CUSTOM MADE TRAVEL Enjoy the Grape Harvest Fair Savour this Once-in-a-Year Tradition Wednesday 07 to Sunday 11 October The Grape Harvest Fair is a tradition which started many years ago celebrating the end of the harvest season and this continues today. There are many places in Spain where the event takes place but the most important are Toro, Cigales and Ribera del Duero in the areas of: Castilla, León, Navarra and La Rioja. All of them count with the named certificate Denomination Origin Certificates widely known. During the harvest an intense atmosphere surrounds the area. The calm villages, bodegas and grape fields transform themselves into a hive of human activity; you will be part of a very authentic moment, where people have to focus on efficiency while at the same time feel an immense gratitude towards the earth and grape harvest season. The celebration consists of traditional grape crush and the offering of the first grape-juice of the season to the neighbors and visitors who join the celebration. Join us and be part of this once-a-year activity together with the owners of the bodegas, grape pickers, porters and workers.
You will spend your days like this
Introduction to your wine harvest days experience in Spain Together with local professionals you will actively take part and understand in a fun way the process of wine making. You do not need to be an expert nor have any kind of knowledge. The objective is to enjoy in a pleasant way the activities, wine tasting and nature. Some Outdoors Activities in the Vineyards Analyze the grapes in the vineyard Taste the seeds and learn its meaning Prune and trip the plants understand its importance Get a basket and collect yourself the grapes Crush the grapes like in the old days (with your feet) Visit by jeep the grape fields of Abadia de Retuerta (Abbey) and its beautiful open landscape view Wine tasting, picnic, walk, talk, laugh, ask questions, and enjoy the different landscapes you will be taken to Some Indoors Activities you will take part or see its process Destem and crush, press, storing, bottling, lab and all related to the indoors process Some few bodegas allow tasting the juice directly from the wood barrels. You will pleasure this rare opportunity! Wine tasting and excellent lunch Depending on weather conditions, lunch will be served either indoors or outdoors. In both cases, the landscapes views are spectacular We are going to visit different wineries located in the different Denominations of Origin, at the busiest time of the wineries. It gives you the opportunity to taste the best wines in: Ribera de Duero (Wine Region of the Year 2012), Toro and Cigales. An experience that gives the traveler an extensive view on what the Spanish wine has to offer. We will stay in the historic city of Valladolid. The city has the perfect size and atmosphere to walk and see for yourself its several historic sites, parks, excellent restaurants. Valladolid is less internationally visited, being mainly Spanish people who tour it. The distance between Valladolid and the different bodegas is between 30 and 60mins Day 1 Madrid-Valladolid (50min) Welcome to our Spanish wine tour, pick up at Madrid Airport by our guide and transfer to Valladolid by high speed train. Day 2 Toro The province of Zamora is located in the west of the region of Castilla and León. The wine production area governed by the Toro Denomination of Origin (D.O.) is situated to the southeast of the province of Zamora, and includes part of the natural regions of The Land of Wine, The Land of Toro, The Land of Bread and The Farmlands. Visit Quínola Winery, that is a craft winery and its processes are made by hand with the concept of garage wine we will take part of the winery labors. Their wines form part of the Toro Denomination of Origin (D.O.). Visit Quinta de la Quietud winery that is surrounded by 22 hectares in the heart of the D.O. Toro (beautiful landscape), on the left bank of the River Douro. Produces wines with personality and respect for nature. Certified organic vineyard since 2002. We will also have a delicious lunch in the middle of the vineyard enjoying the amazing landscape.
Day 3: Cigales The Cigales Denomination of Origin (D.O.), covering an area of 2,700 ha, is the smallest high-quality wine making area within the region of Castile and León. We will enjoy a visit at La Legua vineyards and winery that are located on the Finca of a family-owned estate. They are committed to offering quality wines which form part of the Cigales Denomination of Origin (D.O.), with a character and personality of their own. To achieve this, their red wines and rosés are produced exclusively with scrupulous crops and carefully selected grapes from the Estate of La Legua. Enjoy conversation with this amazing professional warm hearted family! Lunch in La Soborna restaurant, ideal for enjoying the best cuisine where quality will delight the most discerning palates. They do some dishes full of flavor in the purest tradition of Spanish cuisine. More traditionally Castile food impossible! Only locals know the place difficult to get here by your own. After lunch and wine enjoy the Spanish Siesta or stroll around Valladolid city at your own pace In the afternoon we will visit a craft cheese factory, a family company whose production is geared to the manufacture of various products, without additives or preservatives, from sheep s milk out of their own livestock. It is situated in Mucientes which maintains a strong rural identity, famous for its rosé wines.
Day 4: Ribera de Duero The prestigious Wine Region, one of the top two in Spain, covers three provinces (Valladolid, Burgos and Soria) and known already in roman times for its product, dedicates the majority of its production to premium red wine. In the morning we will get to know the magnificent landscape and wine processes at the stylish Cepa 21. Here you will enjoy a grape collection workshop and taste their wines. We will have lunch in the Abadía de Retuerta vineyards (outdoors) with their magnificent ancient trees dotted around the estate have witnessed centuries of history. They offer a choice of delicious aperitifs served against magnificent backdrops, giving you the chance to admire these superb specimens and truly breathtaking views. Abadia de Retuerta (Relais Chateaux) is a thousand year-old tradition secular legacy located in a 12th century monastery A luxury place with a thorough wine and culinary culture offer in the heart of the Valley. Amazing nature. Day 5: Valladolid-Madrid Transfer to Madrid by high speed train, pick up in Madrid Railway Station - transfer to Madrid Airport and end of the trip. LA VENDIMIA or GRAPE HARVEST will happen between mid-september and mid-october Michi Moments will personalize your trip based on your dates, length and amount of people