The wine culture in Cihuri has been established from long time ago:
Our village is part of the Haro region, a unique area ideal for vine growing and for producing one of the best wines in the world. This area is sheltered from the cold northern winds by the Obarenes Mountains, and, at the same time, it is under the Mediterranean climatic influence received through the Ebro Valley. These weather conditions create a micro-climate ideal for grape growing, which together with the limestone soil and the traditional way of cultivating vines and elaborating wine, deliver the best and most wanted wines around the world.
All the above reveals the great and diverse scenic beauty of Cihuri, which is complemented by the Barrio de Bodegas that we will see on the right bank of the Tirón river.
Traditionally, entire neighbourhoods were created in many of the villages, generally in the outer areas, with wineries where vine growers made their own wine. This is patrimony of the popular architecture that is trying to be recovered and valued. Most of these places are not used for production anymore but have been converted into social areas for families and friends to enjoy with a good glass of wine and a tasty lunch.
In Cihuri, the “Barrio” consist of one street with two-story wine cellars above ground level and another street with its underground cellars, where we can also enjoy local cuisine based on regional produce in two small traditional restaurants.
The winemakers of Cihuri, with almost 500 hectares of vineyards, apart from cultivating their vines, they aimed for completing the production cycle, making wine from their own grape harvests. To achieve this, during the first half of the 19th century, they built their own underground cellars in the surroundings of the right bank of the Tirón river, creating what has come to be called the “Barrio de las Bodegas”. At present, after the grouping of wine production in cooperatives, this area is mainly used for leisure.
Another element of the popular architecture associated with the winery neighbourhoods are the “tuferas” or long cellar’s chimneys, located in the back alley and elevated above ground level. These chimneys allowed to eliminate the carbon dioxide produced in the initial fermentation of the grape juice to help with its transformation into wine and, on the other hand, they were useful to keep the temperature and humidity constant, thanks to the air currents produced by the differences in height and temperature.