What to see on the Monterrei Wine Route
In this post we propose a serie of activities to spend a weekend tourinf the Monterrei Wine Route
The perfect gateway in the Verín-Monterrei region
Southeast of the province of Ourense and very close to the border with Portugal is the region withe the youngest Denomination of Origin of all Galician wines. The Monterrei enological route runs through the Verín region, where the variety of habitats and a Mediterranean microclimate in the valley translate into an important landscape richness.
In this post we want to bring you an experience where, in addition to enjoying its delicious wines, you will fall in love with a land of ancestral carnivals, rich in architecture and great natural beauty. Next, we propose a series of activities on the Monterrei route to spend an unforgettable weekend.
Monterrei´s medieval past
Considered the largest acropolis in the community and the place where the first Galician incunabula was printed, a missal preserved in the Diocesan Archive of the Cathedral of Ourense, the Castle of Monterrei is an excellent starting point on our route.
At the foot of the castle, we will ascend walking up the hill, so that we can contemplate the wall and the buildings, built between the 12th and 17th centuries, and walking through the streets we will move to the medieval past of Monterrei.
After accessing to Torre da Homenaxe, an impressive 22-meter high stone building, we will contemplate a large part of the Támega river basin, a valley dotted with vineyards, orchards and different villages. We will also admire the Torre de las Damas, perfectly located in the Pazo dos Condes.
Strolling through Verín
A more relaxed walk through the center of Verín will be the perfect plan to end the day. Known for hosting one of the most traditional carnivals in Galicia, this town has several points of interest, such as the Santa María la Mayor Parish Church, or the mineral-medicinal water springs of Cabreiroá, Fontenova, Sousas, Caldeliñas and Fonte do Sapo.
It´s worth highlighting the Iglesia de la Merced next to its convent, whose cloister houses a museum with the history and heritage of the region; Without forgetting the Casa del Escudo or the Casa de los Acevedo, which in its day hosted a well-known meeting between Felipe El Hermoso and Cardinal Cisneros.
We will put the finishing touch to the day with a dinner accompanied by the Monterrei Denomination of Origin wines with a plate of octopus á feira or cod.
Cave presses in Oímbra
When talking about winemaking tradition in the vicinity of Monterrei, it´s essential to refer to the municipality of Oímbra, the Galician municipality that has the oldest documented cave presses, structures carved in stone related to the most primitive ways of making wine. came.
Carrying out this route on the second day will be the perfect way to see how the vine growers of long time made their wines among the vineyards and not in the wineries, as is the case today. On our tour we will discover the Adega As Barrocas and Xan Preto winery, which has a recreation of a wooden press in the winery itself.
Those of Oímbra aren´t the only cave presses that we will find in the region, and it´s that we shouldn´t ignore the presence of these structures in other municipalities of the area such as Verín (next to the San Antón chapel), Monterrei or Vilardevós, among others.
Nature in its purest form in Vilardevós
If there is something that characterizes Verín region, it is its beautiful nature. Proof of this is the municipality of Vilardevós, where continuing our hiking route we will enter the heart of the Serra das Penas Libres.
In this same municipality, already on the border with Portugal, we can discover the Fervenza da Cidadella, which with a fall of 30 meters is one of the treasures that Vilardevós keeps. Walking its walkways and viewpoints we can enjoy a unique enclave.
The taste of chestnuts
The Monterrei wine route is shaped by a unique landscape in which we can also discover the centenary chestnut trees of the municipality of Riós. It is not surprising that the so-called European Chestnut Route crosses the municipality, a tourist proposal that aims to publicize the various aspects related to the chestnut in the area.
The beuty of the O Invernadeiro Natural Park
The icing on our getaway top of our getaway through the lands of the D.O. Monterrei will know the Natural Park of O Invernadeiro. To do this, we will go to Campobecerros, in the municipality of Castrelo do Val, which is the gateway to this spectacular natural setting.
Golden eagles and hawks fly over the area, while the ground is the domain of the wolf, wild boar, ermine or marten. Without forgetting also the presence of roe deer and deer. There are six possible guided routes, and to travel them it is necessary to request in advance the access permit at the Servizo de Conservación da Natureza de Ourense.
