HISTORY AND CULTURE
ALMANSA WINE ROUTE
The Almansa Wine Route is made up of four municipalities belonging to the region of Almansa, located in the province of Albacete: Almansa, Alpera, Higueruela and Hoya-Gonzalo.
The landscape of the region of Almansa is not like the rest of the routes in Castilla-La Mancha, as it has Mediterranean touches as it is geographically located in the southeast of the region and bordering with the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia. It is, as the Denomination of Origin Almansa slogan says, “a frontier of flavours” which brings together the essence of La Mancha with nuances and influences from the Spanish Levante region.
LOCATION AND CONTACT
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THE WINE
On the Almansa Wine Route we are privileged to have a unique grape variety, with peculiar characteristics, which grows and develops wonderfully in the warmth of our continental climate and which makes our wines different: the Garnacha Tintorera. A variety that is already the hallmark of the Almansa Denomination of Origin and which, especially in recent years, has brought excellent wines that are already consumed and enjoyed all over the world.
The main peculiarity of the Garnacha Tintorera is the colour of its flesh, which is dark in colour, just like its skin. This interesting characteristic gives the wines an intensity of colour that makes them very attractive. Its dark colour, of a strong cherry red, fits perfectly with the intensity of its flavour, with notes of olive and black pepper, pure chocolate and a delicious finish of ripe red and black fruits.
For its part, the Monastrell grape variety is the second most important in our region, and with which we have also produced excellent red wines. Furthermore, our DO Almansa belongs to the “Monastrell España” Association, together with five other designations of origin in eastern Spain, with the aim of promoting and disseminating the value of the Monastrell grape. On the Almansa Wine Route we also have excellent white wines and red wines of other grape varieties that are perfectly adapted to our production area and with which wines of great quality are obtained.
You will be able to get a close look at all the peculiarities during the tour of our wineries, where you will find from small, family wineries to other wineries with larger production and innovative facilities. All of them have evolved over the years and the tour through their history will undoubtedly surprise you.
HERITAGE
Our area offers great tourist attractions. In Almansa we find the famous Almansa Castle, a fortress of Almohad origin, which in the 14th century passed to the Marquisate of Villena, who built the Gothic-style keep and defensive walls. This is not the only attraction, as Almansa has much more to visit around its historic quarter.
The Battle of Almansa, in the month of April, is also an attraction for many visitors and historians from different parts of Europe, interested in this conflict that marked the history of Spain: the War of the Spanish Succession on 25th April 1707 in Almansa. The Battle of Almansa has been declared a Fiesta of Regional Tourist Interest. In addition, the city also has the privilege of having the Museum of the Battle of Almansa, open all year round and which will serve as a reference point for all visitors to get to know in detail all the didactic and historical material of the historic 25th April 1707.
In Almansa, with one of its natural references, the Almansa reservoir, with a wide variety of activities to do, especially in the spring-summer months, we also have the Water Route of the Mills, while in the area of Higueruela, Pétrola and Corral Rubio, we can enjoy the great Lagoon Complex that attracts unsurpassed biodiversity in the area and also offers a wide range of activities to do, such as the sighting of native birds that nest in this natural enclave year after year.
In the neighbouring towns we have the Cuevas de Pinturas Rupestres in Alpera, which has become one of the reference enclaves in rock art in Spain, or the “Pocico de La Nieve” which is one of the largest snowfields in Spain and the largest in Castilla-La Mancha, was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, related to the food distribution routes from the east to the interior of the peninsula.
For its part, Higueruela has archaeological sites that have recently been discovered following archaeological excavations at the Alquería de La Graja. All this has allowed us to have in our land the discovery of the first rural mosque in Castilla-La Mancha. The Salobralejo lagoon and the Sierra de Higueruela, located at an altitude of over 1000 metres, are ideal for enjoying a weekend of disconnection and tranquillity in the warmth of the Garnacha Tintorera vineyards.
Hoya Gonzalo also has the archaeological sites of the Iberian Necropolis of Los Villares, which can become a perfect journey into the past to learn a little more about the history of our region.
GASTRONOMY
On the other hand, the gastronomy is, without a doubt, another of the most representative points of the Almansa Wine Route. All our towns have a spectacular and traditional gastronomy, with the famous “Gazpachos Manchegos” (a unique recipe of the area) or rice with chicken and snails standing out. We have restaurants in Almansa, Alpera and Higueruela that are renowned for their Mediterranean dishes, grilled and roasted, avant-garde food that annually attracts visitors from all over the world. All of this is made with fresh, high quality products that will undoubtedly surprise you.
Not forgetting the shops on the route where you can buy your selection of wines from our wineries and other typical products of the area.
Twelve restaurants in the region are registered in this Almansa Wine Route to delight you and make you enjoy the cuisine of Almansa and its surroundings, with the essence of Castilian-La Mancha and Levantine cuisine. A spectacular experience for your senses, especially if you accompany it with a wine from our DO Almansa!
ACTIVITIES
The Almansa Wine Route has a wide range of wine tourism activities that you can book through its website, from packages with views of the different wineries, high quality gastronomic activities, you can also get to know its enormous heritage and history, as well as group activities with activities in a unique natural environment, it also has various accommodation options according to the needs of each visitor. You can choose the packages or create your own experience that best suits your interests.
Any time of the year is a good time to visit the Almansa Wine Route, as each season has a special charm to discover, feel and live this experience with all five senses.
In the municipalities of the region, throughout the year you can enjoy its programme of cultural activities, and in May the different municipalities of the Route celebrate their patron saint festivals with various regional and popular events that invite the visitor to get closer to the culture of their villages. Also, in the municipality of Almansa, due to its Levantine influence, it has some unique festivals with different “Moors and Christians” parades, embassies in its impressive castle and amazing performances, its festivities have been declared of International Tourist Interest. In addition to another important activity, the Battle of Almansa is celebrated around the 25th of April in commemoration of the battle that was fought in its fields and that marked the course of history in 1707.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Almansa Wine Route is located in the southeast of Castilla La Mancha, bordering the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia. This route is perfectly communicated by its roads and motorways, the main one being the A-31 which links Madrid with Albacete and Alicante, from where the direct access roads to the different municipalities (Alpera, Higueruela and Hoya Gonzalo) leave.
As far as train transport is concerned, it is a very good option for getting to our territory, as we have many railway connections.
In addition, the Almansa Wine Route has excellent air communications, as the Alicante-El Altet airport is 1 hour away (less than 100 km from Almansa), as well as the Valencia-Manises airport, which is just over 1 hour away (115 km).
CONTACT:
Telephone: 967 340 258
Email: info@rutavinoalmansa.com
Website: https://rutavinoalmansa.com/en/
Adress: Avd. Carlos III, 4 – Almansa, albacete
