Tastes of time

We arrived at our Hotel La Caminera, an elegant and exclusive 5 Star Country Club surrounded by nature, where time stands still in a unique setting. The idyllic place to rest and unwind after each route.

Continuing towards Almagro for our first lunch and the visit of its mythical Plaza Mayor and its theater Corra de Comedias in XVII century style. The first lunch of typical Campo de Calatrava cuisine awaits us.

Our first visit takes us to a Cheese Factory awarded by numerous national and international prizes, which has been producing cheeses in an artisan way for more than 200 years. Manchego cheese is a pressed cheese made from sheep's milk of Manchega breed.

We make a cheese tasting with different stages of curing that reveal their secrets in a masterful way. Once you know his secrets, ¡cheese tastes different!

We glide along the secondary roads, between one village and another to discover the noble Villanueva de los Infantes. Somewhere in La Mancha, in a place whose name Cervantes did not care to remember, one of the declared "Pueblos Bonitos de España" with more than 600 years of history. A walk through its main square, its stately courtyards and its history marked by the Order of Santiago.

We then visited the convent where Francisco de Quevedo died and entered his tiny cell where we noticed his presence in an unexplainable way.

The products of the land accompany us in a gastronomic experience offered by Michelin-starred chef José Antonio Expósito, who delights us with his tasting menu and pairing called Memories and Memory.

The next day we set off to a winery steeped in 3 centuries of history, which, due to its unique terroir, offers wines that are as special as difficult to find. They show us a gorgeous property located in an area of volcanoes with vineyards and olive trees. Enjoying a tasting of their best wines and oils, paired with a delicious appetizer, while the final hours of the afternoon bid us farewell. We are in paradise!

We visit an old winery and enter 10 meters underground to experience hand carved caves, unearthed treasures and centenary barrels resting the course of time. We will enjoy a fun wine tasting of the best wines of La Mancha in the best possible framework.

After the tasting a feast awaits us in the shape of lunch. Prepared in a unique enclave. We enjoy authentic and traditional dishes, paired with local wines, surrounded by 500 arrobas mud giants.

We continue our adventure sailing through a sea of olive trees, strolling through the largest Olive region in the world with more than 60 million olive trees.

The doors of an olive mill where they have been producing olive oil for 400 years are opened to us. We walk through the olive trees, tasting different varieties of oils and learning about the virtues of the Liquid Gold Made in Spain.

Each enclave is more stunning. Will they stop surprising us? Lunch is in a Hermitage rebuilt on the ruins of a sanctuary of the fifteenth century. Thanks to technology and through a QR code we can see virtually how the Hermitage used to be and the great remodeling work of its owners.

The menu consists of a selection of classic Andalusian dishes, each one marinated with a different EVOO. The EVOO as the absolute protagonist.

Dinner will be served at the Comendador de la Villa, a century-old inn converted into a famous restaurant.Its architecture and traditional decoration added to its balconies maintains the charm of the stately homes with magnificent views of the central square of Valdepeñas.

The next day it was time to take a break during the day to use and enjoy the facilities and the surroundings of our hotel. We enjoy the Spa, a day of golf, a refreshing swim in the pool and a walk through our private estate of 1.400 Hectares.

To end the day we have prepared a menu to suit the occasion. Miguel Ángel awaits us at Retama, with his tasting menu and wine pairing awarded with a Michelin Star 2022. By now we are completely in love with everything this region of Spain has to offer. A true homage to the land of La Mancha with an indescribable quality of its dishes.

We enter the lands of giants, home of windmills and knights-errant. Stop in Consuegra, where we discover the stories of its X century castle and its Mills.

We visit Laura, fourth generation producer of Organic Saffron where she tells us about the history and the brotherhood that generates our great Red Gold, the Manchego Saffron. Saffron probably came to us with the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, although it was the Arabs who were mainly responsible for its spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula. However, it has adapted in a very particular way to the soil conditions, climate and sustainable human intervention of La Mancha, and is, like Don Quixote, an intrinsic part of its identity and culture.

The climatic conditions of the saffron production area of La Mancha mean that the flowers appear between the second half of October and the first half of November.

Our route comes to an end.

Somewhere in La Mancha whose name I will never forget.

The return is ready to board the high speed train to Barcelona, but now as expert ambassadors of the land of La Mancha.