Rita Clare-Salzler
Google
We reserved a one night stay at this winery several months in advance through email with Nieves. We arranged to contact her prior to our arrival. We had stayed at several rural establishments throughout Spain prior to our intended stay at Vina Mein and the one near Santiago de Compestella was very difficult to find until the owner was so kind to come and guide to the remote villa at a local gas station. So when we were in the Leiro area we decided to venture to Vina Mein and we had no problem finding the vinyard and villa. We contacted Nieves and she said she would "maybe be by between 4 and 5:00". Luckily for us, we met a person coming out of the wine making building and asked him about our stay and accommodations and he called Nieves to confirm our arrangments. He provided our room key and very general information about the two local small cities nearby and went on his way. We also asked about thermal baths in the area, but he didn't know anything about these specifically. There was list on the buffet in the foyer, but only a list, no information about location or hours and our GPS didn't pick up any by name. A few hours later, since there was no one else at the villa or winery, we called Nieves again to find out if she would be coming soon. I told her there was no information about where we could eat or anything else and that we were completely alone in the villa, we also asked for the WiFi password. She told us to look in the salon for the password and we eventually found it on a cabinet in the corner. This is a very spacious villa with two living areas, a studio, a kitchen, several common bathrooms, and maybe a half dozen bedrooms with bathrooms. We told Nieves that we were disappointed in the lack of information and services made available to us and that we didn't expect this type of reception. She arrived shortly after our phone discussion and expained that this was a "rural" establishment. My husband asked if we could buy a bottle of wine. She said it would be 10 euros and gave us bottle. If being "rural" meant a the lack of information provided to paying guests this was not the reception we had received elsewhere. It was quite the contrary. I stated we were disappointed. She did, however, confirm what time we wanted breakfast in the morning and left. We enjoyed our wine, although it was not exceptional in any way and then ventured out for a place to find a meal. There is a hotel in the village where we stopped and asked. They informed us that they were not taking guests but that dinner would be served at 8:30 that night. We returned at that time to a dark and locked restaurant and ventured down to the highway where we found a bar with a sweet kind lady who made us soup and grilled meats on sticks. We had not eaten all day and it was a welcomed treat. We returned to our villa room and had a restful comfortable night. We awoke in the morning well before 9 AM to a dark and deserted villa. We began to ready ourselves for day and hoped that some coffee would be served. It was 9:15 AM and still no one was there, no movement in the kitchen. We realized that we were stiffed and that no breakfast or even coffee would be made available. By 9:30 AM we had loaded up our bags, left the euros on the dresser in our room with our key, and went on our way. It was the most humiliating, unwelcoming accommodation we have ever experienced. We were not appreciated as guests and were treated so poorly that it truly left a very negative feeling about the area intially. If it had not been for the nice bar owner the night before providing us with a warm smile and a delicious meal we would have truly regretted our stay in this area of Spain. I would highly recommend that no one venture to Vina Mein. There are many signs in the area notifying visitors of rural accommodation elsewhere and that may be a better place to spend your time and money. Whomever owns this vineyard/villa should consider how guests are treated and make some significate adjustments. This picture is not at the bodega.
