Here are some notes to get you started on your wine tourism adventure in Castilla y León If you have arrived here, it is because you are passionate, as we are, about wine and also wine tourism, which is an all-in when it comes to enjoying this sector that is gaining more and more ground. The RAE, defines enotourism as“tourism in wine growing and production areas, with visits to vineyards and wineries, and wine tasting” . In Spain we are privileged to have 96 Protected Designations of Origin, divided between D.O., Vinos de Pago, 2 Qualified D.O. and Quality Wines. The D.O.’s correspond to territorial zones, guarantee and control the quality and origin of their products, thus being a seal of guarantee for the wines produced within those limits. In Castilla y León we are privileged in this sector (and many others) since we are one of the autonomous communities with more Wine Routes in Spain. We have 9 wine-growing territories where you can lose yourself among wines and vineyards. Ribera del Duero, Cigales, Rueda, Toro, Bierzo, Arlanza, Arribes del Duero, Tierra del Vino de Zamora and Sierra de Francia head the tourist offer of our community. Impossible to forget those who, under the umbrella of other quality denominations, offer unforgettable experiences. The perfect ingredients for us to become a national and international reference in this wine tourism. Ribera del Duero Wine Route. The Ribera del Duero extends 115 kilometers from east to west and 35 kilometers from north to south in Castilla y León, touching the provinces of Soria, Burgos, Segovia and Valladolid, thus forming the great tourist project of the Ribera del Duero Wine Route. An extraordinary land, full of vineyards and fields, bathed by the Douro River, where wine and gastronomy combine with art, history and nature. There are many resources that you can find in Ribera del Duero, but we leave you a small selection: Peñafiel Provincial Wine Museum. Its boat shape will not leave you indifferent. Monastery of Santa María de Valbuena. Converted into a wonderful 5* hotel. Castle of Peñaranda. Burgos fortress from the 11th century. Hoces del Riaza Natural Park. Bird watching site. 8 historical sites: Gumiel de Izán, Haza, Langa de Duero, Peñafiel, Peñaranda de Duero, Rejas de San Esteban, San Esteban de Gormaz and Vadocondes. Castilla y León combines history and wine, and this Route is a great example of this winning combination. Cigales Wine Route. Located in the Bajo Pisuerga and in the center of Castilla y León, it is 4 km from Valladolid and 12 km from Palencia. This wine has been linked to the canal since its construction in the 18th century, and today, many of the vineyards are irrigated by its waters, which is why it is considered “canal wine“. When you travel through its landscapes bathed in pink, be sure to visit: The Wine Castles. The Museum of the Castle of Fuensaldaña and the Enchanted Castle of Trigueros del Valle are not to be missed. The monasteries of Santa María de Palazuelos and San Isidro de Dueñas. The “cathedral of wine” in Cigales or the Historical Complex of Dueñas are also two very important attractions in the area due to the history they hold, linked to the Catholic Monarchs, Philip II or Napoleon Bonaparte. Manuel Sierra’s murals next to the Wine Museum of Mucientes. One of the 1,200 traditional subway cellars that exist. The banks of the Pisuerga, especially the Cortados or the stone bridge of Cabezón de Pisuerga. The Cigales Wine Route is an attractive destination for quality wine tourism, with its wineries, museums, cultural heritage, gastronomy, landscapes and incredible routes for leisure and sports. Rueda Wine Route. Rueda is the land of the most consumed white wine in Spain, with more than 130 million bottles on the market. This DO was also the first Designation of Origin in Castilla y León to achieve this recognition. And it is in the heart of Castile, where the Duero River flows through cereal fields and green vineyards, where the Rueda Wine Route is located, a journey full of authenticity and sensations. When you decide to do this route, remember to visit: The majestic castle of La Mota in Medina del Campo. The ancient cellars of labyrinthine, intact tunnels from the Middle Ages that are located in the 46 monuments declared of Cultural Interest. The towns of Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Rueda or Tordesillas, declared Historic-Artistic Ensemble. A noble land, with abundant and rich gastronomy, where the passion for viticulture, tradition and the most revolutionary technology come together to offer visitors a unique experience around its native variety, the Verdejo. Wine Route through Toro. The Toro Wine Route was created with the aim of offering exciting experiences. It is the perfect alternative for a weekend of inland tourism, in an area full of history, heritage, culture and gastronomy, with an enormous quality wine tradition. A tradition that predates the settlement of the Romans. If you come, you can’t miss it: The Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor in Toro, considered one of the most important medieval monuments in Spain. The tour of the Pagos del Rey Wine Museum in Morales de Toro. Toro is one of the most flourishing appellations of origin in Spain. Years ago it was an area where hardly any wine was produced, and today it has become an area with great potential and renowned wines. Bierzo Wine Route. It is located in the Bierzo region. The region, which undoubtedly tastes like wine. In the west of the province of León, surrounded by valleys bordering Galicia and Asturias and along the Camino de Santiago, lies the Bierzo Wine Route . Above all, they stand out: Las Médulas and the Camino de Santiago. The Ancares Biosphere Reserve where you can enjoy bear watching. The Templar castle of Ponferrada. The Church of Santiago de Peñalba. The monastery of Santa María de Carracedo, Molinaseca and Villafranca del Bierzo. A route full of wineries with a
