In the heart of Castilla y León, a region renowned for its quality wine, rich gastronomy, and historical heritage, the Rueda Wine Route eagerly prepares to welcome the magical grape harvest season.
Through its special campaign #Harvest2023, from September 1st to October 8th, the Rueda Wine Route offers the opportunity to immerse oneself in the fascinating world of wine. Bearing witness to the aroma of fresh and ripe fruits, the quality of the grapes, and the cultural element it represents in society. For this purpose, the route offers eight unique experiences where villages and wineries of the Castilian territory are discovered. From Castilla y León wineries to the Canary Islands, from underground cellars to picnics among vineyards, to the union of grape and stars. Furthermore, it’s one of the last summer getaways to enjoy before the autumnal entrance.
Night Harvest: grape picking under the stars
One of the standout activities is the nocturnal harvest, characteristic of the Rueda Wine Route. While traversing the fields under the starry sky, viticulturists and winemakers demonstrate the harvesting process. Bodega Cuatro Rayas and Bodegas Yllera, along with El Hilo de Ariadna, restaurant of chef Martín Berasategui, offer the experiences “Stars Harvest” and “Between Grapes and Stars,” respectively. The latter was awarded the Best Wine Tourism Experience of 2022. Additionally, guests will enjoy an exquisite pairing menu crafted by the Basque chef’s team.
The harvest experience becomes more magical as the sun sets and the stars signal the moment to pick the small grapes.
- Bodega Cuatro Rayas
- Bodegas Yllera + El Hilo de Ariadna
Underground Wineries: 12 meters below ground
A distinctive feature of the route is its intricate network of underground cellars, where unique wines are crafted. Proposals such as Bodega Campo Eliseo and Bodega Muelas allow exploration of these spaces and understanding their aging processes. Campo Eliseo offers the opportunity to witness French winemaker Francois Lurton working to create their wines in the Rueda Designation of Origin (DO). From manual harvesting, selection in the vineyard, to carrying the grapes to the cellar, then seeing the barrels 12 meters underground. The entire process leads to the final wine tasting.
Chef Martín Berasategui’s menu can be enjoyed in one of the experiences while discussing and enjoying the wines.
- Bodega Campo Eliseo
Address: C. Nueva, 12, La Seca, Valladolid
Reservation information here.
Picnic Among Vineyards: nature’s delights
Bodega Montepedroso expands its traditional winery visits with a refreshing picnic among the vineyards. Here, freshly harvested grapes are savored along with wines and local products. From a natural and sustainable perspective, the activity includes a vineyard tour to learn about its characteristics and those of the wines, a cellar visit, and one of the three guided tastings that can be chosen. Finally, enjoy the picnic outdoors next to the vineyard.
Bodega Montepedroso offers a special experience by enjoying the beautiful views of the vineyards while savoring the freshly harvested grapes.
Three tasting modalities can be chosen from Tuesday to Saturday:
- Montepedroso Visit+Picnic Among the Vineyard: 45 €
- Wines, 3 Cheeses Visit+Picnic Among the Vineyard: 48 €
- Vertical Tasting Visit + Picnic Among the Vineyard: 52 € (minimum 4 people)
Address: Camino la, Av. Morejona, s/n, Rueda, Valladolid
Reservation information here.
Grape Tasting: from grape origin to wine transformation
Bodega Emina Rueda delves into the flavors of grapes before they become must, offering a unique perspective on the origin of wine. The experience includes a vineyard walk and a guided tour of the winery, covering tanks, barrels, and bottling. To conclude this visit to the Rueda Wine Route, some of the most recognized wines produced by the Matarromera family in Rueda can be tasted alongside a grape pairing and a tasting of local cheeses.
The Grapes and Wines experience enriches knowledge about the peculiarities of wine production.
Family Harvest: connecting with traditions
Bodega Menade invites both young and old to participate in grape harvesting, followed by fun grape stomping activities. To end, a family lunch awaits to be savored leisurely.
The family experience starts with a bit of fresh must for the youngsters and wine for the adults, preparing them to enjoy the harvest.
Sound Pairing Tastings: wine and music pairing
Bodegas De Alberto offers wine tastings paired with selected songs to complement the characteristics of each reference. From rosé wine to sparkling or Gran Vino de Rueda. During the experience, musical notes and flavors merge, revealing a type of music depending on the wine being tasted. Through flavors, melodies from groups like the Rolling Stones or Queen, among many others, can be heard. To explore the entire soundtrack, one can access Spotify and search for the De Alberto Wineries list.
The rhythmic harvest offers visits to Memoria Habitada and Premium All You Need Is Gold, tasting six wines in total, four of them premium range.
Address: Carretera de Valdestillas, 2, Serrada – Valladolid
Reservation information here.
Popular Celebrations Around Harvest
Three municipalities celebrate cultural festivals linked to wine. The 39th edition of the Serrada Harvest Festival will take to the streets on the weekend of September 15th to 17th, including crafts and fire shows, such as the eagerly awaited “La Quema de la Madre.” Meanwhile, the following weekend, the 4th Mosto Days, in La Seca, pays homage to winemakers and viticulturists. To top it all off, October begins with the Rueda Harvest Festival, highlighting its White Wine Fair, Castilian dances, or grape stomping.
La Seca honors must with a program full of cultural activities, wine tourism, and environmental education.
- Serrada Harvest Festival: Serrada, Valladolid. Festive days from September 15th to 17th.
- IV Mosto Days La Serra: La Seca, Valladolid. Festive days from September 29th to October 1st.
- Rueda Harvest Festival: Rueda, Valladolid. Festive days from October 6th to 8th.
Local Gastronomy and Harvest
Concluding the eight experiences, the Rueda Wine Route presents a close relationship between gastronomy and territory. During the harvest, local pastry chefs create unique delights, such as “Tortos de Mosto” from La Giralda de Castilla, in Matapozuelos, or artisanal ice cream with golden wine and passion fruit hints, from Xokoreto in Castronuño.
During the Rueda Harvest Festival, local gastronomy, craftsmanship, as well as art exhibitions of painting and photography, come together.
During this harvest season, the Rueda Wine Route offers more than just a simple tasting: it’s an immersive journey through the quality of wine and local wine tourism. Experiences that remind us of the importance of connecting with our roots and valuing the processes that create a masterpiece in every glass.
Images provided by the mentioned brands.
