Stay overnight at the Bodega García Hidalgo in Ronda, just a day’s travel away from Málaga. This winery lies in a valley that runs snug against a river, perfect for growing wild and fertile grapevines. The tour of the wine cellar here boasts two famous local and artisanal wines, which should be enjoyed with a table full of bread and tapas. If you feel a little sleepy after imbibing, the accommodation within the winery is lovely and reasonably priced.
The view from this vineyard, 600m (1,969ft) above sea level, is a must-see, as the sunset over the mountains is stunning, particularly when you’re a little merry from the local wine. Take a guided tour through the vineyard, which is accompanied by a full wine tasting. It’s just under 1.5hr inland from Málaga by car, near the town of Montilla.
In the centre of the Ribera del Guadalhorce valley is a scenic bodega, which specialises in barrel ageing and makes uncustomarily dry white wine for the region. The town nearby is typically whitewashed and scattered with orange trees, which the vineyard experiments with, creating strawberry, lemon and orange wines. Make sure to sample all of the unusual flavours available on your visit, and buy a few bottles of your favourite. If you would like to use public transport, this vineyard is a cheap, hour-long bus ride from Málaga.
Make your way to the village of Moclinejo, another one of the pueblos blancos, with unforgettable views of the bay of Málaga. Only 11km (7mi) from the nearby Rincón de Victoria, this area favours a more traditional way of making wine, hand-picking grapes and transporting them via donkeys. Viñedos Verticales is a vineyard owned by two friends, Juan Muñoz (a third-generation winemaker) and Vicente Inat (a well-known oenologist). This traditional vineyard only produces a few wines from its fields, but it definitely proves the moniker “quality over quantity” – all are of the highest quality. Moclinejo is a cheap bus ride from Málaga and under an hour away.
This vineyard is closer to Ronda than Málaga, but the trip is worth it. Finca Descalzos Viejos is in an old monastery on one of Ronda’s cliffs. The rooms to store the wine are as much of a treat as the cabernet sauvignon, aged in oak for 12 months and absolutely delicious. To get to Ronda, take the fast train from Málaga, and in 2.5hr, you will be in paradise.
Near Ronda, this vineyard is close to the sea and makes delicious red and white wines. The tempranillo and syrah produced at Cortijo Los Aguilares are both aged in an oak barrel for 15 months, which is slightly more daring than others in the region, but very effective, as the resulting wines are famous across the area. A train to Ronda and then a 10-minute taxi will get you to Cortijo Los Aguilares in under 3hr.