There are many things that can be enjoyed when touring the French Way wineries. In them you can breathe a sweet air, because of the vineyards, and it is possible organize wine tastings. So visiting the wineries and discovering new grape vines is among the activities to do on the Camino de Santiago.
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The importance of wine on the Camino de Santiago
Pilgrims and monks left different grape vines, coming from different parts, in wine-producing regions of the Camino. That started from the XNUMXth century. Therefore, it is possible to state that wine is closely related to the Camino from Santiago. This can be seen in the great variety of vineyards and wineries on the Camino Frances.
Likewise, it is perceived by the interesting varieties of grapes that are found during the tour. It is even seen in the legends of Jacobean routes and the traditional festivals held in the many villages along the Camino.
In the following lines, as one of the agencies of the Camino de Santiago most reputable, we are going to explain the relationship between wine and this route.
The wines of the French Camino de Santiago
All the French Way wineries make this Jacobean route stand out on the Camino de Santiago. The climate in these territories changes a lot, which allows vineyards to have very different characteristics.
Thanks to that, in the Camino de Santiago from Sarria there is a great wealth of varied wines. However, it is a minimal part with the amount of wines and denominations of origin that you can find in more eastern regions.
Aragon
There are many who start the French Way in Roncesvalles or St. Jean Pied de Port. Nevertheless, certain pilgrims use the Somport variant in order to pass the Pyrenees. In this way, they meet at the Queen’s Bridge
This route advances in the middle of the Aspe Valley and the Aragón Valley. What allows visitors to taste Aragonese wine in the different wineries of the French Way. This wine is known with origin Somontano, which means “at the foot of the mountain”.
That speaks about the great position that the vineyards located between the Pyrenees and the Ebro River Valley have. Mostly, the quality of Somontano wines depends on the level of geographic richness existing in the cultivation area.
For this reason, this variety has the PDO or Protected Designation of Origin among Spanish wines. According to the available documents, that wine region It is among the oldest in Spain. Well, it is said that for the year number 500 BC there were vineyards in that Aragonese region.
People who wish to discover the wineries on the Camino Frances, starting with the first stages, will end up in Navarra. In ancient times, these lands were especially known by the rosé wines. However, they currently have a wide variety of wines that have denominations of origin.
There is a portion of the Camino de Santiago that It is included among the 4 existing wine routes in the community. This is the one that crosses that region, the one that is deep in Tierra Estella (a sub-region)
In stage 7 of this famous French route there is a fountain of wine: Irache Winery. It is one of the most popular fountains on the Camino de Santiago, and it has become a tradition to visit it.
The Rioja
The existing wine in La Rioja has ranked among the most important in Spain and in the world. So people who are true wine lovers have surely heard of Rioja at some point. Stage 8 of the Camino Frances starts from Los Arcos, leaving the Navarrese lands.
Afterwards, it enters La Rioja and ends the entire tour in Logroño. In the next 3 stages, and even in this one, you have the chance to see landscapes surrounded by Rioja vineyards.
However, not all the wines that are cataloged with that denomination of origin are grown in La Rioja. They are also present in regions of Castilla – León, Navarro and the Basque Country. Therefore, there will be no shortage of opportunities to make a toast with Riojan wine in the wineries of the Camino Frances.
Castilla y Leon
The Camino de los Vinos continues through Castilla y León. There, Rioja wine is giving way to wines with designation of origin of Ribera del Duero. The vineyards with this DO reach the banks of the Duero, bathing the life of Burgos, Valladolid, Segovia and Soria.
The phases of the French Way that pass through the Castilla y León community are 16 in total. Stage number 12 starts from Belorado and stage 27 ends in Galicia (O Cebreiro). Regardless of which of these stages a stop is made, you can taste the exquisite wines of Castilla.
Ribera del Duero wines are mostly red. They were granted the designation of origin in 1982. From then on, the number of reputable wineries continued to grow. Today, this Spanish wine region has great international prestige.
Wineries of the French Way
There are several wineries on the Camino Frances that offer high-quality wine and receive visits from many tourists. Some of these are:
irache
There is a stop that is considered essential, before leaving Navarra, for those who love wine tasting. It is about Tierra Estella, where there is a Source of Wine from Bodegas Irache.
This every day is filled with about 100 liters of young wine which can satisfy walkers.
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Other of the best wineries on the Camino Frances are the Otazu; for its wine, its history and its art. These elements coexist about 10 km from Pamplona. In fact, it is a treasure for walkers who are interested in wine and museums.
Well, contemporary collections, as well as modern, they are located in an ancient renaissance palace. There, both a church and a medieval tower share the landscape with some sculptures signed by artists such as Manolo Valdés.
Property of Arinzano
La Property of Arinzano It deserves to be on the list of wineries on the Camino Frances. This winery, which has a reputation for making wine for approximately 1.000 years, contains wines and stories. Almost as old as the Camino, this winery has been adapted to the XNUMXst century with a design by the architect Rafael Moneo.
