Touring the wineries of Madrid is the perfect excuse to get to know better the towns of the region and also to drink good wine without having to go far away. Enotourism, so much in vogue, is also a way to learn about the history of Madrid and its wine which has or has had many ups and downs. Its golden age was under Felipe IV, but in 1914, in the twentieth century, a plague affected the vineyards of Madrid, destroying most of them. The growth and development of the area did not help the winegrowing recovery either, and it was not until the end of the last century that the D.O. Vinos de Madrid was finally recognized in the 1990s.
It is now made up of 51 wineries and has four recognized subzones: Arganda, Navalcarnero, San Martin de Valdeiglesias and El Molar, the latter will be included from 2019.
In addition, in a show of support for the sector and to publicize the region’s relationship with its wine, the Community of Madrid has typified six historical wine routes from the Roman Empire, passing through scenes and chronicles from Francisco de Goya until the times of the railroads.
1. Christ of the Humilladero
Cristo del Humilladero is a winery located 80 kilometers from the center of Madrid and belongs to the subzone of San Martín de Valdeiglesias. In its century-old vines of the gredos mountain range garnacha, Moscatel and Albillo grapes ripen, producing some 500,000 liters of wine per year, a figure that is equivalent to has decreased by 100 in 20 years given the difficulty of cultivation in the Zone.
It is also an opportunity to visit one of the jewels of Celtic sculpture in the peninsula, the bulls of Guisando, which are just a few minutes away from the Zone.
Avenida de la Constitución, 0 (Cadalso de los Vidrios)
Visit with tasting for 2 and cocktail 25 € 25 €
2. Bodegas del Nero
In Chinchón, one of the towns in Madrid that attracts the most local tourism the Bodega del Nero, founded in 1870 and run by the fifth generation of the family’s winemakers, is located here. Their vineyards are, according to them, the oldest in the Community of Madrid and their production is limited. Its cultivation is respectful of the environment, they are organic wines and during the visit you can learn about the entire winemaking process. In addition, the tasting includes tasting the local cheese.
Don Ramiro Ortiz de Zárate Street, 6 (Chinchón)
From 20 € for two people.
3. Royal Cortijo de Aranjuez of Carlos III
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King Carlos III ordered the construction of the Bodega Real del Cortijo in 1782, which has been considered a Historic Artistic Monument since the 1980s and is only five kilometers from the Royal Site of Aranjuez. It has been the supplier of wine and oil for five kings and a good list of illustrious and noble personalities. And they claim to be the only winery owned by a Royal House in the world. Its enoexperiences are varied, beyond the traditional tastings and pairings, there is even a wine casino – games of chance animated by sommeliers – and the option of creating your own wine.
Real Cortijo de San Isidro, Madrid
From 20 € for two people
4.Muñoz Martin Winery
The Muñoz Martin Winery has been located in the historic center of Navalcarnero since 1930. They are led by a fifth generation of winemakers who have managed to combine innovation and tradition. The tour of its 28 hectares of vineyards spread between this village and Villamanta includes a visit to its cave and wine tasting with a tapa.
Calle de la Iglesia, 4 (Navalcarnero)
From 9 € per person
5. Luis Saavedra organic winery
The Luis Saavedra organic winery has belonged to the same family since the nineteenth century, but it was not until the late twentieth century that the tests began to make a fully organic production. To do so, they use natural fertilizers, without herbicides, and harvest by hand.
It is located in the extreme south of the Community of Madrid, in the town of Cinderella, 80 kilometers from the capital, and belongs to the subzone of San Martín de Valdeiglesias.
Carretera Escalona, 5 (Cinderella)
24, 90 € for two people.
The wineries near Madrid continue to grow in popularity and diversity in terms of their wines. They have also been able to adapt and recover the winemaking tradition of the region, which had been in great difficulty due, in large part, to the urban development of the capital.