Steve's World Blog Information and articles on cities, towns and villages around the world.

Located in the Ciudad Real province in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, the city of Valdepenas is best known for its wine industry which has taken place since the times of the ancient Iberians. Its 47 vineyards produce some 50 million litres of wine each year, both for local consumption and for export. Valdepenas itself has little to commend it being a mostly modern city though you might want to visit the Iglesia de la Asunción if you are especially interested in churches. A good reason to visit is however to visit the local Bodegas (especially on the road to Madrid) to taste some of the famous wines and also learn a little of how the wines are produced, if you are a wine fanatic then you should visit during September when the wine festival is in full swing. One of the larger cities of the Castilla-La Mancha region, Valdepenas has a population of around 32,000 and a municipal area of 487 square kilometres. Nearby towns and villages include Moral de Calatrava, Santa Cruz de Mudela, Villanueva de los Infantes and Manzanares. Castilla-La Mancha Map.