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.
August 20, 2010
October 15, 2009
Jumilla Murcia Spain
A well known wine producing town in the northern sierras of the Murcia region of Spain, Jumilla has a population of approximately 26,000 and has survived over the centuries mostly through agriculture and wine production. The area has been significant for growing grapes, since the crop was introduced by the Romans during their occupation of the Iberian Peninsular, and it is particularly well known for its full-bodied red wines. The vineyards of Jumilla cover an area of some 30,000 hectares, producing 24 million litres of wine annually and worked by around 44 bodegas. Places of interest near to Jumilla include the rural town of Pinoso and the spa town of Fortuna, where hot spring rise to the surface and visitors can bathe in the healing waters. Jumilla Map.