10 sites and wineries to see and visit in Socuéllamos (Ciudad Real)

If you are a lover of good wine, you will surely be interested in knowing this La Mancha town which is located two hours by car from Madrid and is located in the geographical center of La Mancha, In the Ciudad Real province.

You will be surprised by the seas of vineyards that surround the entire area, stretching out into the horizon with its almost 30.000 hectares of vineyards.

The largest of all Castilla la Mancha with land without great heights and reddish soil.

It is a territory where temperatures are extreme due to the continental climate, and also the dryness creates a micro-climate that prevents humid winds from entering, which favors the cultivation of grapes.

After our visit, we are not surprised that they called Socuélamos la Homeland of Wine and Europe Winery, since it has 13 wineries with Denomination of origin of La Mancha and a nice and curious wine museum, a reference in the entire region.

Upon arriving at Socuélamos, you can start the day tasting some of the typical products of the area, and I can tell you that their cheeses are spectacular.

We were having breakfast at the bar Meeting Point, among other local specialties, must cake, cheese, mustillo meat y wine bread in "Meeting Point ”, with a great variety and quality in tapas cooked to order.

Once you're strong, you can take a walk around the town to get your bearings and learn a little about its history.

Best places to see and things to do in Socuéllamos

Below we highlight the best things to see and do on your visit Socuéllamos visit.

 Church of the Assumption in Socuéllamos

the pretty parish church of Our Lady of the Assumption It dates back to the 2006th century, although it has been renovated several times over the centuries, finishing its last restoration in XNUMX.

The building is built with faceted limestone masonry, and what catches your attention the most when you enter is the great altarpiece which is behind the high altar, with images carved in wood by Valencian sculptors Roman and Salvador.

The size of the Christ of the Vega, patron and perpetual mayor of the villa.

The Church of the Assumption It has a Latin cross plan, three longitudinal naves and one transversal, and on the sides are the two chapels.

Do not forget to visit the sacristy Well, there you have remains of what was the ashlar original from the 16th century, with which the cabinets were built.

The coffered ceiling is from the same time and there you can also see a ewer 17th century late Gothic style with some Renaissance elements.

The church has a four-story square tower and bell tower, and ends with a spire with a slate-style roof. herrerian.

As a curiosity, I can tell you that the tower burned in 1903 when it was shot by a rocket at the end of a Hello, after which it was rebuilt 17 meters higher than the original.

Casa Palacio de la Encomienda in Socuéllamos

Next to the Church of the Assumption. and in what in her day was the Socuéllamos public square, we found the Encomienda Palace House, also known as the House of the Mendoza o of the Commanders.

It was built in 1440 by the Order of Santiago and its commanders, although they later expanded it according to the needs or tastes of the moment.

This huge ancestral mansion It allowed large areas of land to be used, in its day, as grazing areas, and thereby increase the yield perceived by the commanders.

One of its most illustrious owners was Antonio de Mendoza, commander of Socuéllamos y Viceroy of Mexico and Peru, which carried out the most important renovation of the building.

The shield that appears on the main door is Antonio de Mendoza as Knight of the Order of Santiago.

As curiosities, it is said that among the many illustrious people who passed through the palace house, St. Teresa of Jesus he stayed in his rooms.

It is currently privately owned and town hall is trying to take over the building so that it becomes cultural heritage of the town of Socuélamos.

House of the Inquisition in Socuéllamos

 Socuélamos It was one of the places where the Inquisition did more damage.

In 1574 from the Ucles Monastery The order to monitor the popular festivals was issued, and since then the persecution of its inhabitants was incessant, establishing the Inquisition in the town in the 17th century.

Some remains of the door of the original house are preserved, as well as a coat of arms.

Socuéllamos City Council

It was in the 16th century when the first Socuéllamos town hall house of which the building with the coat of arms which seems to have represented the town in its day.

During the Middle Ages they didn't exist municipalities o town hall houses, more influential people met in private homes and there they became mayors, jueces y executioners, deciding the fate of the inhabitants at their complete discretion.

The current building of Socuéllamos City Council is located in the Plaza de la Constitución.

 Loreto Sanctuary in Socuéllamos

El Sanctuary of Our Lady of Loreto It is located in a large garden that was formerly a cemetery, and was built in the 17th century with subsequent renovations.

At santuario there is the figure of the Patron Saint of Socuéllamos, as well as San isidro labrador for which during the month of May a pilgrimage is celebrated to transport him to his hermitage.

The environment in which it is located refers to everything related to wine and its production, and in the gardens that surround it, when the harvest begins, the offering of the first must of the year is made.

Best wineries to visit in Socuéllamos

After taking a tour and getting to know the town, we suggest you get to know some of its wineries and taste some of their wines.

In a wine tourism route For the most important wine region in Spain, visiting some of its wineries is essential.

On our getaway we visited three of them with very different characteristics from each other, which offer guided tours that you can arrange in advance and they will surely not disappoint you.

Visit Bodegas Cristo de la Vega in Socuéllamos

 This winery was founded in 1955 when 25 farmers joined together and decided to produce their crops as a cooperative.

It has more than 1.200 American oak barrels, aging barrel, aging and reserve wines.

It is currently considered as one of the most important cooperatives in Castilla-La Mancha and Spain, with recognition of its wines both nationally and internationally.

Among its most important and awarded wines denomination of origin highlights Yugo, Marquis of Castile, Twentieth Century y Cerro Mesones.

The facilities of the Cristo de la Vega Winery They are state-of-the-art and during harvest time the movement is incessant.

The trucks arrive loaded with tons of grapes of different varieties and their components are distributed and separated in large containers.

A very high part of its production is dedicated to export.

Here you can Contact to book a guided tour.  

Visit Tinedo Wineries in Socuéllamos

This winery is completely different, since it is family-owned, which gives it a special touch with the charm of maintaining tradition.

The Alvarez-Arenas It has been dedicated to wine production since 1742 and currently has 49 hectares of vineyards.

The estate is divided into 30 sectors that are managed independently, depending on the type of wine to be produced.

En Tinedo Wineries All production is produced in an ecological way, since one hundred percent of the grapes are organic, since no herbicides or synthetic products are used.

It also has solar panels for both water and electricity, and the vineyards are located next to the wineries, which allows them to be picked at the right point of grape maturation.

This minimizes contact between the unfermented must and oxygen, and avoids having to reduce the temperature of the grapes with cooling equipment.

Fermentation is partly done in 10.000 liter concrete tanks.

Among its wine brands, all organic, stand out Cove N.1, Cove N.2.

The duration of the guided tour is one and a half hours, and they take place from Monday to Saturday with prior reservation, and in groups of between two and ten people.

The price is 10 euros per person, and during the visit they will show you the vineyards, the facilities, the winery, the family house, gardens and patio, as well as a commented tasting of two wines.

If you are interested in meeting her, you can contact and make reservation well through Email malvarez@tinedo.com, or by phone 696981965.

Visit Wineries Hermanos Delgado (EHD) in Socuéllamos

The Hermanos Delgado Farms Wineries They are located on the remains of the former location of Socuélamos, and were founded in 1998, have as a background a family tradition of cultivating the land.

Dedicated exclusively to organic farming, these wineries have modern and functional facilities in which not only wines, but everything derived from grapes are made.

You will be surprised to what extent the grapes are used, with the production of vinegars, grape seed oil, juices and concentrates, seed flour and grape skin.

They also have a line of cosmetics, animal feed and flour for human consumption, all made in an ecological way.

They work with ecological fertilizers, which are the ones they use in their vineyards, which eliminates any chemicals in their land and gives a lot of quality to their wines.

Delgado Brothers exports to 20 countries around the world and its wines are recognized with the designations Vega Lucia y Maria Torres.

In addition to seeing its technology, in the EHD Warehouses You can visit a cave with a lot of charm and a history that goes back many centuries.

La tour It lasts an hour and a quarter, and during it you will tour its facilities and the cave in groups of 10 people, ending with a tasting of three of its wines.

You have to arrange the visit in advance and you also have the possibility of making a a la carte visit.

You can contact and book via email directed to the account visits@bodegaehd.com or by phone: 926 699 107.

Wine Tower Museum in Socuéllamos

We leave the Wine Tower Museum, in which after what you have seen, you can complete a day of wine tourism making all the senses enjoy.

You will recognize it quickly since its headquarters occupies a tall tower of modern design that stands out greatly in the surroundings, which is located on the site occupied by the old railway station.

Through interactive elements, during the visit you will be able to smell different aromas, feel, taste and leave knowing the entire process of wine making, in addition to being a museum in which they will tell you in a virtual and active way the history of wine in Socuéllamos.

The building has a gazebo which you access by a panoramic elevator, from which you can see the entire town, as well as extensive vineyard landscapes.

If you visit the museum in the late afternoon, the sunset is impressive.

Map: how to get to Socuéllamos

Socuélamos is south of Madrid, two hours by car from the capital or from Valencia, and close to places like Alcazar of San Juan, Raven Speck o Tomelloso, in the heart of the territory of La Mancha.