ENJOY THE ROBUST RED WINES OF THE SUNNY REGION OF MURCIA THIS AUTUMN

The sunny Region of Murcia in Spain predominately produces robust red wines made from the Monastrell grape. There are three Murcian wines that are officially recognised for their fantastic quality as denominaciones de origen (DO): Jumilla, Bullas and Yecla.

This Autumn, there a number of exciting activities in Jumilla, Bullas and Yecla where visitors to the region can discover the delicious wines that are on offer.

OCTOBER – local festivals of Jumilla

In October, the acclaimed national photography contest "Drinking with Your Eyes", is held in Jumilla, celebrating pieces that capture the processes of wine making, such as its harvest and heritage. After taking in the beauty of the local artwork one place where the wine of Jumilla takes centre stage is El Zacatín de Bullas Market, where visitors can sample the great flavours.

In October, the temperature in the Region of Murcia is still glorious and, with the sun still shining it is the perfect time for visitors to enjoy outdoor wine tastings and events. The Matavendimia Jumilla P.D.O. Wine Tourism Fair, also takes place during the last week of October, which coincides with picking the first grapes of the season and is an important cultural celebration that features live music, tastings and a fairground as well as workshops for children to make it an experience for the whole family

NOVEMBER – celebrate World Wine Tourism Day

On the second Sunday of the month, 12 November, a number of activities in Jumilla, Bullas and Yecla will be held to celebrate World Wine Tourism Day and become immersed into the culture of producing these local wines.

In Bullas, the "Secret Wine Walk" will allow visitors to discover the history of wine production, starting in the Wine Museum, followed by a walk through the century-old vineyards of the Acheniche valley and a tour of the facilities of Bodegas Balcona, a family winery founded in 1998.

In Yecla, the town hosts Noche Tinta (Red Wine Night), where visitors can taste the first Monastrells of the Year and enjoy live music whilst in Yecla there is the Maratón Enoturístico (Wine Tourism Walk), a gastronomic wine tour through the wineries of the Yecla Wine Route.

In Jumilla, each weekend, restaurants will prepare a series of specially curated dishes to be accompanied by excellent P.D.O. wines. On the day, the local Wine Museum hosts an open house and tours of the town's historic centre.

For more information on wine experiences in the Region of Murcia visit here.