tiffin unboxed

Our first official winery visit was Mogor Badan. The key varieties were Chasselas (based on a Swiss style), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and  Merlot.

The Badan family produces small batches of wine with full respect to the land and environment. Owner Natalia Badan greeted our group before we toured the facilities and grounds, visited the cave and enjoyed a tasting.


Once bottled, wines would be stored in a stone cave on the property. You can see them lined up against the back wall.


We were encouraged to let the wine breath. Some of us sat under a large shade tree and also wandered the grounds to find the animals. The lambs were definitely not in a talkative mood.


Another winery we visited is Las Nubes.

The Las Nubes, or "The Clouds", winery was founded about 5 years ago by Victor Segura. The views of the valley and modern aesthetic as well as Segura's passion for the wine really shone through.

He encouraged questions and lit up when I asked a series of them.


The building with thick stone walls reflects and blends in with the land from which it was built. Water gets collected and stored in a reservoir and used throught the year to farm the grapes. Part of the vineyards are used for experimental wines/grapes.

This house with radiating grape vines growing on the trellis was not part of the Las Nubes property, but added beauty to the landscape.

Some of the wines are named after clouds, such as Nimbus and Cumulus. We tried Cumulus, whose earthy qualites come from Carignan, Grenache and Tempranillo grapes. We also tasted a white and a Rosé called Jaak, containing zinfandel grapes among its blend.



Despite a hearty breakfast the group really enjoyed the appetizers, such as this lettuce wrap containing honeydew melon and local cheese. It was an unexpected but refreshing combination. I also can rarely resist olives, and the olive cheese really tasted unique.



t's amazing how one feels like they really got away without getting too far in distance. Breathing the fresh air of this Mediterranean micro-climate, the wineries, buying olive oil and jam from the roadside, finding quaint bed and breakfasts as well as luxurious hotels and inventive Baja Med cuisine, it takes your mind and palate off day to day life.