Visitors to the Province of Málaga and Costa del Sol will get many opportunities to check out Spanish wines. However, if you want to sample some of the best Málaga's wines this article offers a few tips. During a recent visit to Málaga, Spaswinefood took the time to check out Málaga wines. This sounds easy to do, after all you are right there in the province of Málaga. Nope, it is not as straight forward as you think. One thing I learnt quite quickly is that you can not turn up at a winery and expect to taste wines. In Spain, as it is in other European wine countries, you need to make an appointment at a winery that is open to visitors upon request. The easiest option I found was to do a wine tasting at a wine museum. In Málaga I discovered that there are a number of wine museums that offer wine tastings. They are Museo del Vino Málaga in Málaga and Museo del Vino de Mijas in Mijas. The Museo del Vino Málaga website also lists cellar and winery tour options.
Discovering Málaga DO's
Spanish Wines describes the history of wine in Málaga. Both Málaga and Sierras de Málaga are two Spanish Denominaciones de Origen (DO) in the province of Málaga, Spain. According to Wine-Searcher Málaga DO was established in 1933, with Sierras de Málaga DO added in 2001. Here is a list of some wineries in the region that are open to visitors (see also Tripadvisor's list). If you can not visit these wineries then do not forget a visit to one of the wine museums is an excellent option.
Sampling Málaga Wines at Museo de Vino Mijas
We choose to visit the wine museum in the picturesque village of Mijas. Some of the following Málaga wines we tasted included wines from some of the wineries on the above lists.
1. Bodegas Gomara is one of the wineries open by appointment, for tasting and tasting courses. We were able to find a number of Bodegas Gomara wines available at Museo de Vino Mijas.
2, Bodegas Malaga Virgen is open by appointment for tasting. Fortunately we were able to taste one of their wines at Museo de Vino Mijas. From Bodegas Malaga Virgen we tasted a sweet white wine, Moscatel, Reserva De Familia. This wine makes a perfect desert.
3. Bodegas Quitapeñas is another winery open to visitors. Again, at Museo de Vino Mijas their presence is obvious. Right at the entry to the museum you will find their wine barrels displayed. I have heard that Bodegas Quitapeñas is one of the best places to have tapas.
4. Bodegas Cortijo Los Aguilares is located in Ronda. We were able to we taste one of the wines at the Mijas Wine Museum. In fact, one of wines included in our tasting was a red wine from Bodegas Cortijo Los Aguilares, Ronda. We particularly liked their Pago El Espino 2008. The wine is a blend of Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and Merlot. We were told about their award winning Pinot Noir. I had also read about the bodega’s Pinot Noir when I researched Málaga wineries.
I have since discovered that there is a Museo del Vino da Ronda, which is part of Bodegas la Sangre de Ronda. Now I have a number of reasons why I need to return to historical city of Ronda. Yes, I will make appointments before I do.
Of course while in Málaga do not forget to check out some of the Tapas Places.
 |
Wine Tasting at the Mijas Wine Museum © Spaswinefood
|
Discovering Málaga DO's
Spanish Wines describes the history of wine in Málaga. Both Málaga and Sierras de Málaga are two Spanish Denominaciones de Origen (DO) in the province of Málaga, Spain. According to Wine-Searcher Málaga DO was established in 1933, with Sierras de Málaga DO added in 2001. Here is a list of some wineries in the region that are open to visitors (see also Tripadvisor's list). If you can not visit these wineries then do not forget a visit to one of the wine museums is an excellent option.
 |
Málaga DO © Spaswinefood
|
 |
Sierra de Málaga DO © Spaswinefood
|
We choose to visit the wine museum in the picturesque village of Mijas. Some of the following Málaga wines we tasted included wines from some of the wineries on the above lists.
1. Bodegas Gomara is one of the wineries open by appointment, for tasting and tasting courses. We were able to find a number of Bodegas Gomara wines available at Museo de Vino Mijas.
 |
Bodegas Gomara wines © Spaswinefood
|
One that we did sample was a Bodegas Gomara's dry white white, Seco Gomara. This wine is made from 100% Pedro Ximénez grape. This wine makes a great drink to go with an appetizer.
 | ||
Bodegas Gomara Seco wine © Spaswinefood
|
 |
This Moscatel is desert perfect © Spaswinefood
|
 |
Bodegas Quitapenas wine barrel, Málaga Wine Museum at Mijas © Spaswinefood
|
 |
Pago El Espino 2008, Sierra de Málaga DO © Spaswineƒood
|
Bodegas Vetas is another Málaga winery that is open by appointment for tasting. Regretablely, we did not get to taste their wines at the wine museum. I do have their wines on my list for our fall visit.
To go along with your wine tasting at Museo de Vino Mijas you can order some tapas. We were also able to buy wines at Museo de Vino Mijas to enjoy later. Above all, we were most fortunate to be able to do a wine tasting at the Museo del Vino de Mijas in the picturesque village of Mijas, Málaga. The pueblo of Mijas, known as “The White City” is a perfect spaswinefood escape.
Discovering Rhonda's Wine Route
During our Museo del Vino de Mijas visit the person pouring our wine suggested we visit the Bodegas Cortijo Los Aguilares in Ronda. The fact that the winery had nice wines, a scenic location and a female wine maker convinced us that we should make the journey to Ronda. Next morning, we journeyed down the Mediterranean coastal highway (AP-7) to take highway N-397 to Ronda. Our journey from the coast to the historic city of Ronda was through scenic mountains. When we arrived in Ronda and located the highway to the winery.
To go along with your wine tasting at Museo de Vino Mijas you can order some tapas. We were also able to buy wines at Museo de Vino Mijas to enjoy later. Above all, we were most fortunate to be able to do a wine tasting at the Museo del Vino de Mijas in the picturesque village of Mijas, Málaga. The pueblo of Mijas, known as “The White City” is a perfect spaswinefood escape.
 |
Mijas Time © Spaswinefood
|
During our Museo del Vino de Mijas visit the person pouring our wine suggested we visit the Bodegas Cortijo Los Aguilares in Ronda. The fact that the winery had nice wines, a scenic location and a female wine maker convinced us that we should make the journey to Ronda. Next morning, we journeyed down the Mediterranean coastal highway (AP-7) to take highway N-397 to Ronda. Our journey from the coast to the historic city of Ronda was through scenic mountains. When we arrived in Ronda and located the highway to the winery.
 |
Journey to Ronda © Spaswinefood
|
Soon we were at the winery gate.
 |
The winery gate © Spaswinefood
|
Also, too soon I was to discover that we should have called ahead to make an appointment. I rang the buzzer but there was no answer. So folks do not discover this the hard way. Please make an appointment if you plan to visit. The good news is that there are a number of Ronda wineries that you can visit in the Ronda area. In fact there is a wine route in the Ronda area, Ruta Bodegas Y Vinos de Ronda.
 |
| Ronda Wine Trail © Spaswinefood |
Of course while in Málaga do not forget to check out some of the Tapas Places.
 |
| Dockside in Málaga, Spain © Spaswinefood |
Spaswinefood will return to Málaga in November to continue exploring Málaga's wines and other Spaswinefood happenings. I invite you to join me in my travels in Spain and elsewhere in search of the best in Spaswinefood.
Sharon
April 2013
April 2013
Málaga, Spain
© Spaswinefood
No comments:
Post a Comment