Exploring Castilla y León with the Emilio Moro Family
We recently took a group from Camino on a trip through Castilla y León to explore the wines of the Emilio Moro family — and it was a great few days getting to know the region and this historic producer up close.
We started out in DO Bierzo, visiting their impressive new winery. Emilio Moro is quickly becoming a major force in Godello – they’re farming some of the most prized vineyards in the coveted Valle del Silencio. This area is appreciated for its microclimate as it’s at the crossroads of Atlantic and continental climates, leaning more toward the Atlantic side. This brings more humidity, rainfall, and cooler conditions — particularly beneficial for white varieties like Godello, which retain better structure and minerality under these conditions.
We tasted through their white wines over lunch at La Casa del Botillo in Ponferrada, paired with the region’s signature dish: botillo – pork intestine stuffed with all kinds of meaty goodness. A wild and delicious intro to Bierzo.
Our base for the trip was Valladolid, a city full of life and summer energy. The first evening, we had dinner at Flamma in the city centre, where chef Gemma García put together a genius, jaw-dropping menu — almond gazpacho, pork “bikini” sandwiches, flame-grilled skewers, and a rich, almost molten chocolate cheesecake to finish.
On the final day, we travelled east to Ribera del Duero to visit the original home of Bodegas Emilio Moro. The family has been rooted in the very heart of the region in the village of Pesquera for over a century, and they’ve played a key role in shaping the region’s modern wine identity. Emilio started bottling under the DO back in 1989 with just 5 hectares of vines. As the winery grew, they expanded using clonal selections from their oldest plots of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo). Today, their single vineyards — Valderramiro (1924) and Sanchomartin (1944) — continue to form the backbone of their top wines. We enjoyed a picturesque picnic in Sanchomartin, at a 900m altitude, overlooking the rest of the family’s estate. It was the perfect send-off.
A big thanks to Bodegas Emilio Moro for hosting us, and to the Camino team for joining the adventure.
Salud – until the next one!