With heavy heart and suitcase light I boarded the plane to Spain.

Guinness' unexpected death made me want to stay home, as I was wiped out physically and emotionally - not only from his death but from the passing of my Grandma Robbie just three weeks before. "How are the boyz?" would be the first thing she would ask during our weekly visits. And our simply spent Sunday afternoons would usually end with her giving me several crisp one dollar bills and saying "Here's something for the boyz". That meant she wanted me to buy Guinness and Harp the coveted peanut butter biscuits that she could no longer find at her Rochester Walmart. "They don't have them anymore," she would say with a tone of sincere sadness in her voice.

She and Guinness had a special relationship. She spelled his name "Genius" on the cards she sent to him and Harp on their "boofdays". Guinness was sweet but not smart, and he adored that written sign of Grandma Robbie's love. But he preferred being with her, as did Harp. She would giggle like a school girl as Harp gave her "kisses". Guinness hovered next to her slender legs and nosed her well worn (but fingernail polished) hands until she petted his "silky ears". She cooed those words to him and he responded with equal affection.

As I flew to Spain I hoped their spirits found each other for a moment or two of that mutual bliss. I had committed to this trip before either of their deaths, and as a businesswoman I wanted to fulfill my plans to the company who generously included me on this unique trip. It was an opportunity to educate people all over the country about the real flavors and fortunes of the grapes and those who care for them. Both Spanish species joyfully use their talents to turn nature's divinity into a product that we often unappreciative consumers can enjoy.

Cava is Spain's sparkling wine, and there is plenty of it. It's fresh and crisp and lively, and done in different styles - all of which are food-friendly. This is probably because the people of Spain are lively and food-friendly, considering both as qualities not quantities of their daily life.

Rush hour starts around 8 a.m. with most people on foot, subways or buses. Cars are small and few - smart. The workday starts at 9 AM, but an hour and a half later is the first respite.

This break involves a tiny cup of potent coffee and a few sweet and flaky pastries. At 1 PM everyone goes to lunch for a few hours. At home, in restaurants or in cafés, most meals include several courses and at least one glass of wine - or Cava.

Back to work till 5:30 PM, then the workday is done. Now one heads to a local "tapas" bar for a glass of wine or sherry and small plates of mouth-watering foods called tapas.

Nine p.m. means dinnertime and for those at home it is usually light, with plenty of greens and vegetables. If you dine out, you won't find many vegetables other than the lovely after-dinner salad of Boston lettuce with tomatoes.

Protein reigns on most restaurant menus in the form of lamb, shellfish and fish. And of course there is great wine - Albarino, Tempranillo, Grenacha blends and the sumptuous star of the Spanish glass, Cava. This sparkling wine embraces the spirit of the country - fresh, vibrant, rich, and a good match for virtually any food - or as a filled flute raised to a loved one on two legs or four.

Freixenet Cava - I wish they would greet arriving passengers to Spanish soil with a glass of this sparkling wine. After all, Cava is a Spanish name for sparkling wine which is a generic name for Champagne, but only sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France can really be designated "champagne".

Confused? Don't be. Just buy some Cava. Some Freixenet Cava. The Ferrer family makes an amazing product in amazing amounts at an unbelievable price. No other bottle of bubbly offers such intense flavor, freshness and finesse for under ten bucks.

If you haven't tried a bottle then go now and get one. Or two. It's widely available and fabulous any time of day with virtually any food.

Check out the yearly Holiday Greeting at www.freixenet-usa.com While in Barcelona we visited the set where Gwyneth Paltrow was filming the commercial that airs all over Europe. No autographs, but who needs that when one has a glass of Freixenet in hand??