Give your holiday in Spain a special flavour with a visit to the south-eastern coast, where the Axarquía and Murcia wine regions harbour some of the country's most delicious sweet wines. Covering the stretch of land between the mountains of Granada and the Mediterranean Costa del Sol, this area is the source of some of Spain's most delectable Moscatel, Romé Blanca and Romé Tinta wines.
Start your visit in Málaga and work your way along the coast, embarking on a special wine route that takes you through idyllic villages and exceptional vineyards. Best of all, top-notch Paradores' luxury and historic hotels are to be found all along the way, ensuring that your trip will be equal parts sumptuous and delectable!
Málaga's secret treasure
Start your route off at Parador Málaga Gibralfaro, which offers breath-taking views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea. Here you can sample the many different Axarquía wines which became famous during the 18th century and are made with grapes cultivated on the mountainside, which results in remarkably sweet wines with floral bouquets.
Enjoy fine wine with views of the city at Parador Málaga Gibralfaro
Axarquía wines tend to either have high alcoholic content (between 15 to 22%), or to be naturally sweet wines made with overripe grapes. Their colours range from a deep yellow to nearly black hues, while the taste can be very sweet or very dry.
Picturesque towns like Sayalonga, Algarrobo, Cómpeta and Frigiliana boast numerous wineries where you can sample these wines at your leisure, and enjoy traditional mountain cuisine.
Sample the best of Murcian wines from Parador Mojácar
Exploring Murcia
Further up the coast, one leaves the Axarquía region behind to venture into Murcia, where the wines -which range from after-dinner sweet wines to bubbly variations- stand out due to the variety of grapes used in their production. Murcia has been a wine-producing region since Roman times, with the Bullas, Jumilla and Yecla denominations earning international praise in recent years.
Use coastal Parador Mojácar, with its great seaside access, or modern Parador Lorca, built upon the ruins of an ancient castle, as your base to explore the region as you sample the area's robust inland reds (ranging from Tempranillos to Cabernet Sauvignon and even Syrahs) and great whites, largely made with Macabeo, Airen and Merseguera grapes. Wineries in Bullas, Jumilla and Yecla offer tasting tours that allow you to sample the denominations' full range.
Parador Lorca's terrace is ideal for tasting delicious wines
Ready to enjoy some of Spain's most delicious wine and Mediterranean breezes? Contact Paradores to arrange your coastal wine tour today!
