Jumilla-Castilla Wine and Horses

Jumilla & Tierra de Castilla vineyards by horse carriage, Chinchilla Castle

Jumilla is the “Kingdom of Monastrell” (aka mourvedre). A land of extreme contrast between intense hot summers, dry for most of the year & long cold winters. The vineyards are at 700-850m altitute on sandy limestone soil, stony on the surface but capable of holding what little water it receives. The Monastrell grape is the most planted grape with old vines producing exceptional wines, complimented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot & Petit Verdot which are well suited to the terrain adding shades of spice & black fruit.

Our visit to DO Jumilla visits a top vineyard during the morning and may be Bodegas Juan Gil, Casa Castillo or Casa de la Ermita. A fully guided private tour with emphasis on red wines from mainly old vine Monastrell & blends of the other red varieties. Late harvest sweet, red wines are also a feature of this area & you shall taste this rare, unfortified, aged dessert wine and understand its appeal. We will be surrounded by vines & hills in a unique paraje with guided vineyard, cellar & historical presentation before tastings their wines with maridaje in a panoramic tasting salon. (Dependant on our vineyard timing we may include a tasting at another smaller estate on route). After the tastings you shall stop in the old town of Jumilla for lunch at Restaurante de Loreto, a restored villa, former “Sindicato de la Agua” dating 1850 retaining formal rooms, decoration & patio Andaluz. Perhaps an aperativo in the patio followed by an avantgarde 3 course menu in the dining rooms. The owners take pride in their cuisine, local wines, artisan pear cider, hidromiel, cerveza & gin.

Following lunch we drive through typical Manchego countryside with stumpy oaks, red partridge & rabbit arriving at Finca Los Aljibes..a grand noble house surrounded by vineyards & home to their Yegua stables. Here they breed pure Spanish horses at an altitude of almost 1000m which develops stronger & more functional horses for any discipline.

Los Aljibes winery is located in the muncipality of Chinchilla de Montearagon. Pertaining to DO Vino de la Tierra de Castilla it is built in a Manchego style with 178 hct of vineyard,notably nr. 1000m alt. permitting expressive, modern wines with Spanish varieties Tempranillo, Garnacha, Garnacha Tintorera, Verdejo & French varieties Cabernet Sauv., Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauv. Blanc,Viognier & Chardonney. The range of grapes favours a higher complexity in the wine, bringing out the best feature of each grape & gain utmost expression! The winery uses state of the art auto rotary maceration with malolactic fermentation & blending in 10000L French oak vats & 5000L fudres. Aging in temp/humidity controlled cellars ensure a quality stay for the wines in barrel using American & French barrels under 4yrs old.

You will walk through the stately house, the cellars with restored artifacts, the winery & its modern hi tech techniques and then you will tour the vineyard by horse carriage pulled by two of the Yegua horses.. followed by a tasting of their wines with local produce maridaje. For the horse lover we visit the stables with it´s own lake.

It´s now time to make a short historic visit to Chinchilla de Montearagon to see it´s old palacial fachades, plaza & castle with a cafe/cervezita stop being a welcome feature before returning to Valencia early evening.

This is very much a Premium Full Day itinerary with early 0820hrs pickup as you have much to see, taste & discover.

Prices

from Euro 269 p/p

variable no. pers. (discount larger group)

Itinerary

Pickup Hotel Valencia 08:20-08:30hrs by Mercedes.
Arrive morning vineyard/bodega with guided visit & tastings/maridaje.
Lunch in Jumilla 3 cse avantgarde menu .
Afternoon vineyard/bodega guided visit winery/cellars, house, horse carriage tour vines, stables, tasting & maridaje.
Short historic visit to Chinchilla de Montearagon, plaza, castillo.
Return to Valencia early evening.
Excludes beverages outside of wine tastings

Please ask for availability and tour options/prices as can be tailor made for you.