Wine and conversation flow on a slow tour of the natural vineyards in Spains Castilla y Leon.
James Jackman
The air was thick with the smell of yeast and morning dew.
Wine isnt as glamorous as people think, said de la Vina, who leads the tours himself.
From left: Pouring an organic red at Daniel Ramos winery; breaking bread at the winery’s tasting room.Credit:James Jackman
Wine is about history and people.
Considering that the wines were made with Tempranillo grapes, they tasted surprisingly light and refreshing.
Calvos affection for the native grape, and the town, is evident.
From left: Paella at Bodegas Bigardo; the hillside farms around Bodegas Coruña del Conde.James Jackman
Im in love with Toro, he said as he savored his own creation.
There were more feasts to be had.
For lunch, we headed to a small cinder-block warehouse in the town of Tiemplo.
A family-style lunch with Daniel Ramos (center).James Jackman
And its exactly how a Spanish meal should be.
I was sitting in a plastic chair in a warehouse, surrounded by pallets and barrels.
My boots were dusty from trudging through vineyards.
Hiking near the town of El Tiemblo.James Jackman
Seven-day trips withSelections de la Vinafrom $4,700, all-inclusive.
James Jackman.Álvaro de la Viña (left), who led the author’s tour, at MicroBio Wines, and Ismael Gozalo, the winery’s owner.
From left: Drinking wine from a porrón; touring the cellar at MicroBio Wines.James Jackman
From left: Exploring Coruña del Conde; a tasting at Coruña del Conde.James Jackman
The vineyard at Bodegas Bigardo.James Jackman
From left: Jugs of wine at Bodegas Coruña del Conde; the narrow streets of Coruña del Conde.James Jackman