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| Spain | | Catacurian: Wine and Cuisine of the Priorat - BEST SELLER | Prices and
Dates |
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Featured in May 2004 Travel
and Leisure, "The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Schools."
About
the location: El Masroig is a small, agricultural town of merely five
hundred inhabitants, nestled in the beautiful and unspoiled Priorat
wine-producing region of Catalonia. Your home during the stay will be a
fourth-generation family house, built in stone by Chef Alicia’s
great grandfather.
The home, named Catacurian by
Alicia, has recently been completely restored and transformed into a
private “hotel,” fitted with all of the amenities necessary
to make your culinary vacation a truly exquisite experience. Some of the
wonderful features include hardwood floors, thermostat in each room,
beautifully outfitted bathrooms including terrycloth bathrobes, and a
private sitting area with a fireplace and computer with internet access
for guests’ use.
About the cooking lessons: Catalan cuisine is a form
of cooking that still closely reflects its medieval origins; occupied
for nearly seven hundred years by the Romans, followed by several
centuries of the Visigoths, and then four hundred years of occupation by
the Moors, the varied influences are still discernible today. During the
program, you will have a chance to visit some of the Priorat's best
wineries where the wine tastings and one-on-one presentations will allow
you to discover what makes the wines so fabulous and renowned.
You’ll also discover why the Priorat olive oils are so outstanding
with the help of an official olive oil tasting session.
Alicia is a native of the Priorat region and will be
teaching you her region’s specialties in the very home that her
family has occupied for the last 4 generations. You’ll immediately
feel at home here, thanks to Alicia’s warmth and enthusiasm for
Catalan cuisine. The lessons focus on using the freshest ingredients
including seafood, vegetables, and specialty meats.
Wine & Cuisine of the Priorat
"Catacurian," El Masroig (Tarragona), Catalonia
3-Night Itinerary
Day One - Tuesday
- Pickup in Barcelona around 10:30 am from either the Barcelona airport or the Barcelona city center (at a pre-arranged
location, the Plaza España).
- Arrival at the property Catacurian and time to settle in.
- Welcome apéritif (this is actually almost a meal!).
- Visit to either the Capçanes winery or the Coperativa de El Masroig winery.
- Cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Two - Wednesday
- Breakfast.
- Visit to the Costers del Siurana winery (producers of Clos de l'Obac) in Gratallops with a tasting of their wonderful wine.
- Lunch at the Cellers de Gratallops restaurant or back at Catacurian.
- Free time to relax in your room, outside on the patio, or perhaps for a walk in this lovely village.
- Official olive oil tasting session where you learn what distinguishes the different types of olive oil and how to tell if an
oil is truly superior.
- Cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Three - Thursday
- Breakfast.
- Visit to the breathtaking Scala Dei monastery.
- Visit to the La Conreria de Scala Dei winery for a tasting.
- Next stop: a wonderful lunch at the El Cairat restaurant in Falset.
- Return to Catacurian for your last cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Four - Friday
- Breakfast followed by dropoff in Barcelona city center or transfer to Barcelona airport.
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Day One
- Pickup in Barcelona around 10:30 am from either the Barcelona airport
or the Barcelona city center (at a pre-arranged location, the Plaza España).
- Arrival to the property Catacurian and time to settle in.
- Welcome apéritif (this is actually almost a meal!).
- Cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Two
- Breakfast
- Visit to the Bodegas Ithaca winery and vineyards in Gratallops with a tasting.
- A very tasty lunch at El Cairat restaurant in Falset.
- Free time to relax (and digest!).
- In the evening, a cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Three
- Breakfast
- Visit to the Costers del Siurana winery (producers of Clos de l'Obac) in Gratallops and tasting of their wonderful wine.
- Lunch at the Cellers de Gratallops restaurant.
- Free time to relax in your room, outside on the patio, or perhaps for a walk in this lovely village.
- Official olive oil tasting session where you learn what distinguishes the different types of olive oil and how to tell if an
oil is truly superior.
- Cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Four
- Breakfast
- Visit to the breathtaking Scala Dei monastery.
- Visit to the La Conreria de Scala Dei winery for a tasting.
- Lunch at Catacurian, followed by free time for relaxation.
- Cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Five
- Breakfast
- Visit to Reus, birthplace of the famous "Modernisme" (Art Nouveau) architect, Antoni Guadí. We will do the
the "Gaudí route," enjoying some of his spectacular designs, and then will stop at the Reus food market. After the market, enjoy free time for shopping.
- Tapas lunch in Reus.
- Free time back at Catacurian.
- Cooking class followed by dinner.
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Day Six
- Breakfast
- Visit to the Joan d'Anguera winery in Darmés.
- Visit to an artisanal ceramics store in Miravet.
- Cooking class with combined lunch and dinner.
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Day Seven
- Breakfast followed by dropoff in Barcelona city center (Plaza España) or transfer to the Barcelona airport.
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2008 Price Per Person
3-night program: $1700 per person, based on double occupancy
3-night single supplement, $300
6-night program: $3000 per person, based on double occupancy
6-night single supplement, $600
Maximum Number of Guests is 6. Please inquire for details on:
two nights in Barcelona with Alicia as your personal guide or a
three-night Wine Tour.
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2008 Tour Dates
3-night program
September 10-13 (SOLD OUT)
September 25-28 (Special wine itinerary/2 rooms left)
October 1-4
October 7-10 (2 rooms left)
October 22-25
November 19-22
December 3-6
December 10-13
6-night program
June 3-9 (1 room left)
July 22-28
August 13-19 (1 room left)
September 17-23 (Grape Harvest Special/SOLD OUT)
November 5-11 (Olive Harvest and Olive Oil Special/SOLD OUT)
November 19-25 (Olive Harvest and Olive Oil Special)
December 23-28 (Five-night Christmas Special)
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Included in the Program:
- Transport to and from the Barcelona airport or Barcelona city
center (Plaza España) at around 10:30 am on the day of arrival and after breakfast the day of departure
- Welcome apéritif
- Accommodations w/private bath
- All breakfasts, lunches, and dinner, including premium Priorat wines
- Catalan cooking classes
- Open bar with fine liquors and Cuban cigars
- Diploma, apron, gift and recipe book
- Transport and entrance fees for all of the excursions
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