Andaludia is a land with a large diversity of wines, which is why wine tourism in Andalucia enjoys great international prestige thanks to its magnificent quality. Andalucia is a festival for the senses due to its climate, music and products such as Iberian ham, extra virgin olive oil, brandies and wines of denominations such as Montilla-Moriles, Málaga and Jerez-Xérès-Sherry, among others. An entire wine culture has grown around all these wines, which includes wineries, traditional festivities, specialist museums and the famous Wine Routes of Andalucia that perfectly combine the wine, monumental, traditional and cultural attractions of the towns and areas they comprise. We take a tour through one of the most exquisite proposals: the wine tourism routes in Andalucia. Will you join us?
History of wine in Andalucia
Wineries were introduced into the Iberian Peninsula through Andalucia, more specifically through what is now Cadiz, thanks to the Phoenicians. The era of greatest splendour and expansion of Andalucian wines was during the 16th and 17th centuries thanks to the discovery of America, since the growth in maritime trade with Seville led to an exponential increase in wine production. Thanks to this, Andalucian wine became one of this region’s distinguishing features.
Designations of Origin of the Andalucian wine
DO Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Its Supervisory Council is the oldest in Spain. While the production area extends along eight municipalities of Cadiz and one of Seville, the breeding area is restricted to Jerez de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The varieties of grapes suitable are Palomino, Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel.
TYPES OF WINE: Liqueur Wines (Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Palo Cortado), Fortified Liqueurs (Pale Cream, Medium and Cream) and Naturally Sweet (Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel).
DO Manzanilla de Sanlúcar
Although sharing the production area and the varieties with the Sherry, its breeding area is limited to Sanlúcar. The microclimatic special conditions of this city, in the mouth of the river Guadalquivir and near Doñana, give to the wines produced in its wineries, through breeding under flower veil, some different characteristics from the rest of the Wines of Jerez.
TYPES OF WINE: Liqueur Wines (Manzanilla).
Manzanilla, one of the most special wines in the world
DO Montilla-Moriles
The combination of the soil of the Southern Cordoba countryside, the albarizas, the climate, of long and dry Summers and short Winters, and the grape of the variety Pedro Ximénez (that has the name of the star wine of the Designation) gives place to very unique wines. Undergo a breeding under flower veil by the criaderas and soleras ageing system.
TYPES OF WINE: Liqueur Wines (Fino, Amontillado, Oloroso and Palo Cortado), Fortified Liqueurs (Pale Dry, Pale Cream, Cream and Medium) and Naturally Sweet (Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel).
DO Condado de Huelva
Covers a wide region to the southeast of the province of Huelva and is set in the surroundings of the Natural Space of Doñana. The vineyards extend on flat or slightly wavy lands, being the variety of grape preferred the Zalema.
TYPES OF WINE: White Wines (Condado de Huelva Joven, Condado de Huelva and Condado de Huelva Tradicional), Liqueur Wines (Condado Pálido and Condado Viejo) and Fortified Liqueurs (Pale Dry, Medium, Cream and Pale Cream).
DO Málaga
Classic designation known during centuries by its sweet wines made with Moscatel and Pedro Ximénez grapes. Geographically the cultivation area is T-shaped, with the vineyards planted along the coast, to the East and West of the city of Malaga and extending up to the mountain.
TYPES OF WINE: Liqueur Wines (Naturally Sweet Wines, Aged and Young) and Naturally Sweet Wines.
DO Sierras de Málaga
Attached to the Supervisory Council of the DO Malaga, is the only Andalucian designation that protects red and rosé wines of the varieties Rome, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Tempranillo and white of the varieties Chardonnay, Macabeo and Sauvignon Blanc, among others.
TYPES OF WINE: White, Rosé and Red Wines.
Wine Routes
The Wine Routes that run through Andalucia unite to the perfection the oenological, cultural, monumental and traditional attractions of the populations and areas that integrate them.
Wine Route Condado de Huelva
This route allows you to enjoy, besides the wineries attached to the route, the walled city and the Castillo de Niebla, of the ‘Lugares Colombinos’, the visit to the city of Moguer, cradle of the Nobel Juan Ramón Jiménez; not to mention the natural paradise of Doñana and its rich cuisine, with products like the ham, shrimp and Huelva strawberry.
- Mancomunidad de Desarrollo Condado de Huelva. Pol. Industrial El Corchito, parc. 41. CP: 21830 Bonares (Huelva)
- Tel: 959 364 810 Fax: 959 364 813
- Web: www.infovinos.es/rutas-del-vino-enoturismo/
The Wine and Brandy of Jerez Routes
To the South of Andalucia, you will discover the region of Marco de Jerez, a land of ingrained wine tradition and huge tourist attraction. Visit it will allow you to taste the rich typology of its wines. From the drier as the Fino, to other naturally sweet as the Moscatel or fortified liqueurs as the Manzanilla. The natural environment that will surround you, the culture of the area, its cuisine and the facilities to do business or relax top the perfect offer of this region.
- Asociación Rutas del Vino y Brandy del Marco de Jerez Avenida Alcalde Álvaro Domecq 2
11402 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz - Tel:+34 956332050
- Web: www.rutadeljerezybrandy.es
Montilla-Moriles Wine Route
The Montilla-Moriles wines have become excellent ambassadors of the land of Andalucia. Its current prestige is the result of a long wine tradition and years of breeding. The Montilla-Moriles Wine Route offers you the opportunity to know the secrets of this careful work that is, in addition, an identity seal of this region of Cordoba. Discover its wide variety of wines practicing the tasty custom of the tapas will be a pleasure. As well as to enjoy the rest of the attractions of the area, among which are available an impressive monument heritage and a rich cuisine.
- AVINTUR – Asociación para la promoción del Turismo del Vino Calle Capitán Alonso de Vargas 3, Casa del Inca 14550 Montilla, Córdoba
- Tel:+34 957652354
- Web: www.rutadelvinomontillamoriles.com
The Wine Route and the Wineries of Serranía de Ronda
This route is located in the province of Malaga and encompasses the municipalities of Ronda and Arriate. In its surroundings are the natural parks of Grazalema and the Sierra de las Nieves, declared Biosphere Reserve, as well as the Alcornocales. Its location in the Mediterranean arch, with its climatic peculiarities and its geological diversity, is what gives to its wines good part of its uniqueness. The wine production of the route is integrated in the designation of origin ‘Málaga. Sierras de Málaga’.
- Centro Integral del Vino Calle Dolores Ibarruri s/n 29400 Ronda, Málaga (Andalucía)
- Tel:+34 952187119
- Web: www.ruta-vinos-ronda.com
Wine festivals
There is no party or social event in Andalucia where we cannot enjoy a good wine. The Andalucian festive calendar is full of events linked to wine, concentrating in September, during the harvest.
Wine Museums
Wine Museum ‘Misterio de Jerez’, with interesting documentary and photographic assets complemented with impressive audiovisual effects. To it are united the Museo Barbadillo de la Manzanilla de Sanlúcar, the singular Museo de Etiquetas de Vino de Bodegas Garvey de Jerez, the Pinacoteca of the Jerez Wineries Tradition (with the Joaquín Rivero collection of Spanish painting) and the museums of the wineries Sandeman, Harveys or Real Tesoro and Valdespino, in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz).
The Malaga Wine Museum shows more than 400 old parts distributed in an order theme: bottle tags, posters, headboards of cooperage… In the province of Malaga stand out also the Wine Museum of Ronda, the Wine Museum of Ojén, the Ecomuseum Lagar de Torrijos, and the museums of the wineries Dimobe (Moclinejo) and Antigua Casa de Guardia (Olías). The wines from Cordoba are well represented in the Obrado and Museo del Mosto de Moriles and in the museum of the Wineries Toro Albalá in Aguilar de la Frontera.
Interesting facts about wine
Why is wine bottled using different types of glass?
When it comes to bottling wine, different types of glass are used to preserve it from different types of light radiations. For young white, rose and red wines, transparent bottles are used, vintage wines use green glass and wine to be kept uses the darkest glass.
How many grapes are needed to produce one bottle?
One 75 cl bottle usually needs one kilo of grapes.
What is the oldest bottle preserved?
The oldest bottle dates from 350 AD and was found in the tomb of a Roman noble.
Can white wine be created from red grapes?
The white wines created with red grapes are called blanc de noirs and the difference with reds is that there is no skin maceration, which is responsible for the colour of red wine.
What is the largest bottle in the world like?
The largest bottle of wine measures almost 5 metres high and holds over 1,800 litres.
There are wines for all tastes
It is popular wisdom that there are different types of wine according to both how it is made and the type of grape that is used, but did you know that there are also wines aged with meteorite? A cosmic Cabernet was made in Chile.
Wine Route of the essential wineries in Malaga
Where to stay
Hotel Fuerte Grazalema
The best accommodation option is Fuerte Hoteles from where you can enjoy, in addition to its amenities, the best of each Andalucian geographical point. Its 60+ years’ experience are the best guarantee and an exceptional starting point for each experience you want to have in the region. Conil, El Rompido and Torrox are some of the enclaves where you can find this amazing accommodation close to all these wine tourism points that we recommend.