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Malvar whites, reds, sparkling rosés and sobremadre, Madrid produces varied and quality wines protected since 1990 by the Denomination of Origin that today groups four subzones: Arganda, Navalcarnero, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and El Molar.

But to know the origin of the wines of Madrid you have to go much further back in time, before the phylloxera and the Civil War ruined a good part of the vineyards. This is the past and present of "Vinos de Madrid", seeking the prestige they deserve.

Relatively dry soils, which do not receive too much rainfall, with a balanced pH, with a moderate richness of nutrients and a good share of sunlight while maintaining high temperatures. These are the essential characteristics that make up good soils for growing vines. And Madrid complies with a good part of these edaphoclimatic conditions.

The Romans, great lovers of wine, did not take long to see that various regions of the Iberian Peninsula, including the central area, offered excellent conditions for growing grapes. Many centuries later, when the Christians repopulated the centre of the peninsula, these vineyards were recovered. Since the 12th century, there is evidence of the presence of vines in the surroundings of Madrid.

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, production was consolidated and the “denomination” Vinos de Tierra de Madrid was taking shape, with special strength from the wines of San Martín de Valdeiglesias, an old antecedent of the current denomination Vinos de Madrid. The appearance of Madrid wines in literature shows us the prestige they had acquired: Jorge Manrique, Francisco de Rojas, Arcipreste de Hita and Cervantes himself celebrate the wines of Madrid in their works.

These are times of tascas, wines and tapas ... and taxes. The municipal authorities establish protectionist measures for indigenous production against imports. Those wines that arrived in Madrid via the Camino de Vinateros had to pay a tax that, they say, helped to erect the Puerta de Alcalá and the Puerta de Toledo.

But with the arrival of the 20th century, the fortunes of Madrid's wines changed. The terrible phylloxera plague-cause of one of the great Spanish economic crises of the last century-, the Civil War and the real estate pressure of the second half of the century around the capital ruined a good part of the 60,000 hectares of vineyards in the Community. We would have to wait until the decade of the 80s for the wines of Madrid to live their resurgence.

Nothing escapes marketing and promotion, not even wine. In order for the renaissance of vine growing in Madrid to survive, an entity had to be created to channel the efforts of many young wineries that, since the late 1970s, began to resume the production of wine in small quantities.

In 1984 the Specific Denomination Vinos de Madrid was recognized and six years later the Denomination of Origin Vinos de Madrid was officially recognised, which, like the rest of entities of this type, is in charge of a double task: ensuring compliance with the requirements imposed by the Regulation ensuring the quality of production and developing promotional actions so that the Wines of Madrid rub shoulders with other much more established denominations in our country, in addition to being exported to other markets.

Good wine lovers always carefully review the grapes with which the wines are made as they define their organoleptic qualities. In Madrid, four grapes are mainly grown, with the Garnacha Tinta standing out above all, which represents 75% of the Navalcarnero, San Martín and El Molar vineyards, giving rise to wines with good acidity and high alcohol content.

The one known as Tinto Fino or Tinto Madrid is the Tempranillo grape, one of the classics of Spanish geography and is the majority in Arganda, being a very appropriate grape for barrel ageing.

For its part, the Malvar grape is the Madrid white grape, present in Navalcarnero and Arganda, being the grape with which the famous 'sobremadre' is made, wines that remain with their 'mothers' - dregs and sediments of the grape remain in the bottoms of the barrels. - for half a year, giving rise to organic wines of a singular nature.

Finally, we have the Albilla Real, the white grape from San Martín de Valdeiglesias that occupies a small part of the total production of the Wines of Madrid but is one of its great jewels, producing highly personal wines with high alcohol content.

Despite the efforts of the last decades, the vineyards still do not have it easy in the Community of Madrid. According to official data from the 2020 Wines of Madrid dossier, the Denomination of Origin has just over 8,500 hectares, a third of what it had 40 years ago, and a sixth if we go to the beginning of the 20th century. It is no longer the phylloxera or the warfare: it is the real estate pressure that suffocates the agricultural sector.

However, more than 3000 winegrowers cultivate Madrid vineyards in more than 50 wineries present in the four sub-areas that comprise the Denomination of Origin.

Arganda
Located to the southeast of the Community, it is the largest of all, with 30 municipalities and more than half of the wineries registered in the Denomination of Origin. Its vineyards, which grow on the strongest soils in the region, are located in three orographic units: the meadows of the rivers that cross it —Jarama, Tajo and Tajuña—, terraces and slopes formed by river erosion.

Navalcarnero
The Navalcarnero subzone is located in the centre-south of the region, which includes 19 municipalities and 5 wineries with a total extension that occupies 20% of the vineyard and 15% of the annual production. Belted from north to south by the Guadarrama, Garnacha Tinta and Malvar grow in these vineyards.

San Martin de Valdeiglesias
Our route through the Madrid wineries now takes us to the southwest of the Community, around the town of San Martín de Valdeiglesias where 18 wineries belonging to 9 municipalities are registered. With a quarter of the total production of the Wines of Madrid, it is in this territory where the famous Albillo Real is grown.

The Molar
It is the last sub-area that has joined the Denomination of Origin Vinos de Madrid whose three wineries have been inspired by the late medieval tradition to recover the wine-growing activity of this area located northeast of the capital: the Garnacha ink grape and the Malvar occupy the 600 hectares of this subzone

DISCOVER MADRID WINERIES HERE:

https://vinosdemadrid.es/bodegas-con-do-vinos-de-madrid/

There are destinations that offer many leisure options, but when we stay in certain establishments the pleasure of the trip can be enhanced, either due to their spectacular facilities, their luxury, their services or the special characteristics they have.

So, if you want to live a completely unique experience in one of your getaways, some of the most surprising hotels in Spain will help you live an unforgettable one. Here are some of the most unusual hotels in Spain:

Hotel Aire de Bardenas

https://airebardenas.com/

In the surroundings of the Bardenas Reales Natural Park, a 4-star establishment awaits you that will make you feel like you are in the middle of the desert under the stars, well you actually are! I am referring to the Hotel Aire de Bardenas (Ctra. De Ejea, km 1, 31500 Tudela, Navarra), whose architecture and design have been recognised with awards more than twenty times around the world.

Some of their rooms are in square cubicles, so you can choose between one of these unique cubist buildings to spend a few days of rest and adventure. Some of its rooms have a spectacular outdoor circular bathtub, others are characterised by their private patio and the suites also include a double indoor bathtub.

If you are still looking for something more special, at the Hotel Aire de Bardenas you can stay in inflatable bubbles in the open air, where you can sleep under a starry sky, away from stress, noise and worries. These bubbles also have all the comforts, as they include a shower, a hairdryer, a bathrobe, slippers, an eye mask and a full minibar.

The hotel offers a series of activities for guests, such as a visit to the Bardenas Reales Natural Park by Segway, guided tours through the desert, explanation and tastings on the process of making extra virgin olive oil and massage services. You will find it about 7 kilometres by car from the city of Tudela, following the NA-125 road.

Cave Houses

https://www.casascuevacazorla.com/home

There are many cave hotels where you can stay in Europe, but in Spain, there are also some of these amazing places to stay without having to travel abroad.

One example is the Cueva de Cazorla Houses (Calle Cuevas Nuevas, 37, 23486 Hinojares, Jaén, Andalusia). Located in the Cazorla National Park, each of its houses and caves is completely different, since they are decorated by themes. With regard to its 4 caves, perfect for couples, all of them have a living room with a fireplace and a private Jacuzzi and share a saltwater pool outside.

Vivoo Landscape Hotel

https://www.vivood.com/en/

Among the adults-only hotels that exist throughout the country, there is one that surprises both for its architecture and location and for the beauty of the whole complex. It is the Vivoo Landscape Hotel (Carretera, Ctra. D’Alcoi, 10, 03516 Benimantell, Alicante), a 4-star accommodation, near the Guadalest reservoir and half an hour by car from Benidorm.

The hotel is located on an 84,000 square meter plot, in the middle of the valley, fully integrated with the natural landscape, so that both its common facilities and its suites and villas were designed as if they were incredible viewpoints. You can choose between the Pool Suite, with a private heated outdoor Jacuzzi, suites with a panoramic rain shower and mountain views, and several luxury villas, with two infinity pools open all year round. And if all this was not enough to relax, the hotel has a complete spa with a therapeutic circuit based on Ayurvedic culture.

Marques de Riscal Hotel

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/biolc-hotel-marques-de-riscal-a-luxury-collection-hotel-elciego/

If you want to spend a night in a surprising building with an avant-garde design, as if it were the Guggenheim Museum itself, and even above you are passionate about wine tourism, you will be very pleasantly surprised by the Hotel Marqués de Riscal (Calle Torrea Kalea, 1, 01340 Eltziego, Álava ).

Designed by the Canadian architect Fran Gehry, this 5-star hotel with a titanium roof is located in the medieval town of Elciego (Eltziego). Its 43 rooms, spread over three floors, are unique, as they match the exterior structure of the building, with sloping walls, high ceilings and zigzag windows. In them, you will find all the comforts you can imagine, such as goose feather pillows, cloud lamps, green and black marble bathrooms, coffee and tea service, courtesy toiletries, minibar, cable TV and internet access and room service 24 hours.

In its facilities, you will also find two restaurants, a bar, a gym and a spa with an indoor pool, water jets, a Turkish bath, a Finnish sauna and a rain shower, which also offers wine therapy treatments. And while you enjoy the hotel, you can pay a visit to the historic Marqués de Riscal wineries.

O Semaforo de Fisterra

http://www.hotelsemaforodefisterra.com/en/

Sleeping at the famous End of the World is possible. You just have to stay in Galicia, in an old lighthouse that is also a 2-star hotel. This would be O Semáforo de Fisterra (Carretera del Faro, s / n, 15155 Finisterre, A Coruña), an incredible place where you can listen to the wind and the sea and that is perfect for travellers looking for rural escapes that are as surprising as they are special. The lighthouse, which rises 138 meters above sea level, was built in 1853, and decades later, in 1888, the annexe building was erected. In 1999 it was converted into a boutique hotel, with five rooms, a restaurant and a cafeteria, where you can forget the world and discover the Galician Costa da Morte.

Toy Hotel

https://www.hoteldeljuguete.com/es

Among all the surprising hotels in Spain, one cannot forget the Toy Hotel (Carrer l’Escoleta, 4, 03440 Ibi, Alicante). This 4-star establishment focuses its theme on toys and cartoons, so among its 21 rooms, you can select those decorated around the Lego, the Nancy doll, the Nenuco, the Pin and Pon or the Playmobil. You will find toys in all of them.

At the Hotel del Juguete, one of the most emblematic dates is Christmas, since activities and special events are organised for this time of year, with the special importance of the Three Kings festival.

Morella is an extraordinary example of a Gothic town and has the designation of 'Place of Cultural Interest' and is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

The highlights are, first of all, the castle and medieval walls, erected in the 14th century. Within the old enclosure, there are notable churches, like the Santa María la Mayor Archpriest (1263-1330), Gothic with Baroque details; the old San Francisco Convent (13th century); the San Juan Churches (15th century), Gothic with Neoclassical decorations, and the San Nicolás Church, Gothic; and the San Marcos and San Pedro Mártir Chapels.

As far as civil architecture is concerned, the Casa de la Villa (14th and 17th century), and the Ciruana, Piquer, Rovira and Cardinal Ram Houses are all worth mentioning, as well as the hospital (15th century).

Likewise, walking through the network of streets full of staircases, passing by the porticos of Blasco de Alagón, completing a loop around the mountain via the Alameda and contemplating the outside of the medieval Santa Llúcia aqueduct, are essential for getting to know this wonderful town.

Two points of interest stand out in the municipality of Morella: the cave paintings of Morella La Vella, and the Sanctuary of the Virgen of Vallivana. Every six years since 1673, a procession climbs to the virgin of the city. On the edges of the highway, there are many chapels where pilgrims perform prayers and supplications on their 22-kilometre march.

July or August are not always the best months to grab a break and many people increasingly postpone their vacations to take them in October. If you prefer being in Spain, not spending a lot and disconnecting completely surrounded by nature, here are five cheap destinations to travel to in October! What are you waiting for?
 

Ronda (Malaga)

Probably one of the most beautiful towns in all of Andalusia and where you can enjoy impressive parks and nature reserves in the open air. This land of Arabs and Phoenicians is capable of catching the eye of everyone who walks through it. Its strategic location, nestled in the middle of the Depression of Ronda and surrounded by the mountains, is part of the undeniable charm of this inland town. The Tajo de Ronda is a wonder of nature, where, at more than 100 meters high this ravine seems to defy gravity.

Among the essential things to see in Ronda, its Arab baths date back to the 13th century and are the best-preserved baths in Europe. The bullring is one of the oldest in Spain and its Balcón del Coño is the most visited viewpoint in Ronda, due to its curious name and the views it offers of the Tagus gorge. Also essential is the Bandit Museum, which covers the fascinating history of these thieves and seducers who have inspired hundreds of films. Or the Mudejar-style Mondragón Palace, which hides three Arabic-style interior courtyards worth visiting. If you're hungry, one of the top restaurants in Ronda is Bar Lechuguita. With rich and varied tapas from € 0.90, it is one of the compulsory stops to charge your batteries.

Llanes (Asturias)

The north of Spain is undoubtedly one of my favourite destinations. Llanes is a fascinating fishing village where you can find an old town that has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. It is idyllic to stroll along its fantastic beaches surrounded by amazing cliffs formed of white limestone rock, which meet green meadows giving rise to a picture that will leave you speechless. The wild Cantabrian Sea, with the Bufones de Pría, is a sight worth seeing in autumn.

The Paseo de San Pedro or the Cubes de la Memoria are some of the places that you can visit in Llanes, although without a doubt, the most special monument is its Torreón from medieval times and built in the 13th century. It is declared a National Monument.

Cazorla (Jaén)

If you enjoy nature, this is one of the enclaves in Andalusia that very few know. The Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park is one of the largest protected areas in Spain where you can witness more than 200,000 hectares of pure nature and find animals in the wild. If you want to take a trip in October, Cazorla is one of the best destinations where you can enjoy heart-stopping landscapes with good company. In addition, it has very good prices.

You mustn’t forget to also visit the Castillo de la Yedra, the hermitage of San Sebastián or the church of San Francisco. Gachas Serranas, Segureño lamb or Los andrajos are just part of the fantastic gastronomy that can be found in the famous Mesón Leandro. You will not regret it!

Nuévalos (Zaragoza)

Here you can find a great variety of natural spaces in the surrounding area, where you can enjoy contact with nature and relax during your visit. Its diverse landscapes range from the high Pyrenean peaks, in the north of Aragon, to spectacular valleys carved by the rivers that descend from the Teruel mountains. Mountains with glaciers, river gorges, forests that in autumn become a unique sight ... Authentic jewels of nature. In addition, in the vicinity of Nuévalos stands one of the most visited monuments in Aragon due to its undoubted beauty: the Monasterio de Piedra Park.

But the Monasterio de Piedra is not the only attraction in this town. In its urban area, beautiful buildings are erected, such as the Casa del Obispo or the parish church of San Julián. At the top of the town stand the remains of what was an old fortress, of which only its 14th-century tower remains.

As for the local gastronomy, the Torres Restaurant is one of the best options after your visit to the Monasterio de Piedra. Excellent homemade food and a large number of dishes to choose from. 

Posada de Valdeón (León)

Located on the banks of the Cares River that divides the Picos de Europa and at an altitude of 927 meters above sea level, Posada de Valdeón is a town and at the same time a municipality that is located within the Picos de Europa National Park, specifically between the Central and Western Massifs of the park.

Among the streets of the town, there are various amenities such as restaurants or shops where you can buy the famous Valdeón Cheese. Here you can discover the Parish Church of Santa Eulalia inside which a 12th-century Romanesque baptismal font is preserved. In addition, excavations have discovered a medieval necropolis that indicates the site of the old Church of San Pedro de Barrejo.

If you are a mountain lover, this is your ideal place. The Ezkurra Rural House is perfect to stay during your visit to where you can walk and enjoy nature.