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Return to page 1 of the Rioja Wine Tour.
We had descended below the streets and houses of Laguardia into the tunnels now used to store wine.
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Our guide explained the Bodega owner wanted to show us something special. While the group of tourists followed the tunnel, we followed the owner behind a curtain to the concrete vat located several feet below the grape stomper we had just left. Pointing at the pipes extending out of the rock above, we were told to listen. Listening, we could hear a large quantity of juice gurgling into the vat.
The cellars under Laguardia provide for the proper temperature and humidity for the grape juice to ferment into quality wine.
Only a few Bodegas in Laguardia still use the cellars to cure their wine. |
Perhaps at this point, I should point out, my wife and I are occasional consumers of wine. When in Spain I have always enjoyed a red wine as part of my meal but upon returning home I have been disappointed with my wine purchases.
The rioja wine tour was good for us as we learned a lot about wine and some of what we learned we even remember.
After learning about how various wines are made and the how American and French oak barrels impart different flavors to the wine, we headed to the wine tasting area. |
Photo Above - Aging wine in oak. |
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Three wines were offered to us for tasting, one white, a less than a year aged red and a three year aged red. The less than a year aged wine was made by including the grape stems in the pressing process, which imparts a strong flavor to the wine. I preferred the taste of the longer aged red and white wine, both were very good. |
Exiting the cellars of Laguardia our guide had a van waiting to take us to the Ysios Winery.
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The Ysios Winery is housed in a building designed by the famous Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.
Located in view of Laguardia it was only a short ride for us to get to the Ysios Winery.
The Ysios Winery is a modern wine producer. While the process of making wine is the same for the small producers and the large producers, Ysios Winery is nothing like the experience you have while touring the small wine producers.
Go to page 3, tour of the Ysios Winery.
Go to the Sherry Wine Tour page. |
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Use my recommended Spain Travel Agent to book your own Wine Tour.
Working with excellent local contacts, Madrid & Beyond opens up some of the best-kept secrets of Spain for the traveler. Personal guides, private wine tours, walking and bicycling excursions, balcony seats for the running with the bulls are just a few of the possibilities.
Note: Madrid and Beyond arranges trips in their entirety, not segments or single nights.
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