Trip Report May 2026
Costa Blanca Wine Society Wine Trip
DO Vinos de Madrid – May 2026
(Further images can be found on our gallery page by clicking here)
34 Members joined the four-day Wine Trip to DO Madrid centred on the beautiful town of Aranjuez on the banks of the river Tajo. Our hotel was the NH Coleccion Palacio de Aranjuez with stunning views of the Royal Palace.
Situated to the south of the Madrid Province it is divided into three sub-zones and we visited the largest zone: Arganda. The 2025 harvest in the area was slightly lower than usual but has been described as having “exceptional quality”. It is an area of small towns and family-owned bodegas with a rich history of wine making. Nearly all their production is destined for the Capital and its province.
Day 1 – Bodega El Regajal
A unique winery located within a Nature Reserve, with panoramic views over the town of Aranjuez. All their wines are made using grapes from their own vineyards. A family project that began in 1998 with the planting of the first vineyard and now extends to 14 hectares of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah varieties.
The El Regajal estate is also a unique butterfly reserve and Daniel the owner has ensured that the entomological research activities are compatible with the high-quality winemaking project that has grown in stature since its inception.
As an introduction to the Bodega we were presented with a tasting of a Syrah wine, direct from the barrel, which was harvested last year and which will be used for blending with other varieties.
The wines we tasted were:
El Regajal 2024 – Tempranillo/ Cabernet Sauvignon/ Syrah/Petit Verdot/Merlot. 11 months in French Oak barrels €15.00
Retamas 2021 – A selection of grapes. 12 months in barrel €7.00
Galia Villages 2020 – Tempanillo/Garnacha/Albillo This is a Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon as it is produced in a different área €15.00
Our welcome dinner was held at Restaurante Matilde with beautiful views over the river Tajo and a short walk from the Hotel.
Day 2
Bodegas y Viñedos Pedro Garcia
Founded in 1931, the bodega is located in the historic centre of Colmenar de Oreja, a small town recently declared a Historic-Artistic Site by the Community of Madrid. We were welcomed and entertained by the third generation owner, Francisco.
Three generations have left their mark on both the vineyards and the winery, always adapting the most modern technology to the most traditional winemaking methods. Aware that only the best grapes produce the most exquisite wine, the bodega owns and cultivates more than 50 hectares of vineyards in the municipality.
We were shown through the old winery and were surprised by the amazing caves which were part of a network of caves in this town. During the Civil War they were used by the population to take shelter and communicate with neighbours.
The wines we tasted were:
Pedro Garcia Seleccion Especial Limitado –10% Sauvignon Blanc/ 90% Malvar– a unique white grape only found in the DO of Vinos de Madrid €6
La Romera Roble 2024 – Tempranillo/Merlot/Syrah. 8 mths in French Oak barrels €6
Esencias de La Romera 2022 – Cabernet Sauvignon €18
We also tasted a sparkling wine which they produce on a limited basis
Bodegas Jesús Diaz y Hijos
Antonio Diaz welcomed us to the bodega and gave us fascinating tour of the winery.
The Bodega is very proud to be part of the history of the Madrid Wines DO, having been the first to bottle their wines in 1985, under this certification of quality. They have been producing some of the finest wines in Madrid for over 100 years and they are still produced in the traditional way, in large clay amphorae and reinforced concrete tanks, respecting the legacy of the ancestors. One of the oldest wineries in Colmenar de Oreja they are located on the site of a former Franciscan convent and proudly display the magnificent centuries-old cellars where the wines ages. More than 100 years have passed since their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents have forged and sustained this beautiful family tradition.
We learned that the huge clay pots for storing the wine (tinajas) used to be produced in this village and at that time supplied many bodegas throughout Spain.
Jesus Diaz Blanco 2025 – 100% Malvar €5.00
Jesus Diaz Tinto Joven – €5.00
Jesus Diaz Rosado – €8.00
Convento San Bernadino, Tinto Roble €8.00
The tasting was followed by a delicious lunch in the old bodega accompanied by their wines.
Day 3
Bodega del Nero
A short walk from the bus brought us to this bodega located in a narrow street in the centre of the town of Chinchón. The owner, Roberto Del Nero, provided us with an entertaining presentation of the history of the bodega and of wine-making in the area.
The vineyards comprise 40 hectares of their own land.
Grown without irrigation in the Tajuña river valley, the vines that make up their vineyards boast some of the oldest in the Community of Madrid, giving a limited production but unbeatable quality. The vineyards are worked by hand, using a cultivation method that respects the land, to obtain wines that are truly faithful to their terroir. Clay tinajas are also a sign of their identity and have been used throughout their history, a material which allows an exchange of oxygen through the pores of the clay as well as maintaining a consistent temperature giving slow maturing, favouring the fruit and aromas of the wine.
The wines we tasted were:
Neri Blanco 2024 100% Airen €3.90
Trapisondero Crianza 2024 4 mths in oak. Tempranillo/ Graciano 10% €5.90
Valdelaceda Limited Edition Crianza 2022. Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) €10.00
Zolocho 2025 Airen Roble €5.70
Trajin 2022 Tinto Fino. Limited Production 1,000 bottles €14.90
They also offered in their shop many other local products for us to buy. We finished the visit with a short walk to the central plaza of Chinchón with its famous bullring where everyone enjoyed a tapas lunch.
The afternoon was free for everyone to relax and visit the Royal Palace of Aranjuez just a few steps away from the Hotel. The evening concluded with an excellent dinner in the nearby restaurant El Tomate.
Day 4
Bodega El Jeromín
This family winery, the largest that we visited, has been dedicated to crafting quality wine for more than 60 years bringing creativity and imagination into its wine making but never forgetting that it is the land that holds the secret. Their quality has been awarded and recognized worldwide. They produce 1,5 million bottles annually.
We were hosted by Manuel Martinez third generation family member. We started the tasting with a rosado which was a new innovation designed to meet the increased trend towards low alcohol wines. This rosado had only 7.5º alcoholic content. We were then asked to take our wine glasses to where the stainless steel tanks were located. To everyone’s surprise we were invited to serve ourselves with a glass of Malvar wine direct from the tank.
We were also shown over 70 large concrete storage tanks which had been used over the years to age the wines and are still in use. Before returning to the tasting room we were shown the barrel room which consisted of over 800 barrels comprising French, American and other European oak barrels.
The wines we tasted were:
Dulce Maria Rosado Tempranillo/Malvar €3.95
Grego 2020 6 mths in oak 60% Tempranillo/40% Syrah €6.65
Felix Martinez Reserva 2020 Tempranillo/Syrah €15.75
Manu 2024, 44% Syrah/20% Tempranillo/Garnacha/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon €20
Everyone enjoyed the Trip to this interesting DO where there are some excellent innovations taking place as well as bodegas steeped in a rich history and family tradition,.
Further images can be found on our gallery page by clicking here
Report prepared by Tim Fawle with images from Allan Moore