Do you serve Madrid wines?

Would you like a Ribera or a Rioja? This is the most common answer you’ll get if you ask for wine in most restaurants in Madrid. So, doesn’t Madrid do wine? As a matter of fact, it does.

October means autumn and autumn means grape harvest time. In some regions, harvest time comes earlier than in others and climate change is driving everyone slightly mad. But the most important thing is ensuring the best quality wine – that is what really matters.

Would you like a Ribera or a Rioja? This is probably the most common answer you’ll get if you try ordering wine in most restaurants in Madrid. So, doesn’t Madrid do wine? As a matter of fact, it does… They just don’t sell quite as well as the Ribera and Rioja designations of origin.

These two labels are years ahead of Madrid’s D.O., which means that “Vinos de Madrid” and their producers can’t afford to hang around.

The Community of Madrid has 20734.34 acres of vineyards registered under its designation of origin, farmed by 3000 wine-makers. The towns of Arganda, Navalcarnero and San Martín de Valdeiglesias are home to most of that land.

Their wine represents the tradition, culture and hard work of many families in these rural areas that have little to do with the hustle and bustle of Madrid’s core.

There are plenty of wineries surrounding the city in these three areas offering wine tasting and sampling experiences to discover all of their different brews.

In fact, local wines are so rarely ordered that a lot of them export most of their produce outside the Madrid region or even beyond Spanish borders. Perhaps the trend towards local sourcing, slow food and craftsmanship could change things, but the best way to help the process would be to specifically order Madrid wines with your meals.

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