A square filled with stalls selling tomatoes that smell like tomatoes, glasses of wine raised high, children riding a mini-train, and local bars bringing their best dishes out onto the street: this is what the Villa del Prado Vegetable and Wine Fair will be like once again this year—the event that, for one weekend, transforms this southwestern town into a showcase for Madrid’s vegetable gardens.
The heart of the fair is the sale and tasting of local produce, where you’ll find stalls featuringvegetables from Villa del Prado’s gardens, including seasonal fruits and vegetables; wines from theD.O. Vinos de Madrid(San Martín subzone) served by participating wineries; and iconic Madrid agricultural products such asOro Madrid olive oilandLeche Madriz milk. In addition, apaella made with vegetables from the Villa del Prado garden will be prepared during the fair.
Wine tastings: six glasses for 5 euros
The highlight for wine lovers will be onFriday, the 12th, at 9:00 p.m., with a tasting organized right in the middle of the fair. For5 euros, you’ll receive aCatavinos tasting glass, which you can use to samplesix winesfrom the participating wineries, trying different Madrid wines in a relaxed atmosphere.
It’s a very affordable way to take a brief tour of the diversity of the Vinos de Madrid Designation of Origin without leaving the square, listening to those who work the vineyards and discovering wines you can later look for in stores or order at restaurants.
There will also be children’s workshopsduring the fair, so kids can stay entertained while the adults shop, taste samples, or enjoy tapas. And amini-trainwill run through the streets of Villa del Prado, turning the visit into a little rail-based excursion that’s usually one of the weekend’s biggest hits. You can check out the full program at this link.
