Every year, this route commemorates one of the most important Designations of Origin in the world.
Rueda wine has one of the most important Designations of Origin on the peninsula. However, beyond its quality, the area also stands out for its scenic beauty, which makes it one of the most visited in Spain. Its extensive vineyard plains and the multi-sensory experience of visiting wineries have become two great attractions for a weekend getaway to these lands on the banks of the Duero River. This motivation is intensified with the new edition of the Rueda Wine Route, which will be held until 13 October with the aim of celebrating the grape harvest with all five senses. We propose a selection of experiences in different wineries: accompanied by wellness moments, sound tastings, night visits or underground cellars.
Nocturnal grape harvests, a different sensory experience
One of the highlights of the Rueda Wine Route are the night harvests, where the award-winning proposals of three wineries stand out. This is the case of the Ramón Bilbao Rueda winery, offering Harvest Nights. Accompanied by a dinner, it shows the essence of the night-time harvest. This is an activity recognised as the third best wine tourism experience in Spain by Verema in 2023.
Another highlight is Bodega Cuatro Rayas’ Harvest of the Stars, which will be offered on 13 and 21 September with a must and wine tasting followed by a snack. Finally, Bodegas Yllera offers Entre Uvas y Estrellas, awarded as the best wine tourism experience in Spain in 2022. It will take place on 13 September, combining night-time harvesting, a visit to the underground cellar and, of course, a tasting menu paired with wine at Martín Berasategui’s Gastrobodega. It’s not every day you have the opportunity to taste something like this.
One of the night visits to the wineries. Editorial credit: Rueda Wine Route.
The underground wine cellars, the discovery of centuries of tradition underground
Another of the characteristics of the Rueda Wine Route are the underground cellars, which offer routes through their interior galleries. This is the case of the Campo Eliseo Winery and the Muelas Winery. In the latter, as well as discovering centuries of winemaking tradition underground, you can witness the production of ‘underground’ wines following ancestral techniques.
A wine and wellness experience
Between waters and vineyards is an experience that offers us the opportunity to combine the best of wine with wellness. It is offered by Castilla Termal Olmedo, combining a dinner with wine pairing and access to the Thermal Pool. For those who want to live the full experience, the hotel offers Maritare and Deguste, which include a Mudejar Massage treatment in its spa and an experience at Bodegas Ylera to taste some of its wines paired with bites from the Berasategui Bastrobodega.
Facilities of the Castilla Termal Olmedo hotel. Editorial credit of the hotel.
Sound tastings, an experience that combines wine and music
Bodega Alberto will once again offer a tour of its facilities before culminating in a wine tasting accompanied by personalised music. The connection between wine and music has been backed up by studies such as that of Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh.
The grape harvest extended to the villages
Beyond the wineries, the grape harvest can also be enjoyed in the villages of the area through gastronomy. In the bakeries you will find typical seasonal products with a star ingredient, grape juice. You will be able to taste the ‘tortos de mosto’ and other sweets that are in the showcases of dream places for those with a sweet tooth, such as La Giralda de Castilla in Matapozuelos, Xokoreto in Castronuño or the Galicia patisserie in Tordesillas.
The Rueda area has several villages, all of them characterised by long fields of vineyards. Editorial credit: Rueda Wine Route.
In addition, the 40th edition of the Serrada Grape Harvest Festival will be held on 28th and 29th September, where crafts and art take centre stage. The festival then moves to Villaverde de Medina, which celebrates its Harvest Festival on 5 and 6 October. Finally, the Rueda Grape Harvest Festival will take place from 11 to 13 October, with experiences such as the treading of grapes, Castilian dances, painting and photography exhibitions…
