For three days, they will travel along this wine tourism itinerary that is part of the Spanish Wine Routes Product Club

A group of bloggers specialized in wine tourism will get to know on the upcoming days of May 8, 9, and 10 the experiences of the Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route, a wine tourism itinerary that is part of the Spanish Wine Routes Product Club, an entity promoted by the Spanish Association of Wine Cities (ACEVIN) and the State Secretariat for Tourism of the Government of Spain.

For three days, they will travel along this itinerary located within the territory of the Ribera del Guadiana Designation of Origin (DO) and DO Cava.

After immersing themselves in the culture and history of the Extremaduran capital, the bloggers will head toward “Viñas de Alange” to learn about the well-known Bodega Palacio Quemado, a symbolic name that identifies this company founded in 2000 as the result of the effort of two families to honor tradition while embracing innovation.

The experiences will continue in Fuente del Maestre with Arizar Selecto, a company linked to the Route and specialized in Iberian products, which will allow them to attend a master class on ham carving and visit the dehesa, a unique natural ecosystem in the world.

ART, HISTORY AND GASTRONOMY

In Santa Marta, they will have the opportunity to visit its Geological and Mining Museum, a notable collection of mining and industrial heritage from the early 20th century recognized for its tourist, geological, and scientific value.

Secrets of the Tierra de Barros region will later lead them to visit the Almendralejo Bullring, the only bullring in the world that has a winery beneath its stands, and the Wine Science Museum, the heart of the Route, through which they will delve into the history of wine in the region and local viticulture.

The bloggers will learn the art of disgorging wine with a feather and sabrage, a spectacular and surprising way of opening cava that dates back to the time of Napoleon, guided by the Extremadura Sommelier Champion, Carlos Vivas.

They will also travel back to the Copper Age with a visit to the Huerta Montero Prehistoric Tomb and discover all the secrets of cava with Marcelino Díaz, one of the promoters of this sparkling wine from Extremadura and director of the Almendralejo Cava Museum, the only one in Spain dedicated exclusively to this drink.

WINE TOURISM ON THE RISE

A complete journey to delight in the best flavors of Extremadura thanks to its gastronomy and DO Ribera del Guadiana and DO Cava wines and cavas, enjoy its diverse landscapes and natural richness, and soak in the region’s millenary culture by following the route of the Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route.

This wine tourism itinerary was visited in 2024, according to data from the Spanish Wine Routes Observatory, by more than 24,000 people. It is worth noting that wine tourism and gastronomy were the main reason for travel for 230 million tourists worldwide last year. Not surprisingly, the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations (UN) itself has highlighted the role of wine tourism in sustainable development, rural economic diversification, job creation, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

The report states that wine tourism is an important economic driver for regional development and adds that traditional tastings, winery visits, and vineyard tours are key attractions.

This project is part of the Tierra de Barros Tourism Sustainability Plan – Wine Tourism, and is funded by the European Union through the Provincial Council of Badajoz.