In your visit wherever in the country sure you will have the chance to taste spanish wine or cava, but it can also be a great experience if you do it in the cellar where it's created.
We have had the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour and taste in three cellars, each one integrated in a different D.O. (Denominación de Origen = Designation of Origin), and with a different size and management.
D.O. Rioja: Laguardia
Laguardia is a precious fortified village built the s.X in the top of a hill to defend the Kingdom of Navarra.
On the façade of the old town hall you can see the imperial coat of arms of Charles V, and in the new town hall there is a chime clock that sounds every day at 12.00, 14.00, 17.00 and 20.00 from October to May, and at 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 17.00, 20.00 and 22.00 from June to September.
The subsoil of Laguardia is tunnelled along with wine cellars excavated eight metres down from the streets and houses (that's why the traffic is forbidden in the old town). Most of the cellars have moved to industrial parks in the surroundings to improve logistics, but it is still possible to find in-town cellars in use to visit, like Carlos Sampedro's.
The cave down Sampedro's house is been used as a
cellar for the last 250 years, and it was built 600 years ago. The
temperature (13 degrees Celsius all the year), the humidity (85%) and
the dark and silence make the ideal conditions for the "crianza", the
breeding of the wine.
Guided tours are available in English, check the timetable not to miss them.
Carlos Sampedro's in person will explain the origins of the cellar and the development of the wine since vintage to bottling, while walking through the wet and cool tunnels, and there you will have the opportunity to enjoy a wine tasting.
The ticket price is between 4 and 9 € for adults and is free for children under 18 years old.
On the façade of the old town hall you can see the imperial coat of arms of Charles V, and in the new town hall there is a chime clock that sounds every day at 12.00, 14.00, 17.00 and 20.00 from October to May, and at 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 17.00, 20.00 and 22.00 from June to September.
The subsoil of Laguardia is tunnelled along with wine cellars excavated eight metres down from the streets and houses (that's why the traffic is forbidden in the old town). Most of the cellars have moved to industrial parks in the surroundings to improve logistics, but it is still possible to find in-town cellars in use to visit, like Carlos Sampedro's.
The cave down Sampedro's house is been used as a
cellar for the last 250 years, and it was built 600 years ago. The
temperature (13 degrees Celsius all the year), the humidity (85%) and
the dark and silence make the ideal conditions for the "crianza", the
breeding of the wine.Carlos Sampedro's in person will explain the origins of the cellar and the development of the wine since vintage to bottling, while walking through the wet and cool tunnels, and there you will have the opportunity to enjoy a wine tasting.
The ticket price is between 4 and 9 € for adults and is free for children under 18 years old.
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D.O. Somontano: Bodegas Meller
Ms. Meller explains with passion the type of grape, the characteristics of the soil where it is planted, the collection of the grape and the wine making process in rather scientific and rigorous terms.If you are a curious person and you like making questions, a tour in a cellar like this one will allow you to solve all your doubts. In the fabulous wine tasting served at the end of the tour, the owner presents every wine and, due to the small size of the groups, an interesting chat probably will arise around the table.
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D.O. Penedès: Bodegas Torres
In Vilafranca del Penedès is located the winery and Visitor's Centre of Torres, known also for his Brandies.
This proposal is very different from the previous ones, we could say it is an "industrial tour", with professional guides, a film in a real cinema and a little train that carries visitors around the cellar.
The tour lasts an hour and costs 6,60 € for adults and 3,80 € for children. It is opened from 9h15 to 16h45 from Monday to Saturday and from 9h15 to 13h00 on Sundays and holidays.
It is also possible to extend the taste with different wines or brandies, or to order a Catalan Appetizer or a Brunch combined with one or two wines specially chosen.
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