Within the town of Jumilla on Avenida 29 of Murcia is one of the oldest wineries of the wine region (Denominacion de Origen Jumilla). The winery was founded in 1925 by Silvano Garcia and now the third generation is in charge. This winery understands the tourism concept completely but without losing its authenticity. Good thing: the winery is even open during the siesta. The building breathes the atmosphere of the past. When you start the tour you first pass the wine tanks where the wine rests after its fermentation. These tanks are masonry and already several decades old. Then you enter the shop where a variety of produced wines are displayed. From this shop you can have a possible glimpse into the warehouse and the bottling plant.

Shop
Anyone who visits the shop can taste a glass of the wines on request which are displayed on a special table. One get a free ‘advice’ to taste the wines from left to right (lightest to heavy ones). A wise advice, because once you have tasted the Gran Reserva or the Moscatel, the taste of the light white wine is gone. While enjoying these wines you can also see what else they sell such as olive oil, olives, cheeses, vinegars and other wine related goods and tools.

Ask for Antonio
We have had twice a tour at the bodega. The first time we were guided by Antonio. A tour with Antonio is highly recommended. He speaks pretty good English but more importantly, his day job is making the wine. He knows everything about the process and also the little-known facts he knows how to tell in an interesting way. Any questions about the wine-making process he can answer. We had the luck that time when the grape harvest was in full swing (late August to late October) and just a new charge of picked grapes was brought. Antonio had work to do, which gave us a nice impression of the work: measuring, take samples, determine quality, tasting most (really nice) and the processing of grapes to the first fermentation vessels.

Age of the wine
The tour is followed by the wine tasting. If you want this can be combined with some simple tapas. Again knowledge of wine is then explained. If you are interested they can learn you the first elementary knowledge about determine the age of wine by just looking at it. All wines which Silavano Garcia sells are put on the table and he does not look crooked if you have an extra glass of the wine you like. You get plenty of time to savor and enjoy the atmosphere in the bodega. There is one downside: the entrance to the winery is with stairs and thus no wheelchair ramp. So the winery is less suitable for disabled people. In a wheelchair you can take the back entrance, but you first have to ask for it.

Directly from the barrel
Besides bottled wines Silvano Garcia sells also directly from the barrel. This is not uncommon in Spain. These wines (especially if you bring your own bottle or tank) are very cheap. But at first taste it!

Visit
Tasting and a tour will cost between € 3, - and € 15, -.

Opening hours
Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:30 hours
Saturday from 9:00 to 14:30 hours
Sunday from 10:30 to 14:30 hours

Guided tours:
Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:00 hours
Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 hours
Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00 hours