Madrid wine tours
Private Top wine tours from Madrid - Since 2010
Our Madrid wine tours run as private tours. They have been certified by winetourismspain due to their excellent quality. For many years we have been working with excellent local wine producers that share our passion for wine country. We cultivate relationships with our partner wineries. Our tours, like their fine wines, reflect terroir and personality.
Escape the bustling city of Madrid and immerse yourself in wine culture near Spain´s capital. Our carefully curated Madrid private wine tours take you to family-owned wineries where you will enjoy an intimate atmosphere. Beautiful vineyards, excellent wines and expert guides ensure you will enjoy an authentic and exclusive experience. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a curious traveler, our Madrid wine tours are tailored to suit your taste and interests.”
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Wine in Madrid: palaces and taverns
As the heart of Spain and the capital of its kingdom, Madrid has been intricately woven into the fabric of Spanish wine culture for centuries. Historically, the city’s close ties to the monarchy and nobility meant that wine was more commonly found in the lavish halls of the royal court than in the vineyards surrounding the city. Just as in the grand courts of Europe, wine became a symbol of status and celebration at royal banquets, flowing generously at the tables of kings, noble families, and foreign dignitaries. Yet, Madrid’s relationship with wine was not confined to the royal court.
The rise of Madrid as a bustling hub of commerce and culture brought wine to the streets and taverns of the city, making it an integral part of everyday life. One can easily imagine the lively atmosphere of 17th and 18th-century Madrid, where countless taverns, inns, and modest wine bars lined the narrow, cobblestone streets. Here, wine—often of humble quality—was served generously and continuously to the city’s residents, merchants, and travelers alike. These establishments became places of social exchange and festivity, where the common folk and travelers found solace in hearty pours of local wines, creating a lively and sometimes raucous urban culture.
In literature, authors such as Arturo Pérez-Reverte have vividly captured the essence of this wine-consuming city. Through his evocative descriptions of Madrid during the Enlightenment in the 18th century, Pérez-Reverte breathes life into the vibrant streets and taverns of the city. His novels serve as a window into a Madrid where wine was consumed in abundance, filling the cups of both high society and the common man. In the backdrop of the era’s intellectual awakening, wine remained a constant companion, linking tradition with the changing currents of culture.
By the 18th century, wine was no longer just an elite indulgence; it was a defining feature of everyday life in Madrid. The city’s taverns—places of conversation, camaraderie, and occasionally spirited debate—helped shape the character of Madrid as a place where wine was an essential part of both social gatherings and the identity of the capital. Whether in the form of refined offerings at courtly banquets or simple wines served to travelers and locals, wine became the lifeblood of Madrid’s thriving urban culture.
Today, the legacy of that wine culture endures, as modern-day Madrid continues to be a city where wine is celebrated—from high-end restaurants to traditional taverns that have withstood the test of time
Madrid wine region
Madrid does indeed have a fine selection of local wines produced at wineries located not too far out of the city. And in case you were wondering, Madrid does in-fact have its own Designation of Origin (D.O) since 1990. But where are all the vineyards located? There are 3 sub-zones around the D.O Madrid: San Martin, Navalcarnero and Arganda. There are roughly 42 wineries near Madrid that can be reached easily by public transport, however only half of them belong to the D.O. It is the Arganda zone, located south-east of Madrid that has the greatest wine production rate and Navalcarnero, situated south-west of the city that has the least. Each sub-zone specializes in different types of wines, using different grape varieties that are permitted by the regulatory council. Despite producing some fantastic wines that are indescribably satisfying to drink, one can say that the D.O Madrid isn´t as well-known as it should be (even to some locals). Just like many wine regions around Spain, as Ribera del Duero for instance, there is a good mix of traditional and modern wineries near Madrid which makes visiting them exciting.
Back in 1914 vines in Madrid were badly affected by Phylloxera which made growers change their methods – especially the types of grapes being used. Foreign grape varieties were introduced and are still being used in the wineries near Madrid today. Wine production in Madrid was also affected in the 1970s due to the financial crisis which caused consumption to fall drastically, however gradually picked up during the formation of the D.O. As of today, consumption of table wines in Spain is dropping, yet increasing for expensive, good-quality wines.
Madrid gastronomy
We could start off by talking about Madrid´s most famous dish: Cocido. If you are a strew-lover, you will definitely find this dish delightful. It consists of chickpea, carrots, potatoes, turnips, cabbage, pork belly, chicken, chorizo, Morcilla (Blood sausage meat mixed with rice) and even jamon (cured ham). As you can see, this plate is a mixture of everything important in Spanish gastronomy, thus making it exemplary of our country´s cuisine. Typically, you are served a noodle soup before starting with the Cocido as a main course. It is believed that Cocido was created in the Middle Ages, originally Kosher (without pork) as it was a common Jewish dish eaten during Shabbat. Due to growing anti-Semitism in the 16th century, Cocido evolved and other meats like pork and chorizo became a part of this dish. Want to know something else interesting about this dish? All the ingredients have to be served individually on the plate and not mixed all together as shown in the picture below. Similar to La Mancha, the town of Chinchón (located 50km from Madrid) is renowned for its garlics and also its anise! Naturally, as we are in Spain, you will find other traditional food in Madrid restaurants such as tortilla (potato omelette), Patatas bravas and Paella (Valencia´s speciality).
Madrid weather
Madrid´s climate is Continental which means: dry summers & cold winters. The warmest months of the year are June, July and August with maximum temperatures reaching 33 °C. On the other hand, the coldest months in Madrid are December & January with temperatures potentially dropping just below 0 °C (in the night) with Snowfall occurring occasionally. The average annual rainfall in Madrid is approximately 440mm with November being the rainiest month. But don´t let this discourage you – there is still a lot of sun during the winter, making Madrid a fantastic place to visit all year round. The months with the most pleasant weather (where it´s not too cold or hot) are May, June, September and even October.