The route of the wineries and wines of the Serranía de Ronda includes the municipalities of Ronda and Arriate, a wine-growing area of great diversity. Integrated in the Denomination of Origin Sierras de Málaga, it is located in the most northwestern area of the province of Málaga, embraced by the Natural Parks of Grazalema, Sierra de las Nieves and Los Alcornocales.
There are several archaeological and documentary testimonies that affirm the long tradition of the Serrania de Ronda as a land of vines and wines, the most significant of which is found in the nearby archaeological site of the Iberian-Roman city of Acinipo (47-44 B.C.).
The Ronda wine route includes 16 wineries that can be visited, as well as being surrounded by three natural parks: the Sierra de Grazalema, the Sierra de las Nieves and the Alcornocales Park, the first two declared by UNESCO “Biosphere Reserve” and about twenty other protected natural areas.
The epicenter of the route is in the ancient city of Ronda, declared of cultural interest since 1966 and possessing a rich and diverse historical heritage such as its Arab baths, the new bridge over the Tagus or the bullring, which combine extraordinarily with the landscape of the vineyard.
Much of the uniqueness of the wines of Ronda is due to its particular location at the southernmost latitude of the Mediterranean arc. The geological diversity of the soils, together with the altitude and climatic characteristics make up a biodiverse scenario that develops red, white and rosé wines that are characterized by their great display of aromas and great personality. The wines of the Serrania de Ronda are made with the white varieties of chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, riesling and with the red varieties tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, pinor noir, among others.
Among the wineries open to the public and worth a visit we can highlight the winery Old BarefootThe winery is located in a former convent of the Trinitarian order of the sixteenth century, renovated and converted into the central building of the winery; Los Frutales wineryspecialized in organic wine, or Kieninger Wineryfounded by Austrian architect Martin Kieninger in 1998, who started the project by bringing 4,000 vines from Austria of the Blaufraenkisch and Zweigel varieties.
In addition, the Ronda mountain range has a rich gastronomic heritage that ranges from traditional and simple recipes to the most exquisite signature cuisine. In this sense, it is worth mentioning the production of Iberian pork sausages, the elaboration of artisan cheeses with the indigenous breeds Payoya and Merina Grazalemeña, or the extra virgin olive oils. A visit to the Mesón el Sacristán and taste its delicious grilled meats, or go for tapas at the Bar El conventoboth in the town of Ronda.
All this, together with a natural environment, which undoubtedly, is a beautiful feast for the senses. In every corner of the Serranía it is possible to find adventure and tranquility, and activities for all ages and physical conditions such as hiking, caving, cycling, which join the wine tourism activities such as a walk through the vineyards, tasting courses, wine therapy treatments, concerts and classical or jazz music in the wineries themselves.
