WINE TOURISM GETAWAYS: WINES AND ROUTES JUST A STEP AWAY FROM PUERTA DEL SOL

2024/09/13

A top-level global attraction. A magnetic, multifaceted city. The city of Madrid received 10.6 million visitors in 2023, generating 22 million overnight stays. Its main international source markets were the USA, Italy, France, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Many of them were able to enjoy the culture, history, monumental heritage, people and gastronomy of Madrid. Today, these thousands of foreign tourists, as well as those from Madrid and the rest of Spain, have one more incentive to toast to: the wine tourism routes and wines of the DO Madrid.

Wine tourism on the rise, which is also just a stone's throw from Puerta del Sol or Plaza de Castilla. You could say that from the strawberry tree to the vineyard in a flash. Being one of the few European capitals with vines surrounding its metropolis, there are many attractions, from century-old wineries, routes, itineraries, succulent dishes, charming accommodation, cultural and historical heritage, wine shops, museums, nearby producers and some formidable wines. The Wine Route of the Community of Madrid (named Madrid Enoturismo), is today divided into four wine-growing sub-areas; namely, Navalcarnero, Arganda del Rey, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and El Molar. The latter was added in March 2019. As a result, another 600 hectares of vineyards have been added for a total of 12,000. With El Molar, the northernmost sub-zone nestled in the Sierra Norte, a belt is fastened that practically surrounds the capital, with the consequent ease of accessing the wine tourism proposal by public transport in the blink of an eye. In addition, countless wine bars, establishments and hotels have dedicated themselves to promoting Madrid wines, prescribing and recommending references and educating the consumer about soils, varieties and winemaking methods.

In this enthusiastic climate, where excellence is a commandment, Antonio Reguilón, president of the DO Vinos de Madrid since December 2016, projects horizons and expresses desires, as well as congratulating himself on the multiple leisure and knowledge options offered by the Routes. “You can go horse riding, you can visit wineries, you can tread grapes, you can taste under the stars in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, in the Arganda cooperative they take you on an old cart to the vineyards, you can try unique, rare wines, but above all, with Madrid Enotourism what is intended is to interact with the environment. That is the main objective. The towns in Madrid, those that have wineries, are usually small towns, with the exception of Arganda del Rey or Aranjuez. And each town offers something different, it offers a different dish, a different restaurant, a producer... if it were not for that visit to the winery, none of this would be known. Well, that is precisely what we are looking for: to structure the municipalities, to create employment opportunities, because if not, the people of that town have to leave. And if the cooperatives are lost, our wines disappear. I am from a small town, and we have 30 municipalities so that people can come and see what each one offers, which is a lot. Like Colmenar de Oreja, which has eight wineries (a Wine and Trade Fair in May) and which until four or five years ago was overshadowed by Chinchón, which is five kilometres away. That is what this project is looking for,” he says. “You go to Cadalso de los Vidrios and you find wineries with 100 Parker point wines, and that does not happen everywhere and we have it here,” adds the president.

According to figures from ACEVIN (Spanish Association of Wine Cities), visits to wineries and museums on the Wine Routes of Spain have grown by 58% in our country in the last year. Let us remember that in the Community of Madrid 12,000 hectares are planted with wine grapes, 8,900 with the DO (designation of origin) Vinos de Madrid, 78% of the wine-growing surface. The DO Vinos de Madrid was created in 1990 and prides itself on being one of the 94 designations of origin recognised in Spain. In total, 52 wineries bear the DO seal and invoice their products mainly to the EU, the United States and China, with more than 5,000 hectolitres of wine shipped per year.

The most widespread main variety in the Denomination of Origin is the red garnacha or Aragonés. It represents around 75% of the vineyards in the sub-areas of Navalcarnero, San Martín and El Molar. The white grape variety par excellence in the sub-areas of Arganda and Navalcarnero is the malvar, although the albillo real (sub-areas of San Martín de Valdeiglesias) is highly regarded for its surprising acidity and its gastronomic vocation. The wine heritage speaks of 80% of old, dry-land vines. “Let us remember that at the beginning of the 20th century we had 70,000 hectares. The vineyard is very important in Madrid, it is a duty, and to maintain it we must not only sell wine, but we must also do wine tourism,” adds Reguilón, who is pleased with the signing of an agreement with the Madrid City Council where the city offers tourists who stay overnight in Madrid the opportunity to visit a winery and return. The local council has become a member of Madrid Enotourism, like many other actors. We are only transmitters and organisers, we are not for profit. There are already 140 members, and more are joining all the time. Like the town councils like Brunete, which does not even have wineries, but has restaurants and a magnificent garbanzo to combine with the wines. Because wine tourism is in fashion.”

Signed by Sobremesa Magazine

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