Family excursions on the wine route
What is a parenting? And a reservation? Who else and who has least heard these wine classifications, without knowing what it really means. The wine can be qualified, basically, according to two criteria: to the age or the time that the wine has spent in barrel and to the origin or denomination of origin. In this way, according to age a wine can be: Young, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva.
Designation of origin wines
Regarding the denomination, during the last years, the Community of Castilla y León has been involved in a very special way to improve the quality of the vines produced in this region, as well as to ensure the seriousness and rigor of the different regulatory councils of the different denominations of origin. Thus, the wines enjoy a higher quality, and the region boasts a greater fame, in relation to the wine culture.
Five designations of origin has given the wine production in Castilla-León: Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Cigales, Toro and Bierzo. The Junta de Castilla y León, in order to publicize its wine production and boost the tourism sector, has designed a series of special routes for excursions of families with children with which to get to know the gastronomic and cultural wealth of this land.
The Wine Route of the Five Denominations
As it expresses its name, it covers the five appellations of origin available to Castilla-León, starts in Soria and ends in León. Starting from El Burgo de Osma and San Esteban de Gormaz, where the most extensive fortress in Muslim Europe is located, we will end up in Aranda del Duero, where we will have the opportunity to try out famous lamb, the perfect complement for the first banks of the route.
Leaving Aranda, we will arrive at Peñafiel, where we can not miss the 14th century castle; from there we will move to Quintanilla de Onésimo, headquarters of the famous wineries of Vega Sicilia, Arzuaga, Abadía de Retuerta, etc. From here comes the visit to the administrative capital of the autonomous community, Valladolid, where we will dine with typical tapas in the taverns around the Plaza Mayor.
Later, Cigales and Rueda await us, where we can visit the wineries and wine tastings corresponding to these denominations of origin. From Rueda we will leave for Medina del Campo.
From here we will go to Tordesillas, famous for the treaty that originated the division of America between Spain and Portugal. From there we will go to Toro, real headquarters during part of the Middle Ages, and today a city of tourist interest and a monumental complex. We'll end up doing night in Zamora, known as "the City of Romanesque", due to its great concentration of monuments of this time, but where the Cathedral shines with its own light. Astorga is the next step in our journey, and passing through Ponferrada, we will finish the day in León and conclude our trip back to Soria, place that saw us leave.
The Douro route and wine
This route also begins in Soria, Peñafiel, San Esteban de Gormaz, etc. We deviate from the Route of Five Denominations, taking a course towards Bull and from there departing to Zamora where we can take a break.
From here we will arrive at Arribes del Duero, a protected natural area that includes the deep ravine opened by the river, from Arribes the road itself takes us to Fermoselle, of medieval layout where the dishes that its rich gastronomy provides us we can accompany them with the wines grown in its striking and sunny terraces.
Wine in the province of Valladolid
In Valladolid four of the five denominations of origin that exist in Castilla-León coexist, so in a few kilometers we can enjoy a wide variety of wines. Between Valladolid and Peñafiel the wineries are located Vega Sicilia, Arzuaga and Abadía de Retuerta, among others.
In Peñafiel there is the Provincial Wine Museum. To enjoy the tapas and the own wines you have to go to the Plaza del Coso, center of bullfighting and medieval celebrations. Before leaving to address Fishery we will try to take time to go to the House of the Ribera, building of the sixteenth century, where we explain the life of the vine grower during the nineteenth century.
Already in the region of Medina del Campo Their white wines of Rueda Serrada, La Seca or Medina del Campo, recently added to the Rueda appellation of origin. As an alternative route, following the Pisuerga river bank, we will arrive to Cigales, head of the denomination of origin that bears his name, highlighted by its claret and rosé wines. Passing through Fuensaldaña, famous for its wine cellars claretes, in Palencia, it is a must to visit the Gothic cathedral built on a Romanesque crypt and the views of the city from the hill of Otero. This mini-tour ends in Burgos, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain; but among all the wonders that this city brings together, the Gothic cathedral, World Heritage Site.
Wine and culture from the Douro to the Camino de Santiago
This route starts in Aranda del Duero, where we will be able to visit some of the best known wineries in this region. From here we left course towards Lerma, seated on a hill that dominates the valley of the Arlanza and in another walled time. Its monuments include the Ducal Palace, the monasteries of San Blas, the Mother God and the Ascension, as well as the collegiate church of San Pedro. The Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, cradle of the Gregorian chant, like the town of Covarrubias.
The next step will be the transit between Burgos and León, which will be carried out in its entirety through the Camino de Santiago. In our journey through the wines of Castilla y León we had the opportunity to get to know the interior of some wineries: Vidal Soblechero, Hermanos Pérez Pascuas, etc. They have allowed us to know the processes of elaboration in the grape harvest and distribution that take place within a wine-growing community.
Marina Berrio
