The Caliphal city is a true treasure for its visitors. Luxury takes many forms and hides in places where, sometimes, we least expect it.
We find luxury in the scent of Córdoba’s streets, in the sound of the breeze passing through the flowerpots in its courtyards, or in the taste of Córdoba wine. And that is what we are going to discover today, all the secrets of Córdoba wine and how you can fully enjoy this gift from the city.
However, if you want to feel the absolute luxury of your experience in Córdoba, there is nothing like hiring a luxury car at Málaga Airport to reach this wonderful ancient city. Enjoy the destination, but also the journey.
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Wine tasting in Córdoba
Next, we will analyze all the elements that make a Córdoba wine tasting such a special experience today. In addition, you will have all the information to decide which type of Córdoba wine tasting best suits you and your preferences.
What is a wine tasting?
From a formal point of view, wine tastings are carried out by professional tasters who assign a score, or value, to the different aspects of wine in its various phases.
The three phases of a wine tasting are visual, olfactory, and gustatory. Each phase has its own characteristics, which are observed and scored during the tasting. Aspects such as density, clarity, color, intensity, complexity, or balance are measurable and essential when evaluating wine.
There are also tastings for customers, or those known as tourist tastings. In these, no score is given since the wines are already widely known and evaluated. The goal is to teach people who are not initiated in this art to be able to distinguish certain nuances and basic characteristics that give that particular wine its unique flavor.
The duration of a tasting may vary depending on its purpose and even on the wine or type of wine being tasted. The average time for a wine tasting is between one and two hours.
Montilla-Moriles wine tasting in Córdoba
This annual event has rightfully become one of the most important events in the province. The Montilla-Moriles wine tasting of Córdoba originates in La Campiña, the southern area of the province of Córdoba.
It is considered the central event of the annual promotion by the Regulatory Council of the Montilla-Moriles PDO and Montilla-Moriles Vinegar. The wine, the tapas in Córdoba, and the music create a unique and special atmosphere; only by experiencing it will you understand why it has been held for more than thirty-five years.
This year the venue is located on Avenida del Alcázar with 15 wineries and 5 restaurants participating. Although entry to the venue is free, to take part in the tasting you must purchase a ticket with a bracelet or card. This guarantees you can sample wines from the different stands and receive a commemorative wine glass from the event.
The tasting usually lasts a week, and although the initial pack includes five tastings, you can always recharge your card, at the price of two euros per tasting.
The best wines of Córdoba
To understand which are the best wines of Córdoba, we must first be aware of what it really means to be considered a native wine of Córdoba.
Córdoba wines are those that are produced exclusively in the province of Córdoba. The grapes must have grown in its lands and been worked in the region. The most common grape varieties in Córdoba are Pedro Ximénez, Moscatel, Garnacha, and Tempranillo, ideal to accompany traditional dishes such as salmorejo cordobés.
The best wines originating from Córdoba are Montilla-Moriles, mainly from Pedro Ximénez grapes, Fino en Rama (a fino wine unfiltered), Palo Cortado (a very personal and unique wine), Vino de Tinaja (a traditional wine aged in clay jars), and Vino Naranja (a sweet Pedro Ximénez grape wine with orange peel).
Montilla-Moriles Fino wine from Córdoba
One of the great names in the world of wine, in fact the biggest name among Córdoba wines, is the Montilla-Moriles Fino wine from Córdoba. Its different types include Amontillado, Oloroso, Fino, Pedro Ximénez, Cream, Blanco Joven, and organic varieties.
The Montilla-Moriles Fino wine from Córdoba undergoes a maturation known as biological aging. This process makes the wine finer on the palate, lighter, with less body but richer in aroma. The grape used for its production is Pedro Ximénez.
It is considered a bright and clean wine, with a color range from straw yellow to old gold. Although dry on the palate with light saline notes, it is elegant and delicate on the nose.
Its perfect pairing is with fish and seafood. Since it also pairs well with ham, Iberian products, and nuts, it is often found in appetizers and starters.
El Caballo Cordobés wine
Being 100% Montilla-Moriles, it includes a variety of Córdoba wines that delight any wine enthusiast. Starting with Fino, which rests in American oak barrels for a period of no less than 28 months.
Its pairing is perfect with Iberian products, ham, cheeses, fish, and seafood, with saline notes and a light, fresh body.
Next is the Pedro Ximénez wine, made from the grape of the same name. One of its secrets is the high concentration of sugars obtained thanks to sun-drying.
Its name is already synonymous with quality, and the way the must is obtained, combined with its 28 to 30 months in American oak casks, gives it that unique and characteristic flavor. It is perfect with pastries, sweets, chocolates, and even on its own very chilled as dessert wine.
The Sauvignon comes from the Sauvignon Blanc variety, meaning it is a young white wine without aging. This means it does not rest in barrels. Fresh and elegant, it pairs perfectly with fish, seafood, and rice dishes.
Best wine bars in Córdoba
Bar La Copita de Vino
We continue talking about and discovering Córdoba’s gems, and this place is one of those corners that one longs to discover. Everything about this bar captivates you.
We start with the location: between Avenida de las Ollerías and the Santa Marina neighborhood, very close to the historic wall. The treatment by its staff is another of the great reasons why, since its opening in 1993, it has been a popular and beloved place among the people of Córdoba.
It is a true temple of Spanish homemade food and excellent Córdoba wine. From breakfasts to rice dishes made to order, everything pairs with the fantastic wines they offer. Although the best pairing for a Córdoba wine is its wonderful terrace.
Casa Pedro Ximénez
In the city center and with a name that already says it all, Casa Pedro Ximénez is one of those magical spots where you can enjoy the place, the moment, the company, and the Córdoba wine.
In the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Córdoba, you can enjoy the best traditional cuisine accompanied by one of the widest ranges of Córdoba wines in the province.
The menu has been designed with all diners in mind, offering dishes ranging from vegan to gluten- and lactose-free, without sacrificing flavor, high-quality ingredients, and lovingly prepared recipes.
Map of where to taste the best wine in Córdoba
Let us help you in your search for the best Córdoba wine. On the following map we have marked all those places you cannot miss if you want to make the most of Córdoba and its wonderful wine.
