A 3-day tour with a focus upon the wine & cuisine of Castile La Mancha and Utiel-Requena
Thursday 29th September – Saturday 1st October 2022
La Mancha is the biggest wine producing area in Spain whilst Utiel-Requena, on the boundary with the Castile-La Mancha region, has been producing exceptional wines for over 2,500 years.
I T I N E R A R Y
DAY 1 Thursday 29th September: Jávea/Bodega Las Virtudes (144 km)/Villarrobledo (199 km)
08.45 hrs: Departure from Golden Star Apartments, Arenal.
09.00 hrs: 2nd departure from Interiors, Javea port. A 3rd pick up at Mas y Mas on the N332 if required. Refreshment break enroute.
12.00 hrs: Visit to the Bodega Las Virtudes: guided tour of the winery, tasting of 3 wines and 2 oils, accompanied with wood-fired bread and cold meats from Villena.
Plus a tasting of Fondillón and traditional pastries. Fondillón is a fortified wine of high quality and recognised internationally as a luxury wine by the European Union Commission, together with Sherry, Port or Champagne. This wine is made solely with vintages of exceptional quality, from overripe grapes from old vineyards with low yields. Made exclusively with the native Monastrell grape variety from vineyards located in the Vinalopó Valley.
14.15 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Villarrobledo.
Villarrobledo is better known for having the world’s largest area covered by vineyards (more than 30,000 hectares, approximately 48,000,000 of vines) as well as the world’s greatest production of La Mancha wine, called in Spanish Denominación de Origen. Also, it is an important centre of Manchego cheese production and export and has other important industries such as metallurgy and transportation.
16.30 hrs: Check in to the 3* Hotel Juan Carlos 1 (2 nights, breakfast included).
The hotel has a classic medieval style and is located in the heart of the town, in the Plaza de Ramón y Cajal in front of the Church of San Blás and next to the Villarrobledo Town Hall. As the coach cannot drop off by the hotel, there will be a short walk with the luggage to reception.
19.30 hrs: Dinner is included for the first night in the nearby Hotel Ideal (50 metres’ distance) and the continental breakfast each morning will also be taken in this hotel.
DAY 2 Friday 30th September: Villarrobledo / Pago de la Jaraba estate (12 km)
Breakfast
09.30 hrs: Travel by coach to the nearby Pago de La Jaraba, a unique place with a fascinating history that dates back to the Paleolithic era and that today is the result of the dream and perseverance of an entire family with an agricultural and livestock vocation.
10.00 hrs: We will have a guided visit in English (approx. 2 hours) which includes:
- Reception at the winery
- Vineyard Tour
- Visit to the Manchego windmill
- Olive Tour
- Visit to the Manchega sheep livestock
- Visit to the Cheese Factory
- Visit to the Almazara (oil press)
- Visit to the Winery
- Tasting of products (wine, cheese and oil)
12.30 hrs: Re-board our coach and travel to the Bodega Artenesal Las Calzadas (40 kms).
13.30 hrs: Bodega Artenesal Las Calzadas is a family winery located in a village of just 300 inhabitants, working to recover its glorious wine past; recovering old clay jars from wineries from the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century under the brand name TINÁCULA (from the Latin “small jar”) with vineyards which are over 80 years old and ecological.
But Las Calzadas is not just TINÁCULA wine, it also has a restaurant with local cuisine, local products and its own garden.
13.30 hrs – 14.00 hrs: Short winery visit followed by lunch on the terrace (weather permitting):
Starter: ham and Manchego cheese, home grown tomato salad and ajoarriero.
Main: Barbecue meat (chorizo, chuletillas, etc).
Postre: Home-made dessert.
Drinks.
16.30 hrs approx: Return to hotel; free evening.
DAY 3 Saturday 1st October: Villarrobledo / Requena (150 km) / Torrent (71 km) / Jávea (109 km)
Breakfast
08.45 hrs: Check out and load luggage on to the coach.
09.00 hrs: Departure for Requena.
11.00 hrs: Arrival at the Bodega Sierra Norte, Requena, and guided visit (in English) the “Calderon Experience”; to finish the visit to the winery, there will bea tasting of 4 wines paired with local sausages and chocolate (approx. 1.5 hours). Followed by time to visit the shop.
13.00 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Torrent.
14.30 hrs: Lunch at the Restaurante El Romeral, a family restaurant with 3 generations of Valencian gastronomic tradition, located in the middle of nature.
M E N U
Primero
Mousse de pato con mermelada de tomate y Ensalada (1 plato cada 4 personas)
Segundo
Paella Valenciana de Pollo y Conejo
Arroz de Senyoret
Paella de Verduras
Arroz Caldoso de Pollo y Conejo
Arroz Negro
Postre
Tulipa de Chocolate con Helado de vainilla
Café o Infusión
BodegaVino Tinto, Vino Blanco, Agua, Refrescos, Cerveza
17.00 hrs: Re-board our coach for the return journey to Jávea; comfort stop en route.
18.45 hrs: Approx. arrival time in Jávea.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Travel by coach.
2 nights b&b accommodation at the 3* Hotel Juan Carlos I
Dinner first evening at the Hotel Ideal.
Guided tour Bodega Las Virtudes with tastings.
Guided tour of Pago De La Jaraba with tastings
Guided tour of Las Calzadas winery; lunch with drinks included.
Guided tour and tasting at the Bodega Sierra Norte – “Calderon Experience”.
Lunch at Restaurante El Romeral with drinks included.
Gratuities.
Group travel insurance.
PRICE
Per person sharing twin/double room: €275
Per person, sole occupancy: €295
We regret that this tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
BOOKING IS OPEN NOW
Via email to Angela & Tony: spanish.culture.cuisine@u3ajavea.com
IMPORTANT Please include your full name, NIE number and date of birth with your booking as this information is required for the group travel insurance policy which has to be taken out immediately. Payment in full will be required on confirmation of your place on the tour – please use the reference code LA MANCHA along with your name/s for the bank transfer.
DISCLAIMER: A travel insurance policy will be taken out which includes everyone in the group. The Jávea U3A is not liable in any respect for any loss or injury that may be suffered by members whilst participating in the Association’s activities.
CANCELLATION: In case of cancellation of your booking, refund of deposit/other payments can only be made if your place is sold on to another member/s of the Javea U3A.
Group Leaders: Angela (655350007) & Tony (636900402)
spanish.culture.cuisine@u3ajavea.com
