua Casa de Guardia is an institution, and for lovers of wine, a place that must be visited when in the city.<\/p>\n

Not only that, but it has a little Royal heritage too. Queen Isabel II appointed the Antigua Casa de Guardia as the official supplier of M\u00e1laga wines to the Royal household and even allows the Royal seal to be used on labeling.<\/p>\n

Nothing much has changed over the years and the wine bar retains its original look. As can be seen in the video, the interior of the wine bar consists of age-old oak counters and wooden barrels.
\nThe wine flows from Cuban and Russian taps that date from before the Second World War.<\/p>\n

Casa de Guardia remains an authentic living wine museum, with its antiques, paintings and carefully preserved bottles. Another tradition which continues to this day, and which may surprise you, is when your bar bill is written on the counter in front of you in chalk.<\/p>\n