Jumilla Wine Tourism : Official Murcia Region tourist site

Jumilla is somewhere you can immerse yourself in the culture, tradition and customs of a wine-growing area with deep roots. Explore its vineyards, visit its numerous wineries and find out all about wine-making, step by step. Stay in rural surroundings, enjoy the local cuisine... And, of course, take advantage of the opportunities it offers to get to know its historical, cultural and natural heritage.

Ruta del Vino de Jumilla
Oficina de Turismo Jumilla
Plaza del Rollo, 1
Teléfono: +34 968 780 237
www.rutadelvinojumilla.com
info@rutadelvinojumilla.com

JUMILLA D.O.

The D.O. Jumilla wine area has had a significant wine-producing tradition for centuries. Vines were already cultivated in this area from the romanisation of Hispania. But it was in the mid-19th Century, when a plague of phylloxera devastated large areas of Europe and, above all, France, that Jumilla's wine-growing economy took off spectacularly, with a growth in vineyards and a significant increase in must exports to the neighbouring country that would enrich the local agricultural sector.

CONSEJO REGULADOR D.O. JUMILLA -JUMILLA D.O. REGULATORY BOARD-
Address: C/ San Roque, nº 15. 30520 Jumilla
Tel: +34 968 781 761
Fax: +34 968 781 900
info@vinosdejumilla.org
www.vinosdejumilla.org

The Jumilla Designated Origin wine area is located in south-east Spain in an area characterised by extensive valleys and plains framed by mountains, a transition zone between the south-east Mediterranean seaboard and the meseta of Castilla-La Mancha, which gives rise to two large areas: the district of Jumilla, in the Region of Murcia, where the headquarters of the Regulatory Board is located, and the districts of Montealegre del Castillo, Fuenteálamo, Ontur, Hellín, Albatana and Tobarra in the Province of Albacete.

Jumilla is one of Spain's oldest Designated Origin wine areas, which has been regulated since 1966. The Oenological Station (now the Regional Agricultural Laboratory and Experimental Winery, which come under the Ministry of Agriculture and Water), has been in operation since the beginning of the 20th Century.

Currently, more than 27,400 hectares of vineyard are registered. The cretaceous soil, harsh climate (with temperatures of up to 41 degrees in summer and 5 degrees below freezing in winter) and low rainfall (an average of 300 litres per square metre a year), contribute to the development of maximum colour and flavour from the grapes.

NEW WINES

The wines being produced in Jumilla are of exquisite quality, thanks to the diversity of grape varieties that can be found in the area, with Monastrell as the queen of them all. We are talking about smooth yet full-bodied young wines. Then there are the so-called 'semi-crianzas'; which are young wines matured for no more than six months in the barrel; the crianza and reserve wines, which are amongst the finest in Spain. And sweet wines, which express the full intensity of the Monastrell grape. Jumilla is most definitely on its way up.

SEE LESS

WINE ESCAPE
Jumilla is one of the sanctuaries in Spain for lovers of good wine. Here you will be able to accommodate yourself in a rural environment, walk in the vineyards, visit its wine cellars and wine collections and get to know bit by bit the elaboration process of its wines with D.O. If we also add an alternative touch to this oenological essence, as a result we have the Música entre Vinos Festival (Music between Wines Festival), a summer event in which concerts take place within gigantic barrels, along with good wines and gastronomy from the area.

MONASTIC LIFE
Pass through the Convent of Santa Ana, situated in the heart of the mountain range ¿it is a luxury you shouldn't miss out on. Within the area stand out the old refectory, the hermitage of the orchard, the old library and a museum, where they exhibit amazing objects collected by the friars from around the world. Inside of the monastery important images for the inhabitants of Jumilla such as the Cristo Amarrado a la Columna (Christ tied to the Column) made by the Spanish sculptor Salzillo, the Cristo de la Reja (Christ of the Railing) and "Abuelica" Santa Ana (Saint Ana, The Grandmother of Christ) are kept.

A BEAUTIFUL HISTORY
Walking through the emblazoned streets of Jumilla, under magnificent balconies and iron railings is a priceless experience. We invite you to lose yourself in the old part of town and discover why the city was baptised as the beauty by the Arabs. Don't forget to visit the Churches of Santiago and El Salvador and the gardens of La Estacada and Rey Don Pedro. The Vico Theatre, which has a modern style and eclectic tradition, deserves a special mention as well. Built in the 19th century, it was devised as an "Italian" theatre. If you are observant you will notice its resemblance to the Romea Theatre in Murcia, given that the same architect, Justo Millán y Espinosa, designed both projects.

SOUNDS OF PASSION
The sound of cornets and drums, the unmistakable smell of flowers, and burnt wax all ascend through the narrow streets to create a true medieval scene. The Passion Week of Jumilla, declared of National Tourist Interest, it is known for its solemnity, a detail that doesn't diminish one bit of intensity from the Nazarene spectacle. Parades of Franciscan origin with more than four centuries of history, proclamations and the "Romería" (pilgrimage) from the Santa Ana Monastery are the most important elements of this festival. It is essential to go to the "pasos" (representations of the scenes of Christ's Passion) of Cristo Amarrado a la Columna, made by the Spanish sculptor Salzillo.

FOR ACTIVE PEOPLE
If you are an avid seeker of mountain emotions you don't have to go very far; you will find them in the areas that surround the city. In the Sierra de La Cingla and in the Sierra de La Pedrera mountain ranges, and within natural environments of great beauty, there are cave paintings declared a World Heritage Site and fossil footprints that are 7 million years old. In turn, the Sierra del Carche Regional Park, where different sports can be practiced (paragliding, climbing, caving and hill walking), is an almost compulsory visit for visitors.

TABLE AND TABLECLOTH
If you come to visit you must try the gazpacho from Jumilla, of Jewish origin and cooked on an unfermented pie base of wheat flour, game meat and mountain snails. In Winter, the "gachamiga" (flour cooked with olive oil, water, and garlic cloves) and "pelotas con carne" (meatballs of minced liver or pork, bread crumbs soaked in water, eggs, garlic and parsley) are the best ways to quickly warm up. Nor should you forget the potatoe "empanadas" (pasties made of flour, oil, water and salt, filled with fried potatoes, tuna, hardboiled egg, pepper, pine nuts and parsley), fried goats cheese with tomatoe and the sweets of all the life, such as "rollos de vino", "pirusas", "sequillos" and "cristóbalas", which are always accompanied by a good wine made in Jumilla.

JUMILLA D.O.

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JUMILLA