Valladolid - Cigales Wine Route, from the rosés to the Wine Cathedral

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Finca Museum winery in Cigales in Valladolid

The rise that the wine tourism is having in recent times especially in Spain has a greater emphasis on those regions where there is a long history of wine tradition.

That is the case of Valladolid, where there is five designations of origin, the province with the largest number in Spain.

The so-called wine routes with the best expression of wine tourism They combine a tourist offer in which wine has the main role.

Traditional winery in Cigales in Valladolid

But this is complemented by the possibility of knowing the traditions that surround it and the cultural heritage that exists in the wine areas.

That is the case of the Cigales Wine Route, land mostly known for its rosé and claret wines. where we have recently made a getaway to discover its essence and its most outstanding heritage.

Cigales wine history

The Denomination of Origin (DO) of Cigales dates back to 1991, and covers a territory that includes 13 municipalities and whose center is the town of Cigales, which extends on the banks of the Pisuerga river in the province of Valladolid and also in the province of Palencia.

From the historical point of view, it is known that already in the 10th century wine was made in this territory, and that Cigales wines they were famous during the period of establishment of the Court of Philip III in Valladolid in 1603.

After a period of decline, it was in the mid-nineteenth century when vineyard extensions increased.

Hiriart winery in Cigales in Valladolid

The main reason was the purchase of grapes by French winemakers who were suffering the consequences of phylloxera.

Currently the wine tourism is promoting a new boom in the development of wineries in the DO Cigales.

How is Cigales wine

Precisely the rise of wine tourism Its main purpose is to know how they are and how wines are madeY what types of wine There is in each territory.

In relation to Cigales wine, this denomination is mostly known for its rosé and claret wines, although there is also an important production of red wines.

In fact, half of the production is of rosé and claret wines and the rest of reds and whites, although the latter are largely exported.

As for the grapes used, the main one is tempranillo planted in characteristic pebble floors, although garnacha and albillo are also used.

Cigales wine in Valladolid

Currently for the Cigales wine making There are also new varieties of grapes such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah.

Since very recent time, white, sparkling and sweet wines have been made using various varieties of white grapes, such as Verdejo, Albillo Mayor, Viura and Sauvignon blanc.

Difference between rosé and claret wine

One of the aspects that we were interested in knowing taking advantage of the escape to this land known above all for its rosé wines was to know what is the difference with claret wine.

On a technical level, the difference between a rosé wine and a claret is explained by the way it is made, since the rosé process is finished as if it were white wine.

That is, the must is very few hours of contact with the skins, which is what it calls the skin and the grain of the grape, which preserves pigments, aromas and tannins.

Then it separates and what really ferments is the must already clean of skins.

Cigales winery neighborhood in Valladolid

A claret, which is how wine was made in this area in the past, especially because of the type of press that was used in the process, has a production more similar to that of a red wine.

For several days the musts are in contact with the skin to continue fermenting.

And as for the grapes that are used, it depends on each area, but there may be claret and rosé with the same type of grape, such as tempranillo.

It is very common that in some areas of the DO the wines are monovarietal, made with a single type of grape such as tight weevil, but in the own Cigales It is usual to mix grapes.

This is due to the fact that different varieties of grapes have been planted in a plot at the time, which arrive mixed to the wineries.

What to see in Cigales Wine Route

Your getaway to the Cigales Wine Route Its central axis will be the visit of a winery, along with some other cultural visit and the possibility of signing up for an activity.

Cigales winery neighborhood in Valladolid

So, for example, in Cigales you can find wine tourism complexes such as Transfer Payment in the small town of Cubillas of Santa Marta, where you can combine a visit to a winery with accommodation in a rural hotel.

Traditional winery in Cigales

But in this regard I advise you to start with the visit of a traditional winery which still shows how historically wine was made in this territory.

You should know that in the territory of the DO of Cigales There are more than 1,200 underground wineries located in more than 20 winery neighborhoods with 14 visitable wineries.

To know how is this type of winery, in the town of Cigales you can sign up tourist office to guided tour of a traditional cellar in a cave.

You will visit one of the 250 old wineries that remain in both underground cellar neighborhoods that remain in the center of Cigales.

Traditional winery in Cigales in Valladolid

For the visit you will descend to nine meters deep until you reach a spectacular winery mounted with a huge wooden beam 15 meters long and a ton of weight from the Roman era.

In this winery wine has been made by hand from 1580 until very recently, in 2006.

In this winery, up to 14,000 kilos of grapes could be pressed, from which about 4,000 liters of must were extracted, which means a very small use.

Finca Museum winery in Cigales

By cons on this route you can also visit one of the most modern wineries in Cigales, and the one that by far has the highest production of wine today, with one million bottles a year.

It's about the cellar Finca Museum, result of the expansion outside of Rioja del Baron de Ley group, producer of brands like Preserve.

Finca Museum winery in Cigales in Valladolid

When you visit her close to Cigales you will find a winery type chateau French, surrounded by the vineyards of Miraflores payment., at whose entrance you will be struck by the sculpture of the Greek goddess I came to, name that marks some of its wines.

With 200 hectares in ownership, the vineyards were planted in 2001 and the first wine came out in 2004.

Contrary to the most common in the Cigales area, Finca Museum It is one of the four wineries in the area that produce red wines, in this case the aging I came to and the reservation and grand reserve Museum.

Cigales Wine Cathedral

From the heritage point of view, the most prominent corner of the Cigales Wine Route It is known as Cigales Wine Cathedral.

It's about the church of Santiago Apostol which began to be built in 1535 who was one of the introductors of the Renaissance in Spain, the teacher Rodrigo Gil from Hontañón.

Cigales Wine Cathedral in Valladolid

On its side facade you can see a large portico of classic style, combining Roman and Greek.

Its construction was carried out in two phases because in 1627 the works suffered a break, and it was not until 1768 when the project of completion of this great church was resumed.

For this he received financial support from Fray Antonio Mayor, a Dominican of Cigaleño origin that was Bishop of Guadalajara and Yucatan in Mexico.

Inside it highlights its 16th century altarpiece.

Beekeeping in Valoria la Buena

As for the activities to which you can join linked to this wine tourism route, we could enjoy the beekeeping day that the company carries out Honey Montes de Valvení.

Beekeeping in Valoria la Buena on the Cigales Wine Route

This company has up to 600 hives distributed throughout the area of ​​the region of Cerrato, and in the tourist activity in which you can participate you will go to one of its hives located next to an old sheep shepherd hut.

Moving in a 4 × 4, after putting on the appropriate safety clothing, you will see how the hives open, and surely you will see some queen bee.

The three-hour activity (price, 12 euros) will allow you to meet many curiosities about the world of bees and honey making, and ends by participating in a honey tasting.

Eat at Hospedería Council

Gastronomy is also part of the experience of wine tourism in Cigales, and a reference in the area is Hospedería Council,

It is a four star inn with restaurant located in the building of a former royal inn in Value the Good. which has been declared Best wine tourism accommodation 2016 by Spanish Association of Wine Cities.

The origins of this building are from the 10th century, and after many years of rehabilitation it opened its doors in 2010.

Now, as we could taste on our trip, you can eat local products, among which the lamb, mushrooms or Valoria cheese, in addition to tasting the wine from the family winery itself.

Landscapes on the Cigales Wine Route in Valladolid

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