Wine in Bierzo Alto, Bierzo

Bodegas Dominio de Tares ★ 4.7

Founded at San Román de Bembibre in 2000 and one of the projects that reframed Bierzo, fermenting both reds and whites with indigenous yeasts since the 2007 vintage.

Tasting: Cellar visits on weekdays, 09:00 to 18:00, by arrangement on the winery telephone or email.

Signature wines: Baltos, Cepas Viejas Mencía, Bembibre, P3, Cepas Viejas Godello, El Paisano de Tares

Almázcara Majara ★ 4.4

Three-partner project at Almázcara in the eastern Bierzo whose name joins the initials of Manuel Benito, Javier Álvarez and Raúl García, built on small Mencía lots.

Signature wines: Almázcara Majara, Cobija del Pobre Godello, Aphrodisiaque Mencía, Amphora de Cobija del Pobre, Aphrodisiaque Rosé

Bodegas Dominio de Tares ★ 4.5

The Bierzo Alto cellar at San Román de Bembibre takes visitors by appointment through a winery built for long-ageing Mencía from the eastern slopes.

Pago de los Abuelos ★ 4.4

Nacho Álvarez farms old mountain parcels of Godello and Mencía at the south-western edge of the DO, twenty minutes from Las Médulas, and opens them to booked visits.

Festival de Vino Vignerons ★ 4.4

A one-day growers' fair held in the vineyard at Puente de Domingo Flórez, twenty minutes from Las Médulas, with small producers pouring and selling direct and commented tastings.

Tip: EUR 10 covers entry, the tasting glass, the tastings with the growers and parking. Tickets are sold on the gate on the day.

Festival Nacional de Exaltación del Botillo ★ 4.4

Running since 1972 and declared a Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional, Bembibre's botillo gala fills a hall for a ticketed dinner and dance, with a Feria Agroalimentaria alongside.

Tip: The gala date follows the carnival calendar, so it moves with Easter. Tickets are sold through the ayuntamiento's dedicated festival site once the edition is announced.

Valdecontina Viñedos y Bodega ★ 4.2

A Boeza-valley estate at Albares de la Ribera working named parcels since 1913, back inside DO Bierzo only since the 2019 revision of the Pliego.

Tip: This is the far eastern edge of the DO, half an hour from Ponferrada. Pair it with Dominio de Tares to see the Bierzo Alto in a morning.