Madrid: it’s grape harvest time
It is the only European capital with its own Designation of Origin 24 September, 2025Madrid Region has established itself as a leading figure in the wine industry with its own identity, the only European capital that gives its name to a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Officially recognised in 1990, this distinction covers wines made in four subzones (Arganda, Navalcarnero, San Martín de Valdeiglesias and El Molar) which combine tradition, heritage and unique landscapes.
Vine cultivation and wine production form a deep-rooted tradition in Madrid Region that dates back to the 13th century, although it is very likely that vineyards existed in the region long before that time.
Now, with nearly 3,000 winegrowers and 45 wineries registered in almost 9,000 hectares of vineyards, the PDO Vinos de Madrid offers differentiated quality products that have gained space in international markets. Wine tourism, promoted by the Madrid Wine Route, has strengthened the link between wine culture and visitors, offering experiences ranging from tastings and guided tours to outdoor activities and themed routes.
Winery in the Navalcarnero subzone. Source: Madrid Region.
Less than an hour from the capital, travellers can discover centenary vineyards, towns with great historical value and gastronomic proposals that highlight Madrid’s wine-growing wealth. This balance between tradition and external scope places Madrid as a top-level wine tourism destination.
The wine subzones
Arganda is the largest subzone, with 30 municipalities, 28 wineries and over half of the PDO’s vineyard surface area. Its production accounts for around 60% of the total. As well as this activity, it also stands out for its historical heritage in towns such as Aranjuez, Chinchón and Colmenar de Oreja.
Navalcarnero, located in the south, includes 19 municipalities and five wineries. Its natural environment, marked by the Regional Park of Middle Guadarrama River combines wine production with landscape and cultural resources.
San Martín de Valdeiglesias occupies the westernmost part of the region and concentrates 22% of the registered vineyards. Its proximity to the Central System gives it a mountainous relief and a high natural value. Monuments such as the Castle of Coracera and the monastery of Santa María la Real de Valdeiglesias in Pelayos de la Presa form part of its cultural offer.
El Molar is the most recent subzone, incorporated in 2019. Granite and slate soils, as well as particular altitudes and climate, give its grapes a unique character. It preserves a wine-growing legacy documented since the Middle Ages, with the Wine Caves as a testimony.
Wine tourism: a growing resource
The Madrid Wine Route, managed by Madrid Enoturismo, brings together more than a hundred associates including wineries, wine museums, restaurants, hotels and specialised shops. Less than an hour from the capital, this offer combines gastronomic, cultural and nature tourism, making it an alternative and complementary product to urban tourism.
This is because the history of the wines of Madrid cannot be understood without the people, the heritage, the traditions and the gastronomy. Visitors can choose from a variety of themed routes to discover some of the twenty or so wineries and vineyards scattered throughout the region:
- The arrival of the Roman Empire, from Alcalá de Henares to Titulcia, with two wineries along the way: Tagonius and Villabayona.
- The valley of the churches and the Cistercian legacy, from Pelayos de la Presa to Villa del Prado, with wineries to visit such as Bernabeleva, Las Moradas, Luis Saavedra and ValleYglesias.
- The Tagus River and the wines of the Order of Santiago, from Villarejo de Salvanés to Colmenar de Oreja, with the opportunity to visit the wineries of Andrés Morate, Jesús Figueroa, Jesús Díaz and Pedro García.
- The Way of Kings, from Navalcarnero to Aranjuez, passing wineries such as El Real Cortijo and Andrés Regajal.
- The chronicles of Francisco de Goya, from Vega del Jarama to Valdelaguna, with the possibility of visiting the wineries of Pablo Morate and El Señorío de Val Azul.
- The railway era, from Madrid to Pozuelo del Rey, visiting Tagonius and Vinícola de Arganda.
There is also a Cercanías Wine Route that allows you to visit up to three wineries in the same day with friends or family, combining the train journey with guided tastings.
Landscape and heritage
Each subzone offers a different landscape profile. In the south, Aranjuez stands out as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape, with historic gardens and orchards. Navalcarnero preserves countryside and meadows linked to the River Guadarrama. San Martín offers a mountainous environment with meadows and pine forests, while El Molar combines vineyards with medieval vestiges.
The municipalities included in the route have a remarkable architectural and cultural heritage, many recognised as Villas de Madrid for their authenticity and preservation of the rural environment.
Events and activities
The annual programme includes thematic fairs and conferences, such as the Colmenar de Oreja Wine Fair, the “Entre Vinos” Conference in Navalcarnero, the Villa del Prado Market Garden and Wine Fair and the Boadilla del Monte Wine Fair. These events combine tastings, show cooking and hiking routes.
The experiences proposed by the wineries include horseback rides through the vineyards, grape treading workshops, tastings under the stars or visits with birds of prey which add differential value to the tourist offer.
A sector with global reach
The modernisation of the wineries and the commitment to quality have boosted the recognition of Madrid wines on the national and international scene, which attracts a growing number of visitors to learn about their cultivation and production making them a tourist attraction to be discovered.
