Free live music and stuff in Las Palmas, August 2025

This is what we’ve seen this, pretty much dead, month.

• 9 August: Poesía Cantada con Dácil Santana @ Biblioteca Pública Municipal Josefina de la Torre, Paseo de las Canteras, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
  Dácil Santana (voice, guitar) with special guests, poets Adán Nada and Soledad Salim, the author of Guerra de almohadas.

  

• 23 August: Bravas, brindis y letras @ Biblioteca Pública Municipal Josefina de la Torre
  Colloquium with actress Carol Cabrera, film director Arima León and winemakers Trinidad Fumero and Josefina Rojas, polished with a glass of white Canarian wine.

  

• 29 August: Eugenia Cabrera @ Casa de Colón, Calle Colón, 1
  Canarian cantautora Eugenia Cabrera (voice, percussion) accompanied by Pachi Cabrera (guitar).

  

And an exhibition, or rather four exhibitions:

• 12 June — 31 August: «Millares Sall. Creación plástica»
  A retrospective of the artistic output of the Millares Sall family, in four locations:
  • Tribute to Sixto Millares Sall @ Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno (CAAM), Calle de los Balcones, 9
  • Manolo Millares @ CAAM — San Antonio Abad, Plaza San Antonio Abad
  • María del Carmen “Jane” Millares: Centro de Artes Plásticas, Calle Colón, 8
  • Eduardo “Cho-Juaá” Millares @ Fundación Mapfre Canarias, Calle Castillo, 6

  

Looking forward to September.

Fortant de France Merlot Rosé 2013

Summer is here at last — according to Weather Underground, we have “extreme high temperature” today (26 °C, feels like 26 °C). Beats Las Palmas (21.5 °C, feels like 24 °C). I don’t quite understand this “feels like” business, but I know that it is the proper weather for a glass of chilled rosé. I feel like one. Unfortunately, we just finished this bottle of Merlot Rosé and there’s no more in the fridge.

I never heard about Fortant de France before, and, indeed, it was the unbearable cuteness of the bottle (butterflies, flowers and a lady in a hat picking the said flowers) that prompted the purchase of this outrageously priced beverage. Which turned out to be rather nice.

Greener Planet Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

For some time now, I have been eyeing (and occasionally squeezing) these fancy plastic containers in Alko shops. With mixture of interest and suspicion. Why would French abandon the old glass bottles in favour of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) ones? No, I don’t believe PET itself is more environmentally friendly than glass. Especially here in Finland, where they don’t even bother to recycle the household plastics. (Yes it goes into mixed waste.) However, I do believe that lighter bottles can reduce the carbon footprint of wine by cutting the carbon cost of transport. I also believe that the bottle is “virtually unbreakable”: good news for festival goers, not that good news for the environment. But you can return the bottle to Alko and get your 40 cents back. At least, I hope the Alko guys know what to do with it.

With all this in mind, we decided to give this Cabernet Sauvignon from Languedoc-Rousillon a try. It is reasonably priced (by Finnish standards, that is: one-litre bottle costs €10.48). The label provides some friendly info for the arithmetically challenged:

This one-litre recyclable PET bottle contains 33% more wine than a standard 75 cl bottle.

Finally, the content. I couldn’t feel “blackcurrant and brambly notes” promised on the label but then I never do. What matters is that it is 100% unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon, which tastes like unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon. With a hint of antimony trioxide. (Just kidding. Even if it is there, I wouldn’t feel it anyway.) It is a good bottle of wine. When it’s finished I may even consider buying another one.

Pasqua Villa Borghetti Bardolino Classico 2012

My, it is getting cold here. Cold, as in below 0 °C cold. Which means that, for example, I have to drain the water tank in sauna. Which also means that the beer season is almost over. And so, for the first time in two months of our life in Finland, we’ve ventured to the nearest Alko shop.

It was really painful to see some of my favourite Spanish wines so exorbitantly priced. At times, three times as expensive as in Spain.

The trick, for me at least, is not to look at Spanish wines at all, but concentrate on French and Italian ones instead. I already mentioned that Italian wine was rather expensive in Corralejo. And look, I found this nice bottle of Bardolino, just under €8. That makes me feel, if for a short while, slightly better. Although of course it is still a daylight robbery.

The label info, as it often happens, is lost (or reinvented) in translation.

Proveniente da vigneti nella zona collinare del lago di Garda sud-orientale, è un vino fresco, con deliziosi aromi fruttati, che ricordano marasca e ribes, di medio corpo e sapido al palato. Si accompagna a piatti tipici della cucina veronese como risotti, luccio con polenta o coniglio in umido.

Bardolino indicates the vineyards located in south-eastern shore of Lake Garda. This is a clean, crisp, light ruby red wine, with delightful aromas of wild cherry and blackcurrant and a fresh acidity on the palate. Pairs well with first course dishes, such as risotto, fish soups and white meat entrées.

Oh, I wouldn’t mind the rabbit stew with it! In fact, that’s exactly what I’d be considering to consume in Corralejo this time of year. (Sadly, pike wasn’t on offer in Fuerte.) But, for the benefit of English, who obviously will be shocked by the gastronomical use of their fluffy pets, an alternative is found... which is not even close.

More photos of red wine @ Shutterstock.

Leonardo Chianti DOCG 2010

It is not easy to find a good bottle of Chianti in Corralejo. Once again, Marumba to the rescue. This wine from Cantine Leonardo da Vinci comes in a traditional straw-covered fiasco and is made of 85% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 5% “other red grapes”. On a pricey side (about €11) but thoroughly enjoyable.

According to Wikipedia, there was no wine area called Chianti until 1716, and the recipe of the tipple as we know it did not exist until 1872. (It was created by Baron Bettino Ricasoli, the future Prime Minister of Italy, who recommended 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia bianca.) That means, it is unlikely that Leonardo ever tried it. I think he would approve.

More photos of red wine @ Shutterstock.

Stratvs Rosado 2010

This beautifully presented rosé comes from Bodegas Stratvs in La Geria, Lanzarote. The bottle has the words “El Vino del Fuego de la Tierra del Viento” in raised letters on it. The Stratvs’s own tasting notes say:

Aromas of red fruits — strawberries and mulberries, fresh herbs, fine patisseries and red caramel.

I am not sure about all that but it went down nicely anyway. At €8.50 per half-litre, it is not the cheapest beverage around. Still, now and then I feel the urge to support the local economy while having a good drink, and this is a very decent wine for the purpose.

More photos of rosé wine @ Shutterstock.

Torres De Casta Rosado 2010

It is the shortest day of the year, nearly Christmas, and still warm enough to enjoy some rosé outdoors! De Casta is a very decent bottle of wine and, at under €4, an absolute bargain. Life is good.

More photos of rosé wine @ Shutterstock.

José Pariente, Rueda DO 2009

Finally, a bottle of decent Spanish Sauvignon Blanc, even though on a pricey side (about €9). It comes from Valladolid; now I know what to ask our friends to bring here when they come to visit.

More photos of white wine @ Shutterstock.

Veiga Serantes, Rías Baixas DO 2010

I bought this limited edition Veiga Serantes Albariño (bottle no. 0457 — of one thousand?) in Marumba. And it was a nice bottle of wine. At 13%, it is a bit stronger than Oro Valei, although twice as expensive, so probably not the best value bottle of vino blanco. The search for truly great Spanish white wine continues...

More photos of white wine @ Shutterstock.

Brunus Rosé, Portal de Montsant DO 2009

Things are positively improving here. After finishing our kilo of Maragogipe and half-way through a kilo bag of Lavazza (bought via Amazon!), I was relieved to find that now we have the source of quality coffee beans in Corralejo. They could be found in the Marumba store in C.C. El Campanario. During our last visit there (yesterday, to be precise), I bought a bag of Costa Rican beans and a bottle of this delicious rosé from Catalonia. Try it if you can find it.

More photos of rosé wine @ Shutterstock.

Oro Valei, Rías Baixas DO 2010

I don’t think I ever tasted any Galician Albariño wine before, so I may miss a reference point here. But now I did, and this one was not bad at all. Fresh, dry, with just right alcohol content (of 12%), and, at about €5, a good value. If you read Galician, you may, or may not, appreciate the poem on the label. Otherwise, just open and enjoy. Eight points (out of ten) on my scale of gluggability.

More photos of white wine @ Shutterstock.

Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Crianza 2006

Could it be that I’ve finally found an agreeable Rioja? Last week, I had a dinner at Waikiki just before the late night performance of de lo Flamenco. It was a chilly evening calling for a red wine. I’ve ordered a half-bottle of this wine and was not disappointed. The end.

More photos of red wine @ Shutterstock.

Château Ollieux Romanis Cuvée Classique 2008

Perfect on its own as well as with pasta and meat dishes.

We all have seen these useful wine recommendations, didn’t we. Luckily, this particular red, from Château Ollieux Romanis, Corbières has nothing of the sort on the bottle. Nor does it have any gratuitous description of bogus flavours — and since it is unoaked, it isn’t even oaky! In fact, it doesn’t have written there much at all. I bought it in Joseph Barnes Wines shop in Saffron Walden, on recommendation of its proprietor, Charles Hardcastle. No regrets, because it is simply an excellent wine.

More photos of red wine @ Shutterstock.

Villa Lucia Chianti Riserva DOCG 2004

Just finished this great bottle of wine — and it feels good. I am always fascinated by people who can discern in wine the flavours other than grape. But, since I can’t do it, I declare that this is a load of malarkey. Wine cannot and should not taste of strawberry or vanilla or chocolate or any other ice cream flavours. Here’s a proof, if you need one. The label on the bottle says:

Il nostro Chianti Riserva è ottenuto grazie ad una attenta scelta delle migliori cuvées, successivamente affinate in botte e bottiglia per ottenere un Chianti che esprima le grandi doti di questo storico uvaggio. La Riserva di Villa Lucia si presenta complesso negli aromi, morbido e speziato al gusto con un tocco finale di fragola e pepe nero; si accosta egregiamente a tutta la migliore cucina.

Our specially blended Chianti Riserva reveals a great depth of dark chocolate and black cherry. Two years of oak ageing and further bottle ageing add complex aroma and refined finish. Superb with grilled meats and vegetables or pasta in a rich tomato sauce. Room temperature is suggested.

Now, if you forgive me stating the obvious: the English text is not a translation of the Italian one. Most likely they are written by two different “experts”.

On the other hand, if I were paid to write labels like this, I’d have to write something. Wait, I’ve got a source, at least for an English-speaking wine drinker:

“Pleasantly scented, very agreeable”

“Full bodied, with great character”

“Unpretentious”

See? Now I need an Italian version and I’m sorted.

More photos of red wine @ Shutterstock.

The Illustrated Winespeak

by Ronald Searle

The Illustrated Winespeak: Ronald Searle’s Wicked World of Winetasting not just pokes fun at pretentious jargon of wine gurus. It is a work of art. This blog features several of these marvellous drawings.

The tortuous phrases that are frequently used when trying to describe music, fade into insignificance beside the agonising and often excruciating acrobatics of those whose duty it is to enlighten the baffled consumer regarding the more esoteric aspects of, say, Rotterdam rouge. The art of wine-tasting has its own brand of remarkable poets, those whose words vividly conjure up unimagined nuances and have us panting to experience the excitement and glow of drinking a particular bottle. Alas, they are as rare as the greatest vintages of the wines that dutifully pass their lips for our benefit. The rest, that grotesque international band of snobbish inarticulate sponges, who are incapable of thinking beyond their incestuous little circles, do as much harm to the world of wine as they do to the language. Their day will come... All the phrases in this little book have been plucked from unacknowledged but absolutely authentic sources. You could do worse than ponder over some of them. Cheers! R.S.

By some reason, our kids grew very fond of this book. I hear them laughing loud at the bits I find, say, just mildly amusing. Most likely they know something I don’t.