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12 Tips to plan the perfect Wine Holiday in Spain

Embarking on a wine holiday in Spain is a dream come true for wine enthusiasts and travel lovers alike. Whether you are exploring the prestigious wine regions of Ribera del Duero, the rustic charm of Rías Baixas, or the gems of La Mancha, Spain with its rich heritage, diverse wine regions, and breathtaking landscapes offers an unparalleled wine experience.

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Ribera del Duero view from Peñafiel Castle

Top 5 Spanish Wine Regions for your wine holidays!

Spain is undoubtedly a country of wine and you should make at least a wine tour here once in your life. Every single region has its own wine production, but here is a choice of 5 Top Spanish Wine Regions you should choose from if you come to Spain.

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wine and chocolate pairing colorful wines

7 Tips for successfully pairing wine with chocolate

Be it an exhausting day at work, a bad day or an occasion to celebrate wine and an exotic chocolate box always seems to be the answer. Yes, the marriage between wine and chocolate is truly a match made in heaven if you master the art of how to pair them well.

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Winery 3: Bodegas Tío Pepe and the Sherry tradition

If you love Sherry (Jerez) you have certainly tried at some point some Fino made by Bodegas Tío Pepe. But you should also definitely go visit this beautiful and historic winery located in Jerez (Andalusia).

Bodegas Tío Pepe at the heart of the Sherry tradition

Jerez is one of the three cities making part of the ‘Triangle of Jerez’ concentrating the world Sherry production. The other two are Puerto de Santa María and Sanlúcar de Barrameda where you can also find high-quality Sherry wineries.

Bodegas Tío Pepe was founded in 1835 by Manuel María González Ángel who worked on creating a Fino Sherry named after his uncle ‘Tío Pepe’. As the company started growing, the Sherry was exported to Great Britain and González Ángel signed a partnership with agent Robert Blake Byass and how is the company González-Byass was born.

In 2010 Bodegas Tio Pepe celebrated its 175th anniversary and was awarded the prize of the Best Winery in the world by the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Ready to start the visit at Bodegas Tío Pepe!
Ready to start the visit at Bodegas Tío Pepe!

Gustave Eiffel and its legacy for Bodegas Tío Pepe

In 1869 Gustave Eiffel, the world-famous French engineer, designed the Real Bodega de la Concha, one of the several wineries that one can see at Bodegas Tío Pepe. It was built in honour of Queen Isabel II who visited the premises in 1962.

It contains 214 casks where Sherry Amontillado La Concha ages and 115 of them exhibit the flags of countries where Gonzalez Byass exports its wines.

Visiting the winery ‘Tío Pepe’ in Jerez

We started the visit with a tour in a cosy train around the premises. We also visited the different ‘Bodegas’ (cellars) including the Real Bodega de la Concha.

Our guide explained historic facts about the winery and also described the winemaking process for the different kinds of Sherry: Fino, Oloroso, Amontillado, Palo Cortado and Pedro Ximénez.

The darkness of the several Bodegas where the wine is kept in ‘Soleras’ and ‘Criaderas’ for the ageing process, contrasts with the brightness of the sun and the blue sky in Jerez where summers are generally very hot!

Visiting Bodegas Tío Pepe in Jerez is going back in time to the 19th Century when the city was the wine capital of the world and is also a beautiful reminder of the mix of cultures historically present in the Andalusia region where the ‘Mudejar’ art (a meeting point between Christianity and the Islam) played a fundamental role.

Taking the train to tour Bodegas Tío Pepe
Taking the train to tour Bodegas Tío Pepe

Antonio Flores: Tio Pepe’s worldwide famous Master blender

Antonio Flores has been working as the oenologist of Bodegas Tio Pepe since 1980. He has been awarded twice (2009 and 2016) with the Prize of ‘Best Winemaker of Fortified Wines of the World’ by the International Wine Challenge.

His extraordinary work of wine classification within the cellars at Bodegas Tio Pepe and his decisive contribution to recover and promote Sherry gems such as the Finos Palmas Collection and Tío Pepe in Rama have ensured his worldwide recognition as a mythic winemaker!

The iconic Tío Pepe Bottle-man

Tío Pepe dressed in his hat and red jacket with his guitar has become one of the national symbols in Spain. One can admire the giant bottle-man at the winery in Jerez and also as a neon sign in Puerta del Sol in Madrid.

In 1935 Luis Pérez Solero dressed the bottle with a short red jacket and a hat, creating the logo which is nowadays very popular around the world.

Iconic bottle-man Tío Pepe at the winery
Iconic bottle-man Tío Pepe at the winery

The Tio Pepe Sherry Festival in 2018

From 10th to 18th August 2018, the Tio Pepe Festival will take place in the city of Jerez showcasing the best of the gastronomic scene in Spain. Michelin-star Chefs will cook special menus paired with different kinds of Sherries.

Each evening there will be concerts of renowned Spanish singers and musicians followed by wine and food pairing experiences. For the entire programme, click here.

If you have found this article interesting and would like to make a trip to Jerez (Cádiz, Andalusia) to discover a bit more about the Sherry world, stunning wineries, wonderful gastronomy and breathtaking landscapes you can contact us for a Spanish wine tour!

One of the cellars at Bodegas Tío Pepe
One of the cellars at Bodegas Tío Pepe

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What our customers say about us!

  • GREAT WINE TASTING EXPERIENCE!
    We enjoyed a very unique tour and visit to a family-owned winery.
    It was a perfect 1/2 day tip from the city. Great wine, great guide, lots of history and knowledge!

    Cyndi G, Los Angeles
    - Tripadvisor.com
  • AMAZING EXPERIENCE
    We visited 3 vineyards in Madrid. Passion and Knowledge for wines are the main words that come to mind when I remember Jimena; she was an excellent guide to my family and friends. I recommend her 100% to do something different and unique in Madrid.

    Cesar Alberto P, Dominican Republic
    - Tripadvisor
  • AMAZING WINE TOUR!!!
    My boyfriend and I did this tour together and we absolutely loved it! Jimena,the guide and owner of the company, made this tour personal and intimate. It was just the two of us and it was an up close and personal experience. We were able to see the vineyard, a historic cellar and taste the wines guided by a fifth generation wine maker. This experience is not something a large tour company with a lot of people would have been able to do. We highly recommend this tour. You will feel VIP!!

    Amanda, New York City, New York
    - Tripadvisor
  • FUN TOUR!
    My 3 nieces and I recently enjoyed the Half Day Wine Tour with Jimena and Colorful Wines. It was a perfect day trip from Madrid and we really enjoyed our time with the owner of a local generational winery. Jimena was knowledgeable and a great tour guide/translator for our time together. I would highly recommend Colorful Wines and Jimena for a future wine tour.

    Susan Sernett, Chicago, Illinois
    - Tripadvisor.com
  • GREAT TOUR OF MADRID WINERY
    Jimena set up a spectacular wine tour for my girlfriend and I at a small, 5-generation winery outside of Madrid. We saw everything that goes into winemaking, from touring the vineyard and tasting grapes to the bodega where the wine is fermented in huge clay tanks and finally to the ancient cellar where it sits in bottles. We finished our tour with a tasting. Jimena did a great job translating and answering all of our questions. Thanks Jimena!

    Ben H, Columbus, Ohio
    - Tripadvisor.com
  • PERSONALIZED AND REWARDING! A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE!
    Combining colorful wines, family traditions, and exceptionally educated and caring hosts, Colorful Wines has created a once in a lifetime tour experience. My wife and I loved the complete personalized atmosphere. From the 5th generation family owned and operated vineyard, to the history of the region, we were continuously impressed and inspired. Jimena and Colorful Wines’ knowledge of oenology was outstanding.

    Cameron and Debra, Russellville, Arkansas
    - Tripadvisor.com
  • AMAZING TOUR WITH COLORFUL WINES!!!
    Our hotel front desk personnel at The Mint recommended Colorful Wines and we are so grateful they did. My husband and I had a great time touring the Jose Diaz E Hijos vineyards, winery and tasting the fabulous wines. Our half day excursion was a great personalized tour with Jimena and her driver. We learned a lot of the area and the wines. JImena is so personable, knowledgeable and fun. I’ve been on a few wines tours in Napa and this tour was so much more than others.

    Alison, Atlanta, Georgia
    - Tripadvisor.com
  • A WONDERFUL PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE
    We decided at the last minute in Madrid to book a wine tour and Jimena could not have been more accommodating. She arranged on one day’s notice to take us to a small family owned Organic winery about 35 minutes outside of Madrid. We were promptly picked up at our hotel for the scenic ride to the vineyard during which Jimena explained to us the varieties of wines in Spain. Upon our arrival at the vineyard we were greeted by the owner’s daughter…

    Gerry and Diane, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
    - Tripadvisor.com
  • We did the local Madrid wine tour: “Organic Bodega near Madrid & Cervantes’ Birthplace”
    Jimena was a fantastic guide, the winery is a very special place with Carlos the owner and his wife being the perfect hosts. Carlos with the history of the beginnings of their winery and a walk through the vineyard, finishing with wine tasting and parings. Lunch was fantastic! Tour of the town of Alcalá de Henares is very historic and small and a perfect ending…

    Derek Belton and Linda, Vancouver, Canada
    - Facebook
  • I recently went with some friends to a beautiful winery near Madrid, and we experienced different wines (although my favourite ones are Rioja wines, I loved the wines from Madrid DO we tasted) and also gastronomic specialties. We absolutely loved it, it was a great experience! Jimena was a wonderful guide who showed us the area, described everything in depth and detailed all the wine characteristics. We tasted fabulous wines and the winery was really nice. Would love to repeat the experience…

    Laura Cortada, London, UK
    - Google

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