It's the summer high time, it is very hot and we're all looking for some freshness. OK, but let's movie away for a while from the great hits of the Spanish summer: soaking in beaches or pools and stand under in the beneficial shade of the beach bars.
We propose an alternative option, a high plan. Literally: we climb to four high points of the Spanish geography, four peaks where the lower atmospheric pressure makes the temperatures pleasantly cooler even on the hottest days. Let's prepare the footwear, cap, canteen and necessary provisions; and as special supplies for this occasion, we include in our backpack picnic glasses and a bottle of wine, conveniently wrapped in honeycomb film. The idea is simple: enjoy each panorama in an original way, a true reward to match with the magnificient views.
The expedition begins!
Height 1: Veleta in Sierra Nevada (3,396 m)
The first proposal takes us to Sierra Nevada, in Granada, the southernmost of Europe's great mountain ranges and the second in altitude of the entire continent, after the Alps. Sierra Nevada is crossed by paths and routes, and one of the most attractive is undoubtedly that of the Veleta peak. The ascent allows to enjoy spectacular views of Sierra Nevada main summits, of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as some other mountain ranges of the provinces of Granada and Jaén, which are part of protected natural areas. Along the route, we can discover exclusive botanical endemisms of Sierra Nevada such as an indigenous type of chamomile (Artemisia granatensis). At the end of the climb to the summit appears the imposing Corral del Veleta, a vertiginous cut with more than 200 meters of fall, on its north face, in which you can see a mass of fossil ice.
At Veleta we will take the wine we make in the other side of Spain, in the Galician Rias Baixas: Pazo Cilleiro Albariño. Its vibrant and marine personality will be ideal to refresh us in these southern heights and, once we get down, to pair with a delicious sardine bbq, traditional on the nearby Malaga coast.
Height 2: Peñalara (2.428 m)
One of the most emblematic hiking trails of Spain's Central System is the Peñalara circular, in the heart of the Guadarrama mountain range, on horseback between Madrid and Segovia. Peñalara is a granite mountain that has the best glacial remains in the area. Since 2013 it is integrated into the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, which guarantees the conservation of its natural environment.
Our friend Rebeca, from Travelers 3.0, has published a fantastic report (only in Spanish) of this experience. In general, the level of difficulty is affordable, although some sections (such as the famous Risco de los Claveles) have a certain complexity. It is always possible to make long detours to avoid them. In any case, the final reward is unrepeatable views and natural surroundings just one step away from the great city of Madrid.
What wine does this route suggest? We have thought of the fresh, fine and embracing Muriel Fincas de la Villa Crianza. With its juicy mouth and its memories of a very balanced oak ageing it perfectly accompanies roasted suckling pig, Segovia's "national" dish. By the way, from the roofs of Segovia we get an atonishing view to the iconic northwest face of the Peñalara massif.
Height 3: Refugio de Urriellu (1.960 m)
Managed by the region of Asturias mountain association, this hidden refuge built in the 40s is located at the foot of the mythical and vertiginous Picu Urriellu, also known as Naranjo de Bulnes. It is the ideal place to face the climbing of the Urriellu wall, and also to ascend the Torrecerredo, the summit of Picos de Europa mountain reange. If our level of mountain specialization is not so high, the refuge is also perfect for overnight and rest during any trekking route through the central massif of Picos de Europa National Park.
The environment is simply spectacular and the effort of the trek is sure to whet our appetite to try one of the most delicious and nutritious specialties of Asturias: the cachopo. It is a kind of giant stuffed meat roll. Between fillet and fillet of local veal, the filling usually has ham and cheese, although it admits many variants. We love dressing it with a cream based on the local cheese, 'Cabrales'.
The Urriellu and the cachopo stand out for their monumental strength and both Asturian 'landscapes' are perfectly suited to a deep and exciting Rioja's Viña Muriel Gran Reserva.
Height 4: San Lorenzo (2.271 m)
We finish this trip through emblematic heights of Spain in our beloved and always present peak of San Lorenzo, roof of La Rioja. It is also the second highest summit of the entire Iberian System, behind the Moncayo. Simple to climb, this route accesses to its summit through the beautiful town of Ezcaray. Once up there, if we are lucky enough to have a clear day, we can contemplate the panoramic view of the Ebro Valley as it passes through Rioja: the cereal fields and, closer to the Ebro, the entire Riojan vineyard, which is backed by the mountain ranges of Toloño and Cantabria.
Right in the middle of the wide landscape, there's the small village of Ollauri, pierced by hundreds of calaos, underground galleries where wine has been stored for centuries. One of them, the longest and most spectacular, is our winery of Conde de los Andes. And we've chosen its white wine to pair with the San Lorenzo peak and with a fantastic and succulent codfish Rioja-style. There's nothing more authentic!
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