The days are falling, indicating that there is less and less time left to celebrate FINE 2023 #WineTourismExpo #Marketplace. One of the wineries whose presence is to be noted is one of those responsible for making this event possible: Abadía Retuerta.

The company located in the Valladolid municipality of Sardón de Duero joined forces to carry out this wine tourism project, an aspect to which they give great importance in their business strategy. In addition to its importance in this fair, Abadía Retuerta is a prestigious name in the national wine world.

Restaurants are a perfect option for tasting the wines // Source: Abadía Retuerta

Tradition and the uniqueness of the land are the winery’s hallmarks

The lands of Abadía Retuerta are centuries old and have a winemaking tradition, but their turning point came only yesterday, as it were. In 1988, the Sandoz company, owner of the Abadía Retuerta estate, realised the potential of the land to “revive” the historic vineyard they owned. That same year, Ángel Anocíbar joined the company to become the director of the vineyard and winery.

The hard work carried out by the company, with the identification of different vineyard plots according to the variety planted, type of soil and other relevant characteristics to achieve an excellent product. 54 plots are the cradle of the wine that comes out with the Abadía Retuerta brand.

The care and attention taken in this specialisation can only be synonymous with the singularity of these lands that make Abadía Retuerta wines unique and inimitable. These vineyards are located in the narrowest part of the Ribera del Duero. The team focused its efforts on getting to know all the determining factors in order to be able to give the highest quality to its wines.

Green spaces are a regular feature of Abadía Retuerta // Source: Abadía Retuerta

Unique and inimitable wines

In terms of products, Abadía Retuerta has received numerous awards, which place its wines among the best in the world. The recognition of its Abadía Retuerta Selección Especial 2001, which won the Red Wine Trophy awarded by the International Wine Challenge in London in 2005, stands out. And, in particular, its 2012 vintage was ranked 12th in the classification.

Year after year, Pago and Petit Verdot wines achieve high scores in renowned publications such as Robert Parker Wine Advocate, the aforementioned Wine Spectator, Guía Peñín and Guía Gourmets. Pago Garduña 2013 was considered by Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker’s taster, as the Best Syrah in Spain.

Likewise, two years ago (2021) Abadía Retuerta was recognised as one of the 50 best vineyards in the world according to the list ‘The World’s Best Vineyards‘, occupying the 32nd position.

As the founder of FINE, he leads by example

The headline of this section announces it all. For Abadía Retuerta, wine tourism is a fundamental pillar of its business strategy. The experiences offered cover different areas for which wine tourists can visit its wineries: experiences with wine as the main protagonist, nature, wellness to achieve the desired state of relaxation, gastronomy, art, seasonal experiences or personalisation of the visit to suit each person.

The 4×4 tours will allow you to discover every detail of the land // Source: Abadía Retuerta

There are numerous experiences available to wine tourists, but we cannot write this article without stopping for a moment at the premium visit to the Retuerta Abbey, with a 4×4 ride to discover all the benefits of the land where this prestigious wine is born. Tourists can ride through the vineyards on an electric bicycle to be amazed by the lagoons, forests and trees of the area.

Another of the most striking and exotic experiences are the Tibetan singing bowls that are used to achieve a peaceful state of mind, ideal for disconnecting from daily problems. As far as gastronomy is concerned, “the secrets of the workshop” stands out, where visitors have the opportunity to become part of the kitchen team to prepare authentic delicacies.

The exclusivity of the seasonal experiences is unique and unforgettable. The star product in this category is the stellar experience.  Tourists have the opportunity to contemplate the Milky Way from a natural environment with hardly any light pollution. From the “Monks’ Garden”, in front of the Romanesque apse, through a modern telescope.

The night has its weight in “Los Jardines del Monje” // Source: Abadía Retuerta

Sustainability as part of the philosophy

Abadía Retuerta has an Environmental Management Plan for the site and its land in order to carry out this commitment to ecology. It has a Forestry Management Plan that has managed to obtain the PEFC seal (the most internationally established forestry certification system) received in 2010.

The winery’s environmental management is aimed at understanding, controlling and reducing its impact in order to achieve a sustainable activity. Waste management is essential and the company ensures that the remains are disposed of at clean points and controlled by authorised waste managers.