The Wine Traveler in La Rioja, Rioja Wine

Rioja DO is the oldest and most famous of all the wine regions in Spain. It is located in the political region of La Rioja. We spent an entire day exploring the area. Too bad we did not have a week to spend here; it is such an interesting spot with so much to see. With the Iberian mountain range as the backdrop and the River Ebro meandering on the valley floor though beautiful vineyards, the vistas are stunning, Each small country road we travel leads to small La Rioja towns surrounded by vineyards and Bodegas. Most of the Bodegas we pass are very old, many built in the 19th century. But then, some are very new and modern ones like the two wineries we visit, the Bodegas Marques de Riscal and the Bodegas Ysios.

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The Wine Traveler in Madrid

At last, we have met up with our friends. Miraculously, we have managed to drive our car in Madrid and find the apartment we have rented in the center of the city. We have rented a three-room apartment on Calle de Estudios from an agency called Friendly Rentals. One of their reps meets us at the apartment to show us the place and give us the keys. The location is fantastic. The Plaza Mayor is about 5-minutes walking distance. There are tons of stores for shopping, restaurants, tapas, and wine bars within easy walking distance. The only glitch is the car. We have to park the car in the underground parking lot conveniently located nearby, but the cost is 25 Euros per day. Ouch!

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The Wine Traveler in Ribera Del Duero

The first bodega we spot is Bodega Abadia Retuerta. This winery has recently received raved reviews from the wine critics for their outstanding lineup of wines. The tienda was open so we meandered in and browsed the shop. We purchased a bottle of the Rivola 2004 Crianza for 8 Euros.

The Wine Traveler Visits Adegas Valminor – Albariño Wine

We had made an appointment for a tour and tasting at the Adegas Valminor, a winery in the wine region of Rias Baixas. The Bodega is located in a very small town called O Rosal located almost at the border of Portugal. The reason I chose to visit this winery is because this Albariño wine has been one of my favorites. My local wine shop sells Valminor at a great price of $12.99. The possibility of visiting this winery was mentioned on a list of wineries I was given at the tourist office in Santiago De Copostela. The Concierge at our hotel called and made the arrangements so we could visit the following day.

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Wine Traveler in Pontevedra, Spain – Albariño Wine, Rias Baixas

Pontevedra is one of the main towns in the area of Galicia known as Rias Baixas. The name has to do with water inlets on the coastline, Baixas in this case meaning the lower inlets of water. In Pontevedra, we are lodging at Parador Casa Del Baron, which served at one time as a palace … Read more

The Wine Traveler in Santiago De Compostela

We are in the city of Santiago De Compostela, in the region of Galicia, sometimes called Green Spain. It is directly north of Portugal, very near the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the major cities in Spain and a very popular tourist attraction year round. We are in the city of Santiago De Compostela, in the region of Galicia, sometimes called Green Spain. It is directly north of Portugal, very near the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the major cities in Spain and a very popular tourist attraction year round.

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Wine Traveler in Astorga and Ponferrada

We drove north on the A6, one of the main routes to Santiago De Compostela in Galicia. We stopped for lunch in the charming town of Astorga. As in the case of most very old cities in Spain, they are divided into the old section, El Centro, and the newer residential areas, and finally the industrial areas. We always follow the signs for the old section of town.

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The Wine Traveler Visits Bodegas Dos Victorias

While staying in the wine region of Toro, we set out to see if we could visit a Bodega (winery). In Spain, you just can’t drive up to a winery and find a lavish tasting room as you would in the Napa Valley. You have to call a day or two ahead and make an appointment. With the help of the hotel clerk we started calling wineries from our Spanish wine guide and got lucky on the third try. Dos Victorias, a winery about 20 km away from Tordesillas said we could visit.
In the Toro D.O. there are 55 wineries, most of them clustered around the town of Toro. If you think California has a wine boom, get this: Ten years ago in Toro there were 15 wineries, today there are 55.

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The Wine Traveler in Tordesillas, Spain – Toro Wine

So what brought us to this small town of Tordesillas? Well, many things, one being that it is not a tourist town. Rick Steves doesn’t even mention it in his Spain guidebook. We wanted to experience a small-town Spanish atmosphere. We also wanted a short drive and a chance to recoup from our Salamanca party atmosphere. Tordesillas is only 80 kilometers from Salamanca. Another draw to this town is the modern Parador where we found a room. This parador is first class, very tastefully decorated, and there are many Spaniards staying here. This Parador has everything you need for comfort. The rooms are great, there is a workout room, enormous piscina (swimming pool), sauna, and several other amenities. This is also wine country, the D.O. of Toro. and there are many wineries in the area, mostly between the town of Toro and Zamora.

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The Wine Traveler in Salamanca, Spain

We are here for two nights, staying at the Salamanca Hotel de Mercado, one block from the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza that Rick Steves says is the best Plaza in Spain. The Plaza Mayor is the center of activity in Salamanca.

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