Discover Toro and San Román de Hornija
Beyond the glass: Visigothic history, Romanesque heritage, traditional cuisine, and century-old vines that have witnessed twenty centuries. This is the land where every bottle of Elías Mora is born — a guide for those who truly want to discover it.
Toro and the Vineyard
The D.O. Toro wine region stretches across seventeen municipalities between Zamora and Valladolid, crossed by the Duero River. The origins of these wines predate the arrival of the Romans, and tradition says that Toro wine traveled aboard Columbus's caravel La Pinta to the Indies in 1492.
San Román de Hornija, home to our winery, is a village with over thirteen centuries of history: its church sits on the site of a 7th-century monastery founded by Saint Fructuosus by order of the Visigothic King Chindasuinth, who lies buried alongside his wife Reciberga beneath the temple itself. A few minutes away, the city of Toro preserves the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, one of Spain's most significant Romanesque monuments, alongside historic palaces, an alcazar, and one of the country's oldest bullrings.
Wine Culture
Tinta de Toro, a native variety adapted to poor, stony, and chalky soils, ripens early thanks to the area's sharp thermal contrasts, crafting balanced, powerful, and exceptionally high-quality wines. Founded in 1987, the D.O. Toro today encompasses over forty establishments certified under the Toro Wine Route, part of Spain's official Wine Routes since 2019.
The region's festive calendar revolves largely around wine: the October grape harvest brings parades of decorated carts, medieval markets, and guided tastings throughout the region, keeping a living tradition alive generation after generation.
Gastronomy and Table Fellowship
San Román de Hornija belongs to the region known as "Tierra del Vino" (Land of Wine), and its food reflects this identity: chanfaina—a dish made with potatoes, blood, liver, chili, and traditional pork—is one of its most popular recipes, alongside artisanal pastries from local bakeries.
Across D.O. Toro, roasted suckling lamb, game, cured Zamora sheep cheeses, and heart-warming stews serve as the natural pairing for structured red wines. A long, unhurried meal with a fine Toro wine in hand is the finest way to truly understand this land.
Sustainability
The area preserves century-old ungrafted vineyard plots: vines that, thanks to the sandy nature of certain local soils, were never reached by phylloxera and continue to grow on their own roots, just as they were cultivated before the pest devastated European vineyards in the late 19th century.
These ancient vines—naturally low-yielding, bush-trained, and unirrigated—represent a unique viticultural heritage that local wineries, including ours, strive to preserve through hand harvesting and sustainable viticulture in harmony with the land.
All of this history is best enjoyed with a glass of wine in hand, right in the vineyard.
Discover our wine tourism experiences →Guides and Useful Links
Official resources to plan your visit: routes, heritage, and upcoming local events.
Toro Wine Route
Associated wineries, joint experiences, and regional heritage certified as an official Wine Route of Spain.
rutavinotoro.com 🏛️San Román de Hornija Town Hall
Local news, traditional festivals, and the annual Harvest Festival with its historical reenactment.
sanromandehornija.ayuntamientosdevalladolid.es 📅Zamora Events Calendar
Upcoming events in Toro and the province: fairs, concerts, exhibitions, and traditions.
turismoenzamora.es 🎭Castilla y León Cultural Agenda
Regional cultural programming, ideal if you are traveling from afar and want to make the most of your trip.
turismocastillayleon.com