Tour Spain's Toro Wine Region

If you are traveling north from Madrid, why not take a side trip and visit a few of the bodegas in the emerging Toro wine region of Spain. A decade ago, there were only 10 wineries in the Toro D.O. Today there are 55. With modern winemaking techniques and farming, a new breed of winemakers is taming the wild horse. The horse in this case is the grape known as Tinto del Toro, a type of Tempranillo grape. The Toro region produces bold and robust wines rich with flavor and aroma.

The Toro wine region is 125 miles north from Madrid. We recommend two places to stay. Stay either in Toro or the much smaller town of Tordesillas. From either of these towns the bodegas we list are a relatively short distance away.

Victoria Pariente and Victoria Benavides are the owners and winemakers of Bodega Dos Victorias. The Bodega is only a 20 minute drive from the town of Tordesillas.

Tips for Visiting Bodegas on the Toro Wine Trail

Always call ahead to make an appointment, at least one day in advance, better yet two days or more. This is important for getting a guide that speaks English.

When you call, inquire if there is a fee for the tour or tasting.

Some Bodegas have stores (tiendas), which need no reservation. You can buy wine at the tienda for at, what one winery told us, is distributor price.

Lunch hours are usually 1:30 to 3:30; plan your tour so that you can have lunch either at the winery or nearby.

On Sundays the wineries are usually closed. Saturday is mixed.

If you visit one to two bodegas, that should be enough to get to know the wine region and its characteristics.

If you see an official tourist office, don't pass it up. You can usually get a plethora of information regarding wineries and the Ruta de Vino (wine route).

At harvest time, most wineries are closed to visitors. Harvest can last a week to several weeks.

On renting a car, we highly recommend, if you can afford it, renting a car with a GPS system. It will save much time and frustration by keeping you from getting lost less often.

Be sure you have a designated driver.

This information is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Call ahead or visit the winery and/or lodging Web sites for the latest information.

See Toro Wine Road Map for Location, Driving Directions,
and Contact Information: Toro Wine Map