Uncover Madrid through Tapas and Wine

What’s considered an excellent night out in Madrid? Definitely the presence of divine wine, exquisite tapas and a stroll through Madrid’s historical center! With the lethal combination of these three factors, you can’t go wrong with a tapas and wine walking tour through the historical center of Madrid.

At Walks of Spain, a qualified wine-tasting guide will guide you through the old streets of Madrid, introducing you to the representative dishes and drinks of the country. From acorn-fed jamón Ibérico to classic paella and Spanish cava, you’ll be sampling the best in Spanish gastronomy through the guidance of an expert. Three restaurants of world-class standards are on the itinerary, so are specially-chosen combinations of locally produced drinks and culinary delights. Madrid is reputed for its authentic taverns and original tapas bars, dishing out quintessential dishes from all over the country, so only expect the crème de la crème in these top notch restaurants.

Where?

The walk is focused on the district of el Madrid de los Austrias in the old quarters of Madrid. Extending from the city’s main square Puerta del Sol, the walk brings you through Plaza Mayor and Calle Arenal, all the way to the popular tapas enclave of La Latina. Along the way, the guide will be giving you brief explanations of how Madrid’s history and gastronomy intertwine. The restaurants are all situated in this quarter, and you’ll get to sample exquisite wine and tapas at each of the venues.

What’s Included?

Unlike standard wine-tasting walking tours, this particular one organized by Walks of Spain is specifically catered to those with refine taste and knowledge in wine and gastronomy. Only top-notch wine are on offer in this walking tour; these quality wine are rarely available in average bars and can only be tasted in selected bars.

The tour’s first stop is a historical tavern in La Latina. Here, you’ll be served traditional tavern wine Valdepeñas, extremely popular in the region. Vermouth, an aromatized wine flavored with herbs and spices, is served on tap and often drank as an aperitif to open up your apetite. Along with the drinks, a selection of Manchego Cheese, Spain’s most popular cheese, will be dished out.

At the second stop, you’ll be sampling the legendary acorn-fed jamón Ibérico: the holy grail of Spanish cured ham. Along with the ham, you’ll be sipping Manzanilla at its purest form – the only bar in Madrid that serves it without any treatment.

Finally, at our last stop for the night, also the highlight, you’ll tuck into huge bowls of mussels soaked in a pepper broth and thick layers of paella alongside a 7-year-old cava. The setting is gorgeous: out on the patio of an atmospheric seafood restaurant.

Price?

The tour is priced at 59euros per person, and includes all the food and wine ordered by the guide at all three of the restaurants. No other costs are involved. The tour lasts around 3 hours and each group has a maximum number of 8 people. Reservations have to be made in advance online.

Details of Walks of Spain:

Website: http://www.walksofspain.com/

Email: info@walksofspain.com

Meeting point: Plaza de la Villa (map)

Photo credit: Author’s own Nellie Huang.