Spain has a rich wine culture. Wine flows on every table throughout the country and there are so many varieties to choose from. I want to let you know about a fruitful region just 1.5 hours drive north of Madrid. Ribera Del Duero is an authentic winery haven. These sun lush hills produce a grape intense in flavour that gives rise to a variety of deep and heady wines. Bodega Lopez Cristobal http://www.lopezcristobal.com/LopezCristobal_en is nestled in the picturesque village of Roa de Duero. Its owner Galo López Cristobal is keen to give his visitors an intimate insight into the workings behind an operational winery that distributes wine all over the world. I can recommend the Crianza, bottled in 2008, but why not decide for yourself which is your favorite? In the tranquility of the winery garden you will taste and sample a selection of the very finest wines on offer whilst chatting over a light tapas with Galo. As he explained to me, whenever wine is involved it’s a social occasion, it lets you see the world in a different color. Whether it be at home or out with friends and family wine brings us together and it is this element that has made him such a fan as well as a real expert in the subject. This experience is not only for wine buffs, it would suit anyone looking to get a sense of Spanish life and culture. A great opportunity to get out of the city and visit the beautifully, green, open spaces of the Spanish countryside whilst learning about a rural occupation spanning thousands of years, a bedrock for Spanish economy and customs.