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FOOD AND DRINK

Daily dilemmas: Tinto de verano or sangría for the perfect Spanish summer drink?

What better way to cool down than with a refreshing glass of delicious Spanish wine, poured over ice and sipped leisurely in a chiringuito at the beach or a shady terraza in the city? But which drink is better - sangría or tinto de verano?

tinto de verano or sangria which is better
Tinto de verano or sangría? Which Spanish summer drink do The Local Spain's readers prefer? Photos: Arkangel/Wikipedia, Luis González Sosa/Unsplash

Does one choose the famous Spanish drink abroad – sangría a mix of red wine, spirits, fruit and lemonade?

Or do you go for the simpler tinto de verano, a straight up mix of red wine and either lemonade or casera (that sweetened soda the Spanish are fond of).

Back in 2019, we asked our readers to give us their views.

On Facebook, 78 percent said they would choose tinto de verano as their summer drink of choice over sangría, the latter being widely considered to be a ‘tourist’ option. 

While on Twitter, it was a more even divide, with 60 percent opting for tinto de verano and 40 percent for sangría. 

Melanie Lawrence, a Brit living in Madrid delved deeper into the dilemma adding that tinto de verano was best, but especially when served with lemonade and not casera (sweetened soda water).

However, she did admit that when her friends visit from England, “siempre pedimos una jarra de sangría” (we always order a jug of sangría).

Pilar Bretos agreed, saying “tinto de verano all the way…and I agree with some of you here who said that sangría is mainly more popular with foreigners”.

One regular reader even went as far as stating that sangría shouldn’t even be considered an option by ‘real locals’. 

Here’s an interesting fact though, that ‘guiri‘ drink that many integrated foreigners wouldn’t apparently touch with a bargepole actually received protected status by the European Parliament in 2014. That basically means that foreign drink producers can concoct the same mix, but it can only be called sangría if it’s made in Spain or Portugal. 

Tinto de verano, on the other hand, does not enjoy the denominación de origen classification. 

But back to the vino on ice debate.

“The real choice, if between two, is actually, for most of us, between una cerveza (beer) and the aforementioned tinto de verano… (sangría (is) for guiris!),” commented Abbey Road.

Sangría, when properly prepared, can be delicious. A mix of red wine, brandy, lemonade (or casera) and with sliced fresh fruit, it comes by the jug with lots of ice and is best served at lunchtime.

Perhaps the drink has got a bad name thanks to bars serving up the worst wine, the lowest grade brandy and overripe fruit that’s passed its best.  Some even skip the mixing process and serve it straight from the carton. 

Or it could be that sangría isn’t served in your average bar in authentically Spanish areas because they don’t have fruit available, or because preparing un tinto de verano is more straightforward.

Admittedly, sangría is more of a drink served in tourist areas, while the tipple of choice during summer in ‘real Spain’ is either tinto de verano or beer.

And inevitably, for many foreigners who have tried their hardest to integrate into Spanish culture, the thought of ordering a drink which is somewhat connected to the drinking excesses of some tourists in Spain is not something they want, and that’s perfectly justified.

READ MORE: The best Spanish treats to keep you cool in a heatwave 

 

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DISCOVER SPAIN

Seven of the least touristy places in Spain to visit over Easter

Looking to spend Easter in Spain but dreading the crowds? Here are seven places across the country where you're far less likely to encounter many tourists.

Seven of the least touristy places in Spain to visit over Easter

Spain’s bigger cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are always pretty packed with tourists. During Easter, when many countries have public and school holidays, they can be even busier than usual and getting around can become pretty difficult.

During Easter specifically, some towns and cities, most famously Seville, can be absolutely overrun with tourists during Semana Santa – Holy Week.

If you’re wanting to get away but don’t fancy facing the crowds, here are 8 of the least touristy cities in Spain to visit this Easter.

READ ALSO: What are the best cities in Spain to see the Semana Santa processions?

Badajoz

Badajoz is often ignored compared to its neighbours Cáceres and Mérida, but well worth a visit. The city of roughly 150,000 in the Extremadura region of western Spain sits on the border with Portugal and is much cheaper than visiting traditional tourist hotspots such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville over Easter.

Badajoz’s impressive Moorish citadel, located on the banks of the Guadiana river, is an extraordinary fortress from the Al-Andalus period and is one of the largest in Spain. The San Juan Bautista cathedral is another historical monument worth seeing. For those who’ve visited Seville, Badajoz also has a Giralda tower very similar to the one in the Andalusian capital.

Badajoz and the region of Extremadura as a whole welcome very few tourists. Photo: Alonso de Mendoza/Wikipedia.

Ciudad Real

Ciudad Real is a small city, with a population of around 75,000 people, found right in the centre of Spain in the Castilla-La Mancha region. It’s about a 2.5 hour drive south of Madrid.

For the literature fans among our readership, Ciudad Real is most commonly associated with the seminal novel in Spanish history (indeed arguably in world history) Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. As such, one of the city’s main attractions is the Don Quixote museum, but the city has much to offer than literary connections. The Santa María del Prado cathedral and Plaza Mayor are of particular note. Close to Ciudad Real is Almagro, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. 

Almagro is a short drive away from Ciudad Real city. Photo: Carlos Cuerda/Flickr (public domain)

Huesca

Another hidden gem is Huesca, in the Aragón region. Huesca is small, with a population of a little over 50,000, but the city and province that goes by the same name stand out and really punches above its weight for incredible historical heritage. In the old town alone, the smaller city boasts the San Pedro el Viejo monastery and the Cathedral of Transfiguración del Señor. 

The cathedral of Santa María de Huesca is arguably the most renowned and well known historical monument in the city. It is Gothic in style and was somewhere built between the 13th and 14th centuries by order of Jaime I — definitely worth a visit!

You can escape the crowds of tourists this Easter in the village of Torla in Huesca province (Aragón). Photo: Antonio López/Pixabay

Soria

Soria is a stunning little city in the Castilla y León region. It’s around a 2 hour drive from Zaragoza, and can be easily reached by public transport from Madrid in around 2 and a half hours.

The city also oozes history wherever you look. Soria’s Plaza Mayor, the heart of the city, is home to both the Fuente de los Leones and Casa de los Doce Linajes, which dates back to the 18th century and has neoclassical style. Soria also boasts the Church of Santo Domingo, considered one of the masterpieces of Romanesque architecture in Spain.

San Juan de Duero Monastery on the outskirts of Soria. Photo: Diego Delso/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

El Hierro

The smallest of Spain’s Canary Islands has fewer than 10,000 inhabitants and is a world apart from touristy Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. Dozens of trails through dense laurel forests, some of the best scuba diving Spain has to offer and quaint villages are some of its main draws. Above all, you’ll find it extremely easy to find peace and tranquillity in La Isla de Meridiano, considered for centuries to be the most westerly point in the world.  

Don’t expect traffic jams on the isolated Canary island of El Hierro. Photo: Simon/Pixabay

Camino Natural Senda del Duero

Another worthwhile Easter trip for nature lovers, ramblers and cyclists. The Camino Natural Senda del Duero is a very long trail that begins on the border of the provinces of La Rioja, Burgos and Soria in the highest peak of the Iberian mountain range, the Picos de Urbión. This is where the river Duero begins, and it then flows into Oporto before crossing Castilla y León from east to west for 750 kilometres.

Along the way are towns such as Aranda de Duero, Peñafiel, Almazán and Simancas, stops on a long tour through Castilian nature, history and tradition.

A bend in the Duero river around Fermoselle and Pinilla. Photo: Zona especial de conservación/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ezcaray

Ezcaray is a tiny town of around 2000 people in the La Rioja region. It’s less than an hour from nearby Logroño, three and a half hours from Madrid, and the picturesque town is surrounded by rolling green hills and mountains.

Ezcaray may be small, but boasts a lot of visit worthy sites. The Real Fábrica de Paños de Santa Bárbara, an old textile factory, is a recognised cultural asset, as is the Casa de Tintes ‘El Fuerte’, which has been converted into the town hall. The church of Santa María la Mayor is also worth a visit, especially during Easter, for its eye-catching reddish stone, Gothic style and an ornate altarpiece dating back to the 12th century.

Ezcaray and the region in which it is located – La Rioja – are both off the tourist trail. Photo: Almudena Sanz/Pixabay

L’Ametlla de Mar

If you want a coastal trip this Easter but don’t want the hustle and bustle of cities like Valencia, Málaga or Alicante, consider L’Ametlla de Mar in Tarragona.

A town of just 8,000 people that has gorgeous coastal views, L’Ametlla de Mar strikes a balance between being small and compact but also offering tourists plenty to keep busy with. The port is worth a visit, as is the fish auction at Llotja de L’Ametlla and, of course, the 30 beautiful coves and beaches in the area, five of which have been awarded with distinctions.

Cala de la Leña, one of the many quiet coves around ‘Ametlla de Mar. Photo: Damià Llaó/Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0

Sierra Morena Sevillana

Though Seville city centre will be absolutely packed with people during Semana Santa, the province itself has something of a hidden gem you could enjoy during Easter. Sierra Morena Sevillana is a protected nature reserve north of Seville, and whether it be fishing in the Rivera del Huéznar, heading to the Almadén de la Plata, the only public astronomical observatory in Spain, or enjoying some of the famous local Andalusian gastronomy, you’re sure to find something to help you disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Escape Seville’s Semana Santa processions in the nearby Sierra Morena. Photo: NacionAndaluza/Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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