Our final full day took us to the historic region of Toro and the wonderful Bodega Piedra. We first visited this estate in 2024 and I was keen to go back.
Gonzalo Sanz is the general manager and he engaged us for almost three hours with a scintillating and in depth insight into the estate, the philosophy and how they have become a leading producer in Toro – all in 25 years.
Starting off in the vineyard, we tasted grapes, saw the particularly sandy soils and ruminated on different leaf shapes. Into the winery and an extensive barrel and tank tasting commenced. September is the perfect time to visit as the grapes are pressed, wines are fermenting and we could taste from the tank at different stages of completion. This was absolutely fascinating and Gonzalo conveyed so much information with both passion and clarity
From the cellar, we headed into the restaurant for what was meant to be a light lunch…..but as ever in Spain, all sorts of appetizers came out followed by a perfectly cooked piece of cod and a crema Catalan dessert.
A terrific visit.
The day was not yet over. Dinner was still to come and we duly headed over to Villa Paramesa – an iconic restaurant in Valladolid. Having had a rather big lunch, I chose a selection of sharing platters which were utterly sublime. Octopus, perfectly cooked beef, grilled vegetables, various salads, a selection of desserts – it was ideal. All washed down with a delicious Verdejo and magnums of Ribera del Duero.
Top evening top tour!
