The Cata del Vino Montilla-Moriles is five days in April when the avenue beside the Alcázar turns into a wine fair dedicated entirely to the wines Córdoba actually drinks. More than 15 bodegas line up their vintages: fino (dry and light, the base of the famous rebujito cocktail), amontillado (an amber wine invented in this region in the 18th century), oloroso with its balsamic character, and the celebrated Pedro Ximénez, a sweet nectar made from sun-dried grapes.
What makes these wines different
Unlike the sherries of Jerez, these wines are not artificially fortified — the region's hot, dry climate naturally pushes them to 14–16% alcohol. The vineyards of Montilla-Moriles (just 45 km south of Córdoba) grow on white limestone soils that produce grapes of exceptional ripeness. The fair has built up to 85,000 annual visitors, which gives you a sense of how seriously this appellation is taken locally.
The five wine styles to know
Fino: dry and light, almond and yeast notes, the most everyday style. Amontillado: amber, dry and persistent, invented right here in the 18th century. Oloroso: mahogany colour, fully oxidative ageing, balsamic notes. Pedro Ximénez: sweet and syrupy, made from sun-dried grapes, Córdoba's signature wine. Palo Cortado: rare, sitting between amontillado and oloroso. Each bodega suggests food pairings with local restaurants such as Garum 21 or Bodegas Campos.
Practical information
The fair opens 12:00 to 20:00 (12:00–17:00 on Sundays). Late afternoon is better — slightly less heat and the crowds have thinned. Free entry, tastings from €13 (5 glasses + souvenir glass). Buy tasting tickets online to skip the queues at the booth. The setting next to the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs is a bonus — combine with a stroll through the Alcázar gardens.
For a deeper experience, book a guided tour of the Montilla-Moriles bodegas in the region itself — century-old cellars and the wines tasted at source, 40 km from Córdoba.
