FLAVOURS OF SPAIN
Presenter(s): Charlie Ottley
Episode 1: The New Spain
Charlie Ottley goes in search of the ultra- modern, the space age and the chic as explores cutting edge Spain. First stop is the stunning Gehry designed wine spa hotel of Marques de Riscal in Rioja, where we browse a literal library of wine. Then it’s under the radar in Valencia, Spain’s most progressive city, where Charlie explores the landscape of the future and goes behind the scenes at Valencia fashion week.
Where we stayed
Hotel Marques De Riscal, Elciego, Alava, Basque Country
Hospes Palau del Mar , Valencia
Hotel La Pleta, Baqueira, Val D’Aran
Salobre Golf, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
The Sheraton, Bilbao
What we did
Dog Sledding, Val D’Aran
Canyoning, Gran Canaria
Where we dined
Restaurant 1860, Hotel Marques De Riscal
Submarino, Oceanografic, Valencia
Bamboo, Colon district, Valencia
Tapas and après ski at Bar Urtau in Arties
Amadeus Beach Club, Gran Canaria
The Montgarri Refuge, Val D’Aran
Episode 2: The Mediterranean
With an eye for the unusual, Charlie sets out to discover the Spanish Med. He starts his journey in Barcelona with a visit to a cookery school to learn some traditional Mediterranean dishes and a whistle stop tour of the coolest nightspots before heading up to Salvador Dali’s hometown of Cadaques on the Costa Brava. Finally, we leave the mainland behind to show you a different side to Ibiza and an undercover view of Mallorca with BBC reporter Sue Lloyd Roberts.
Episode : Southern Spain
presenters Charlie Ottley goes beneath the surface as he unearths a world of troglodytes and cave dwellings in southern Spain. Next we visit a typical Spanish hacienda where Charlie learns the art of bullfighting and experiences the magic of Andaluce flamenco. We also enjoy a sherry masterclass in Sanlucar and explore the wilds of Extremadura where Charlie stalks vultures and learns the art of cooking with Pimienton.
Episode : The Atlantic
Charlie samples the fruits of the Atlantic at a Galician Seafood festival in O Grove and checks out the kite boarding scene in Tarifa. He visits an expat family who make a living from cork, and finds out why Algerciras is more than just a gateway to Morocco. Heading to the opposite corner of the country, he finds out why Basque cuisine is among the most famous in Spain and attends a bizarre international stew festival. Lastly, leaving the mainland behind Charlie visits the Canary Islands to uncover the paths less travelled, including a trek through the “rainforests” of La Gomera and a visit to one of the world’s only truly volcanic wineries.
Episode 5: The Interior
Charlie Ottley visits Teruel famous for its role in the Spanish Civil War and explores Albaracin, one of the province’s most magical villages. Next it’s National Spain day and the festival of Pilar in Zaragoza. Charlie explores this ancient city and finds that his attempts to go with the flow land him in the bull ring. Heading south we take you to Don Quixote country and a saffron festival in La Mancha. Lastly Charlie checks into Hacienda Zorita, one of Spain’s top wineries with its own organic vineyard. The Hacienda is now a boutique hotel and has historical connections with Christopher Columbus. We also take a trip up the Duero river and visit the stunning city of Salamanca by night.
Episode 6: The Mountains
Charlie visits the Puertos de Beceite, an undiscovered paradise in the mountains of Matarrana. We take a walk through the medieval town of Valderrobrres and join in the San Miguel fiesta in Fuentespalda where they cook up a paella for 500. Next Charlie goes trekking in the Cantabrian Picos de Europa where he tries out the local cider and learns how to cook a famous local stew. In the foothills of the Pyrenees Charlie hooks up with journalist Matthew Paris who has turned his ancient Catalan farmhouse into a stunning eco-lodge. Then it’s off to the Maestrazgo, one of the least known mountainous regions of Spain, where Charlie learns how to find truffles, and explores a wilderness dotted with unspoilt medieval villages and rife with legends about the Knights Templar and the mythical Holy Grail.