The best things to see in Cigales and which wineries to visit (Valladolid)

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

This 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 because they combine a tourist offer in which wine becomes the driving force.

But the knowledge of the production processes and their tasting is complemented by the possibility of learning about the traditions that surround it and the cultural heritage that exists in the wine-growing areas.

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

History of Cigales wine

La designation 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 along the banks of the Pisuerga River in the province of Valladolid and also in Palencia.

From a historical point of view, it is known that wine was made in this territory as early as the 10th century, and that the 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-19th century when vineyard extensions increased.

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

At present, the wine tourism is promoting a new boom in the development of wineries in the DO Cigales.

Characteristics of Cigales wine

Precisely the rise of wine tourism Its main purpose is to know how wines are made y what types of wine there is in each territory.

Regarding the Cigales wine, this name is especially known for its rosé wines and clarets, although there is also an important production of red wines.

In fact, half of the production is rosé wines and clarets, and the rest, reds and whites, although the latter are largely destined for export.

Regarding the grapes used, the main one is Tempranillo planted in characteristic pebble soils, although they are also used grenache y albillo.

Currently for the production of Cigales wines new ones are also present grape varieties how Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot ysyrah.

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

Difference between rosé wine and claret

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

At a technical level, the difference between a rosé wine and a claret It 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 in contact with the must for very few hours. skins, which is what it calls the skin and grain of the grape, which is what preserves the pigments, aromas and tannins.

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

Un claret, which is how wine was previously made in this area, especially due to 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 so that it continues fermenting.

And as for the grapes used, it depends on each area, but there can be clarets and rosés with the same type of grape, such as Tempranillo.

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

This is the consequence of different varieties of grapes having been planted in the same plot, which arrive mixed at the wineries.

Which wineries to visit in Cigales and surroundings

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

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

Traditional wineries in Cigales

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

You must know that in the territory of the DO of Cigales there is more of 1.200 cellars in caves located in more than 20 winery neighborhoods with 14 visitable wineries.

To find out what this type of winery is like, in the town of Cigales you can sign up for their tourist office to guided tour of a traditional winery in a cave.

You are going to visit one of the 250 old wineries that remain in the two underground winery neighborhoods that remain in the center of Cigales.

For the visit you will descend nine meters deep until you reach a spectacular winepress built with a huge wooden beam 15 meters long and weighing one ton from Roman times.

Wine has been produced in an artisanal way in this winery since 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 represents a fairly low use.

Finca Museum Winery in Cigales

On the other hand, on this route you can also visit one of the most modern wineries in Cigales, and the one with by far the largest wine production today, with one million bottles a year.

This is the wine cellar Museum Estate, result of the expansion outside of Rioja of the Baron de Ley group, producer of brands such as Preserve.

When you visit near Cigales, you will find a type winery chateau French surrounded by the vineyards of Miraflores payment, at whose entrance the sculpture of the Greek goddess will catch your attention I came to, the name that gives the brand to some of its wines.

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

Contrary to what is most common in the Cigales area, Museum Estate It is one of the four wineries in the area that make red wines, in this case the Crianza I came to and the reserve and great reserve Museum.

Here you can sign up for one private visit to Bodegas Finca Museum from Valladolid, ideal for a group of family or friends.

Here you have all the information about wineries to visit in Cigales and vicinity.

What to see and do in Cigales and surroundings

Now, in addition to wineries, your wine tourism getaway to the zone of Cigales and surroundings It reserves other attractions for you, such as the visit of the castle of Fuensaldaña or Enchanted Castle of Trigueros del Valle.

Cigales Wine Cathedral

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

This is the church of Santiago Apóstol which began to be built in 1535 by someone who was one of the introducers of the Renacimiento in Spain, the teacher Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón.

On its side façade you can see a large classical style portico, combining Roman and Greek.

Its construction was carried out in two phases, since in 1627 the works suffered a pause, and it was not until 1768 when the project to complete this great church was resumed.

For this, it received financial support from Fra Antonio Mayor, a Dominican of Cigaleño origin who was bishop of Guadalajara and Yucatán en Mexico City.

Inside, its 16th century altarpiece stands out.

Beekeeping in Valoria la Buena

As for the activities you can sign up for linked to this wine tourism route, you can enjoy the beekeeping day what the company does Honey Montes de Valvení.

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 their apiaries located next to a old sheep shepherd's hut.

Traveling in a 4×4, after putting on the appropriate safety clothing, you will see how the hives open, and you will surely be able to see some Queen bee.

The activity lasts about three hours (price, 15 euros) will allow you to discover many curiosities about the world of bees and honey production, and ends by participating in a honey tasting.

Eat at Concejo Hospedería

La gastronomy It is also part of the experience of wine tourism in Cigales, and a reference in the area is Hospedery Council,

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

The origins of said building date back to the 2010th century, and after many years of rehabilitation it opened its doors in XNUMX.

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

How to get to Cigales in Valladolid

Cigales It is located 15 kilometers north of the city of Valladolid, already little more than two hours by car from Madrid.