Every year as the mercury falls and summer winds to an end the hills of wine country all over the world start bustling with action. Large Bodegas may work around the clock for an entire month harvesting the grapes they have lovingly cared for all year long. Small towns and even large cities throw week long festivals to celebrate the magic of harvest time. [caption id="attachment_1857" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Almost ready!"][/caption] During this special time the spirit of abundance can be seen and felt everywhere.  This year I had the absolute pleasure of witnessing first hand the San Mateo Fiesta in Logrono,  a small city in Spains famous Rioja region. My first ever Harvest Festival adventure started when my flight touched down in Bilbao. My friend, fan, and host for the week, Sandy Garayzar from La Flecha Amarilla quickly whisked me away for lunch in front of Bilbao's famous architectural treasure, the Guggenheim Museum. There I had my first taste of Rioja, a chilly, slightly effervescent, glass of Txakoli (pronounced chakoli), a dry white wine traditionally home brewed in Basque country for centuries. [caption id="attachment_1853" align="aligncenter" width="1024" caption="Guggenheim, Bilbao"][/caption] After lunch we headed off to San Sebastian. For the next few hours we wound our way through the famed green mountains of Basque country, stopping along the way to explore charming villages like Zumaia and Zarautz. We reached our final destination just in time to witness a random act of Mother Nature's beauty, a majestic coastal sunset [caption id="attachment_1852" align="aligncenter" width="1024" caption="The prefect end to any day."][/caption] After a quick tour we set our sights for Logrono and arrived at about 11:30 that evening. The full day of traveling had me exhausted, but the city was still wide awake. After checking in to the hotel I hit the streets and investigated the town I would be calling home for the next week. My head finally hit the pillow around 3AM, starting a trend that would last for the rest of my stay. The entire week in Logrono was filled with food, wine, music, and new friends. Follow along as I experience one of Spain's best kept secrets...Logrono's Fiesta de San Mateo. I would like to give an extra special thanks to our sponsor La Flecha Amarilla (www.laflechaamarilla.com) for making this an unforgettable experience. By the way...Sandy, I hope you find your keys!