What are the wines like?
The most widely grown grape, up to about 70% of vines, is the Mencia variety. The wines stand out for their response to ageing and characteristic velvety mouthfeel. The whites are clean and bright with a straw colour, soft tones and vibrant acidity. In turn, the rosé is lively, light, smooth, fruity and aromatic. Both young and old wines can be enjoyed on the trail, with and without barrel ageing.They offer a wide variety of fine wines, to meet the needs of any menu. The white wine is made from the authorised Godello and Doña Blanca grape varieties, complemented by different percentages of Palomino and Malvasía. And the rosé is made using at least 50% Mencía grapes. These are fresh, bright wines, with light colours and harmonious flavours.
A glass of wine
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Ruta del Vino del Bierzo
What I can find
UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Las Médulas, a land shaped by mining in the Roman era.
Spots on Saint James’ Way where you can enjoy trips to vineyards and great wines to accompany tasty meals. The area is known for its locally-grown products such as Reineta apples, conference pears and El Bierzo peppers. A local sausage, botillo del Bierzo, is particularly well-known with many festivals (botilladas) based around it.
A full diary of popular food festivals throughout the year.
Amazingly beautiful natural areas such as the Sil Valley, the Aquilianos Hills or Sierra de los Ancares, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Hiking trails to enjoy the open air, such as ‘La Mirada Circular’ (the Circular view).
The National Energy Museum in Ponferrada
ENE National Energy Museum
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ENE Museo Nacional de Energía
How to get here
It is very easy to reach El Bierzo by road via the A-6 motorway, which connects directly with Madrid and Galicia. There are also train connections with Barcelona, Madrid, Leon, Irún and the main cities in Galicia. The airport in the provincial capital, Leon, has daily flights to Madrid and Barcelona. For international connections, we recommend the airport in Santiago de Compostela, located less than 250 kilometres from the El Bierzo region.The vineyards and wineries on the route are located in what is known as the El Bierzo region, located in the north of the province of Leon (Castile and Leon). Some of the most important towns are Ponferrada, Villafranca del Bierzo, Cacabelos, Carucedo, Carracedelo and Pieros. The world of wine is ever-present in all of them, and you can enjoy visits to wineries, sampling in restaurants, wine tastings and other wine-related activities.
Vines
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Ruta del Vino del Bierzo - Bierzoenoturismo
