The Ultimate Homes Blog

Altea is one of those towns on the Costa Blanca that you discover almost by chance and that, somehow, stay with you. When you arrive, what stands out are its whitewashed houses clustered on the hillside, rooftops reflecting the light, and, right at the top, the blue dome of the Church of Our Lady of Consolation. And yes, more than a few people compare it to the real Santorini—not as an exaggeration, but because it truly evokes those calm, white seaside places by the Mediterranean. Strolling through Altea’s Old Town is discovering the Mediterranean The first time you enter Altea’s old town, you might think it will be similar to other Mediterranean villages, but as soon as you start walking, you realize it has something different. The streets are narrow, with unexpected curves, and the cobblestone ground naturally slows you down, inviting you to notice every detail. As you climb toward the church square, the atmosphere becomes increasingly peaceful. There are small terraces with vi...

I recently paid a visit to one of the many local bodegas in the Alicante area, Enrique Mendoza in Alfaz del Pi. It was a lovely surprise to receive the gift of a wine tasting event from my amazing wife, and so we arrived at the event just in time, starting at 12:00 prompt with our guide from the bodega.  We started  with a short discussion on the history of this family winery, how it grew from a small operation in Alfaz del Pi, and then outgrew Alfaz del Pi and bought up hectares of land in Villena, inland of Alicante and approximately 100 kms from Alfaz.  Then a visit to see the storage and the bottling facilities (which are still managed in Alfaz) and of course the best bit, the tasting.  Blessed by the good weather in early January, drinking a wine with the sun on your face, stunning surroundings, make sure you visit too! Seven wines, a selection of white and red and a sweet wine to finish, all were amazing and we were encouraged to drink and enjoy them, no s...