There are trips that leave a mark, and then there are trips that leave you with a couple of bottles of wine. When I stopped in Fombellida, about 60 kilometers from Valladolid, drawn in by the picturesque cave-cellars that crown the village, I never imagined I’d end up exploring one from the inside.
With barely enough time to grab my camera and capture the view, a friendly local stopped his car and asked if I had a few minutes. A bit confused, I said yes, and he offered to show me his wine cellar. Needless to say, that’s not the kind of invitation you turn down.
He didn’t just show me his own cellar, but also those of his neighbors, since these caves are often the result of a shared effort by several families. As he guided me through the space and explained the wine-aging process, my host, José Carlos, invited me to taste some wine straight from the barrel. And to top off the experience, he gifted me two bottles. Without a doubt, he was one of the kindest people I’ve met on my travels.
I have to admit, in that moment, shooting on film, with no flash, relying only on a small LED light hanging from the ceiling, I thought it would be impossible to get a usable image. But I was so grateful, I took a couple of shots anyway, fully expecting to return home with two blank frames on the negative. Imagine my surprise when I pulled the roll from the developing tank and discovered that the images had actually come out. I can honestly say I’ve rarely enjoyed a photographic adventure as much as that one, and I owe it all to the kind-hearted José Carlos. Thank you so much, my friend!
