
How about spending some time in Guanica with a vintner........Guanica is home to the only artisan winery on the island of Puerto Rico. The Bodegas Andreu Sole in Guanica is a wonderful romantic date spot. Right on the water, under grapevines and with live music, it is a magical place. And the wine and tapas are great too!
Bodegas Andreu Sole makes both wine and liqueurs from the grapes picked in their own vineyards. They pick, serve and sell the wines and liqueurs in a rustic beautiful bay side setting. On Fridays and Saturdays there is live music and you will always find a delicious selection of tapas and other delicacies.
Artisan made wine in Puerto Rico was begun in 1980 by Juan Andreu Sole’s father. He suspected that the dry lands of Guanica would be perfect for growing grapes native to his homes in both Spain and also California. His hunch paid off as the vines readily adapted to the tropical climate and began to produce. Unfortunately in 1984 he lost four years of hard work to a major storm.
Many years later, Juan Andreu Sole choose to fulfill his father’s dream and once again began planting the same varieties of grapes his father had chosen years before along with a few new varieties. His goal was to make artisan wines and liquors to be served with tapas to guests on the patio of his beautiful home.
In 2009, he was finally able to share his prime product, Vino 12 Calles- translated 12 streets wine referring to the nickname given to the town of Guanica. Vino 12 Calles is a highly fortified dry port. Handmade on the property from merlot, tempranillo, cabernet and muscatel grapes grown in the vineyard then fermented in aged oak casks, filtered then bottled on-site. This wine is describes as “balanced, fruity, tropical and distinctive in all ways”.
The winery averages about 2000 bottles of 12 Calles and also produces sangria and Guaynia-lable original liqueurs available in flavors such as seven herbs, mandarin orange, coffee and guanabana (soursop). The house drink- Guaynito- is made from Guaynia.
Bodegas Andreu Sole:
- Open Fridays and Saturdays 7pm to 1am and Sundays 2pm to 6pm
- 787-951-9622 for more information
- www.bodegasandreusole.com
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