Spain’s Delicious Secret
The tiny medieval town of Trujillo is a picture perfect Spanish bolthole. Perched atop a hill overlooking the dusty plains, this medieval enclave of cobbled streets, secretive labyrinthine stone villas and a population of less than 10,000 is almost soporific in its lazy, hazy charm. We defy you not to fall instantly in love with the place.
One of the area’s most important and historic towns, Trujillo was the birthplace of Francisco Pizzaro, the famous Conquistador who travelled to the New World, conquered the Inca Empire and founded Lima in Peru; quite the achievement considering it was the 15th century. Much of the town’s magnificently preserved architecture is the result of his - and other Conquistadors’- return with new-found wealth, and to this day he still dominates the main square on horseback in the form of a bronze statue.
The stunningly chic minimalist branding is akin to an haute couture fashion house and what’s inside the bottles doesn’t disappoint. While a number of past wines are now sold out, we went home with a bottle of the refreshingly crisp Habla de Ti, a dry white sauvignon blanc. Ever the hostess with the mostest, Trujillo Villas España can arrange a guided tour of the vineyard for guests of their villas.
We were granted an audience with the sommelier (previously of The Ritz in Paris) who showed off the nothing short of incredible collection of over 34,000 bottles, housed beneath stairs in the temperature and humidity controlled cellar. Suffice to say it is probably the only time one shall witness wines dating from as far back as Napoleonic times - astonishingly, the oldest bottle in situ dated from 1806. With only three bottles left in the world, the last known sale was at Christie’s in 2001 where it went for a cool €300,000. Best be careful with that one…
Tastebuds were wowed with gems from their kitchen including a grilled sardine with gazpacho and wild garlic, local black pudding gyoza, artichoke hearts filled with béchamel sauce, local ham, mushrooms and saffron, a first-season fig with basil, goat’s cheese foam and melon and a succulent piece of co accompanied with bitter orange marmalade, scrambled egg and spinach, wrapped in a filo parcel. The piece de resistance was a display of fruit sushi - or frushi, if you will; sushi rice ensconcing chunks of melon, with watermelon nigiri and wasabi chocolate truffles. Genius.
With the sun in full shine from now it’s the perfect time for a getaway. Whether you’re in the market for a self-catering break with the family, a base to explore the region or one of Trujillo Villas España’s organised art, cookery or yoga breaks (full details on the website), we promise you this is one place you’ll want to come back to time and time again. If you don’t fall in love with it, you’re lying to yourself.
Trujillo Villas España rentals from £595 per week. For full details, information on Trujillo and bookings visit www.trujillovillasespana.com.
Laurel Waldron