September 8, 2026
Greetings from Carrboro,
It was only about five years ago that the company fixed it. Until then, if you were looking for Mexican pickled jalapeños or Cholula hot sauce or any flavor of Jarritos, someone would point you to the “Spanish Food” aisle at Carrboro’s Food Lion. And similarly, I’m sure that as I type, some hungry traveler will get off a plane in Madrid and be flummoxed when they can’t find a Taco Bell anywhere and then feel their world has completely turned upside down when they finally order a seemingly familiar tortilla and are served a dish made with eggs and potatoes.
That’s why traveling to Spain can be such a revelation. It’s a country muddled in the American brain – part conquistador, part bullfighter, part Man of La Mancha – all things that do nothing to provide a single iota of insight into this gloriously diverse country and the people who live there. Much less provide a single cultural clue about all of the spectacular food and wine that awaits around every corner. Spain is a country to savor and explore. In April 2027, we’re going. Come with us.
The Olive Road is headed to the Mediterranean coast of Spain, April 11–18, 2027. The trip will start in Valencia – ground zero for the region’s famed paella – and dive into the city’s rich heritage of Islamic and Roman influence that has helped shape the region for the past 2,000 years. We’ll visit classic vermuterías (bars centered around traditional vermouth) in the city and travel to a winery in the mountains just west of Valencia for an unforgettable paella feast in the vineyard along with our hosts’ amazing wines.
Then to Penedès and one of Spain’s finest producers of sparkling wine. In spring, calçots – long, sweet Catalan onions that resemble wild leeks – are cooked over open flames in the vineyard and served with traditional romesco sauce and never-ending glasses of cava, the Catalan version of Champagne. It’s called a calçotada and can be life-changing, so come prepared. Our hosts, the family behind Cava Avinyó, have been cultivating their property for 14 generations. So they may know what they’re doing.
The trip will culminate in the ruggedly beautiful Costa Brava – the land of Salvador Dalí, whitewashed seaside villages, and legendary Mediterranean seafood. If you can close your eyes and imagine spectacular three-hour meals overlooking the sea as waves crash below us, you’ll get an idea of what awaits. There are beautiful hikes to secluded beaches and more than enough old-world glamour to make you never want to leave.
If you want to find out more about The Olive Road to Spain’s Mediterranean Coast, this is a very good place to start; we’d love to hear from you. Or if this is just what your 2027 is missing, join us. A remarkably delicious adventure awaits.
Well, that’s all the news from Carrboro. The team at The Olive Road looks forward to hearing from you.
Cheers,
The Olive Road Team
