If there is one thing we are truly proud of at Bodega del Abad, it is the location of our vineyards. It is amazing to think that the pilgrims who pass by our old Mencía and Godello vines every day have been coming along this very same route for centuries. It is remarkable, if you stop to reflect for a moment, how today’s pilgrims with backpacks, anoraks and trekking boots emulate the wayfarers of old, who would trudge from the farthest corners of Europe on the way to Santiago de Compostela, almost barefoot or perhaps in sandals, with a cape, staff and gourd.
Best of all is that this sequence is absolutely real. So when our distributors and customers visit Bodega del Abad and our vineyards, they are struck by this happy convergence of past and present that the history of El Bierzo offers us every day.
At Bodega del Abad we often imagine that some of these German, French, Korean, American or British pilgrims who pass by our vines every day may one day uncork a bottle of Abad Dom Bueno, San Salvador or Tesín de la Campana, perhaps without knowing that it was made from grapes grown on the very vines that formed the backdrop to their pilgrimage.
The Pilgrims’ Way of St James—the medieval Camino de Santiago, one of the major pilgrimages of Christendom—has a quality that permeates the regions it traverses. And at the winery we often wonder whether our international reach and our drive to export our wines may have something to do with the fact that our region has been trodden by millions of pilgrims from all over the world.
The photos included with this post, and the location of our vineyards right on the pilgrim route, illustrate what we have been saying here.
Moreover, one part of our vineyards crossed by the Way of St James is the Los Almendros estate, which offers the most striking views of El Bierzo, with Mount Aquiana as a backdrop. This stunning panorama often appears on social networks in the countless photos taken by pilgrims—although, beyond seeing snapshots on a screen, we believe the most advisable thing is to come and see it in person.
What better complement to a visit to the vineyards of El Bierzo—something special in itself—than the history of the Way of St James? In our blog we have already described the various wine-tourism experiences available at Bodega del Abad, so now it is over to you. Simply choose a tour and call us on 987562417. We will be expecting you!