Castilla-La Mancha, located at the very center of the Iberian Peninsula, is dominated by an extense tableland, although there are mountainous landscapes as well.

The  monumental cities and towns of great historical importance, like Toledo, the enchanting Cuenca and Albacete, but one should take as well several interesting alternative routes into consideration, among them: Ruta de los Pueblos Negros (“Route of the Black Villages”), having their name from the use of slate in their traditional architecture, the “Route of the Saffron Fields”, “Route of the Castles”, and the “Route of Don Quijote”, named after Cervante’s legendary “Man from La Mancha”. Still today you will see many of those characteristical windmills Don Quijote was fighting with in all the land.

After a well-received tour through Boston, New Orleans and Miami in January, the wineries of Castilla-La Mancha will bring their distinctive wines to Texas, Colorado, and California during the week of June 3rd. Just as local ‘celebrity’, Don Quixote, traveled through his region seeking adventure and noble experiences, guests at the Castilla-La Mancha US tastings will do the same as they discover the wines of 25 participating producers. Each of these events will offer opportunities to experience the wines, foods and traditions of this distinctive region. The events will welcome members of US wine and food trade and press.

Castilla-La Mancha is the most expansive wine-producing region in the world. It is a land of fascinating foods and cultural traditions and, naturally, a wide variety of wines. The land, composed of limestone clay and a great variety of subsoils, makes the region ideal for growing grape vines. Within the Castilla-La Mancha area, there are nine appellations of origin, eight estates with their own appellations and many ‘Geographical Indication Wines’. The region is home to more pagos than any other region of Spain. Castilla-La Mancha is also a region that is devoted to sustainable agriculture. For example, over half of Spain’s organic wines are grown in Castilla-La Mancha.

“The Wine Foundation of Castilla-La Mancha had an astounding reception on the west coast among the wine trade in the summer of 2012, so we are excited to bring our distinctive wines back to the western United States once again. There is so much for the US trade to discover about the quality and diversity of our wines and we aim to continue sharing our history and tradition through these tastings,” said Angel Prieto Director of Foreign Trade Institute of Castilla-La Mancha, which is organizing the US program.

Each event will commence with a pre-tasting exclusive to importers only followed by a seminar conducted by Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible. MacNeil will share the winemaking history of the region of Castilla-La Mancha, the technical qualities of its wines, and the sales opportunity for these wines in the US market. Each seminar will be followed by an afternoon walk-around tasting enhanced by regional foods.

The participating wineries include Vinos&Bodegas, Bodegas Arrayán, Bodega Los Alijibes, Bodegas Santa Cruz, Encomienda de Cervera, Bodegas El Progreso, Casa Gualda, Bodegas San Dionisio, Dominio de Punctum, Finca El Refugio, Bodegas Romero de Avila, Altolandón, Bogarve 1915, Bodegas Verum, Bodegas Piqueras, Bodegas Yuntero, Bodegas Olcaviana, Finca Los Alijares, Bodegas Aruspide, Dehesa El Carrascal, Bodegas Tavera, Bodegas Verdúguez, Mont Reaga, Finca La Estacada, and Bodegas Cristo de la Vega.

To register for the events please visit:

Houston, Monday, June 3rd, 2013: http://clmhouston.eventbrite.com/

Denver, Wednesday, June 5th, 2013: http://clmdenver.eventbrite.com/

Los Angeles, Thursday, June 6th, 2013: http://clmlosangeles.eventbrite.com/