A-Z  TOWNS-CITIES IN SPAIN

A "must see" area for anybody who has hired a car for their holiday on the costa blanca, is the Jalon valley.  Shortly after passing the Calpe turn off heading North on the N332 there is a signpost to Jalon (or Xalon in the Valencian dialect) on the left hand side.  Taking this road leads to a fertile valley full of vineyards, almond trees and orange groves. The landscape varies according to the time of year but it never fails to impress.  The first stop to make when driving through the Jalon valley, is the town of Jalon itself.  Although not a very big deal when it comes to Spanish towns,  Jalon boasts what are probably the strongest local wines  in Spain.

The main road winds around the town where there is a fairly large car parking area opposite a row of shops and more importantly, bodegas!!  Entering a bodega the fumes from the  wine hit you head on.  The huge barrels contain some of the most potent wines you are ever likely to encounter 14% and 15% proof are the norm.   The wines are deceptively sweet but after my first experience drinking them, I now only use them for cooking.   On our first visit, my wife and I bought a 5litre container.   Five litres a few years back was the equivalent of about 2.5 euros.

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On returning to our apartment we sat on the balcony and drank three or was it four? glasses each of the dark syrupy wine.   The time was about 2pm and the sun was hot.   The next thing I remember was that it was dark and my head hurt.  I checked my watch and it was 1am.  The wine had the effect of rendering us more or less unconscious for over ten hours.  Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with these wines (which we now refer to as sleeping wine)  but they have to be treated with respect, much as a vicar would treat a glass of sherry.  No knocking back three or four glasses, just sipping your way through one glass over about half an hour is probably right.  I've been told (I don't know if this is correct but I think it probably is) that  French winemakers buy the Jalon valley wine, to add to their own weaker wines in order to fortify them. 

Heading out of Jalon turn left at the next t junction and follow the road as it snakes it's way up into the mountains.   The road is winding but perfectly safe providing you aren't Jason Button.  At the top of one of the peaks turning right onto a tyre shredding track there is a bar/restaurant.  This whitewashed building perches on the the mountain and offers some of the best views to be had of the valley below.  Inside the atmosphere is that of a Swiss Chalet.  You can picture the jovial German owner in lederhosen, slapping his knees as he fetches your coffee.  At times you have to remind yourself   that you are still in Spain and restrain the urge to issue a full throated yodel.

TABERNA

The mountain road leads eventually to Callosa which is only about 10kms from Benidorm.  On the way it passes through a few small villages, notably, Taberna ( Don't be tempted to drive into Taberna unless your neck has the ability to turn 180 degrees as you attempt to reverse out through winding side streets lined with bemused locals)  Taberna ( I have this on good authority) is renowned for its Majorcan cuisine!!!  Yes that's right, Majorcan. Apparently a large group of Majorcan folk made their way from the island of Majorca to Taberna in the Jalon valley, opened restaurants and served their secret recipes to the passing tourists.  This story is so bizarre, it must be true.