Discover the authentic wine culture of Rueda

Mid-morning we arrive at our first ecological winery in the province of Valladolid, and explore the tranquil countryside estate with its 15th century chapel, medieval dovecot and monastery buildings where Christopher Columbus lodged to write his memoirs, touring the wine-making facilities and old barrel-ageing warehouse before enjoying a tutored tasting of three aged red wines accompanied by artisan cheese and ham in the old pilgrim's lodge.

We continue to the wine village of Rueda, seat of the appellation of Spain's wonderful white verdejo wines, for a three-course traditional Castilian lunch of wood-fire barbecued and roasted meats and accompaniments (with fish and vegetarian options available) paired with wine from the vines of the delightful surrounding vineyards.

After coffee, we take a walk among the nearby vines, learning about the lifecycle of the grape and the characteristics of this ancient wine region en route to the 18th century mansion house of our second winery, where we visit the winemaking facilities, learn the rudiments of the winemaking process and then descend to the underground wine tunnels to see how innovative modern techniques are fused to traditional methods to produce wines of outstanding character, and then return to the mansion house to conclude with a tutored tasting of three biodynamic white and rosado wines of excellence paired with local cured cheese.