Madrid Wine & Tapas

Madrid Wine & Tapas

Madrid is a fantastic city to visit whether you come for the museums and history, the tapas or its wine. Our Madrid wine & tapas experiences give you a great introduction to the wine and tapas scene in this bustling metropolis. We can try wine not only wine from the Madrid region itself, but also from Ribera del Duero, La Rioja, Priorat and further afield. Our tastings in Madrid can be tailored to your tastes, if you fancy some Cava for example then just let us know.

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You may be taking a wine tour to Ribera del Duero or la Rioja with us? In any case, you will want time in Madrid either at the start or end of your time in Spain and you can really enjoy yourself in the Spanish capital. Try a wine, tapas, and Flamenco experience on your first evening perhaps.

The next day we can take you out to the wineries and vineyards within the area of Madrid itself before you venture even farther afield. We will accommodate you in a comfy hotel in a central location so that when you are not on tour with us you can explore the city, visiting the Prado is a seriously good option.

Madrid Wineries

You will start your Madrid wine experience with us by taking a look at some of the great vineyards close to the city, and after just 45 minutes’ drive, we are out in the countryside surrounding Madrid visiting bodegas and tasting great wine. The area just south of the capital used to have 75% more land given over to vines, but with the expansion of the city limits this has been consumed by the urban areas.

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The first winery we visit is the previously Royal-owned establishment, who had a modest house on the estate which you see below! (We can visit the palace if that interests you? after modifying the winery schedule of course) This historic place has the mouthful of a name “Bodega Real Cortijo de Carlos III” literally the Carlos the III Royal ranch winery, and is fascinating. You will hear about the long history and various uses of the underground cellars, and see how wine is stored today. The production here is very simple, two lines, and we will try them both. We will walk through the maze of underground cellars then enjoy a private tasting with local cheese and sausage.

On the way between wineries, we will have a quick look at the unique main square (or circle!) of the small village of Chinchon. The houses around the plaza are arranged in an oval and once a year bullfights are staged in the center, with all the balconies acting as seating. It is quite an unusual place to visit. There is also a fort we can take a quick look at.

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Our next port of call will be the Jesus Diaz and sons winery in the town of Colmenar de Oreja. This whole area was well-known for making clay pots and huge urns for storing wine and olive oil. With the increased use of stainless steel, concrete, and plastic the industry has almost died, but a number of the wineries still use the clay vessels – Diaz is one of those.

These clay vessels are huge, 7000 liters each and they have 17 of them, some 100 years old. A member of the owner’s family will show us around, and you will hear the history of the place. There are some deep underground cellars, which were used to escape bombing in the second world war. Now they are full of barrels and wine resting on racks. Our hosts will open an old bottle of red or white that is gathering cobwebs and fungus down in the bowels of the earth. This is a pot luck chance, the wine could be good or bad, but what excitement!

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Then leaving Diaz we head the short distance to the Solera winery, another place that is true to tradition and which has a number of huge clay pots for its white wine, plus the use of some concrete and stainless steel.

The owner or winemaker will show us around the production and aging areas, explaining their vision and ethos. We will sit in the winery patio surrounded by machinery and people working to try two or three of their wines. This is the perfect way to round out our day, eating some cheese and sausage, sipping great wine, sun beaming down on the lovely old village and wineries with so much history, and so close to Madrid without feeling it.

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We say goodbye to Solera and head back to Madrid, after the day you have had you will probably doze off on the way back. We will drop you off at your hotel or at a point where you can walk there easily. You may have elected to do something with us in the evening and we have a number of options:

Madrid Wine & Tapas | Plus Flamenco?

Our tapas and wine tasting night is an extremely enjoyable way to round out your day (if you didn’t do it the previous night). The historic, winding streets of old Madrid are lovely, picture-postcard views everywhere you look. These streets are home to many old tavernas that have catered to locals for decades. Now they are on the tourist radar but that doesn’t mean they have lost charm, in fact, they have spent cash on renovation in expectation of your visit.

Facebook album of our Madrid Wine and Tapas day

We wander the streets hearing the history of the area from our expert local guide, then gradually tick off four tapas taverns, each with a different history and style, while trying different kinds of tapas in each, accompanied by a glass of red or white in each. Certain places have a specialism in a tapas or two, so we will try their forte in those places. After the tour, we will leave you free in the center so you can continue or wander enjoying sightseeing and people watching.

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You also have the option to see a Flamenco show in one of our favorite traditional venues. Flamenco is something quintessentially Spanish originating hundreds of years ago in Moorish times. The spectacle involves a number of dancers (both male and female), skilled hand clapping/stamping of feet plus rapid guitar playing and you will love being so close to the action at these intimate venues.

We are able to combine the winery tours, the tapas and wine tasting plus the Flamenco show if you think you can handle so much excitement in one day, and have the energy!