Almansa Wine Route was visited by a group of journalists from leading national media, who were throughout the weekend visiting the main tourist attractions, gastronomic and wine that our route has in the municipalities of Almansa, Alpera and Higueruela.
The group, which arrived on Friday in Higueruela from Madrid, was integrated by José María de Pablo, from National Geographic magazine, who also collaborates with other media such as Visit Navarra (Navarra Tourism). We also have Pepa García, travel journalist and coordinator of Etherea Magazines, the first Spanish women’s travel magazine. César Justel is a journalist for ABC Viajes (ABC newspaper) and descubrir.com, while Óscar Checa is from Acevin – Rutas del Vino de España and collaborates with Radio Nacional de España (RNE).
First, we visited the Salobralejo Lagoon, one of the largest in the province and from where we were able to see some of the birds that nest there. Afterwards, we went to the Los Ángeles restaurant in Higueruela, where we were able to taste some typical local dishes, paired with DO Almansa wines made from 100% Garnacha Tintorera. Adolfo Cano, president of Almansa Wine Route, he valued this important visit “because thanks to Rutas del Vino de España has been able to have in our region important journalists of reference as far as wine tourism is concerned, which means greater visibility and scope to demonstrate the great potential wine tourism has to offer. Almansa Wine Route”.
In the afternoon, after lunch, we visited the Alquería Andalusí de la Granja in Higueruela, where we learned firsthand the details of the recently discovered archaeological sites after archaeological excavations of the Alquería de La Granja, where the first rural mosque in the country has been tested and certified. Castilla-La Mancha.
To complete the day in Higueruelawe moved to Cano Winery to see first hand, by the winery team, the renovated facilities of this winery with more than 100 years of history, along with the details of the elaboration of its wines that have the quality seal of DO Almansa. In the evening, and after arriving in Almansa, the group of journalists were able to enjoy the quality of the gastronomy of the restaurant Taberna Ramona and then stayed and spent the night in the lodgings of the Torre del Reloj.
Saturday day in Almansa
Saturday morning was already dawning in Almansa, began with a visit to the historical center of Almansa on Saturday morning, starting with the Almansa City Council, by the Museum of the Battle of Almansa and ending with a visit to one of the major landmarks on our route: the Almansa Castle. The visit to the town hall was received by the mayoress of Almansa, Pilar Callado and by the Councilman of Tourism, Javier Boj. For its part, the group had the privilege and the experience of having Herminio Gómez as the person in charge and guide of the guided tour to the museum of the Battle of Almansa and the Castle of Almansa.
After the visit to the city center, the group went to the facilities of Bodegas Piqueras to learn the secrets of this winery, which is part of our route and has more than 100 years of history. In addition, the best selection of wines from the winery could be tasted before going to lunch at La Ventica Restaurant, another of the gastronomic enclaves of reference of our Almansa Wine Route.
In the afternoon, the group went to the Almansa Reservoir for a tour guided by the Activa Idea team, a company that is a member of our Almansa Wine Route. We were able to learn some details of the new Agua Viva project and how the whole area of the Almansa reservoir has been transformed in recent years.
After the visit, the group of journalists traveled to the Bodegas Matamangos, inthe Finca Santa Rosa, to learn firsthand the details of the elaboration of its wines with the seal of DO Almansa and the estate, which is one of the wine tourism references in the region of Almansa, is an enclave with its 18th century mansion. Almansa.
To end the day on Saturday with the whole group, we were able to taste a sample of the menu of El Rincón de Pedro’s restaurant.
Finish the visit with the touristic and historical charm of Alpera.
Alpera was the place chosen to finish with the route and the visit of the journalists during the day on Sunday. First, we visited the cave paintings of the Cueva de la Vieja, one of the prehistoric sanctuaries not only of reference in the province of Albacete, but also nationally. In addition, the team of Tourism of the City Council of Alpera also guided us in the visit, also approaching us to know another of the historical points of which the locality can boast: the Pozo de las Nieves.
The day in Alpera ended with a guided visit by Carlos Arnedo to Bodega Santa Cruz de Alpera, where the journalists tasted the wines of the winery, visited the facilities and visited the vineyards of Garnacha Tintorera located in the outskirts of the town. We ended Sunday and the whole weekend’s visit with a lunch tasting the grilled meat from the El Cazador Restaurant, the best way to end the complete visit in which the group of journalists was able to know, feel and enjoy all the essence of Almansa Wine Route.
