The underground cellar district of Gumiel de Mercado (Burgos) is located on the hillside that surrounds the town centre: a landscape of “zarceras” (underground wine cellars) carve out the so-called“Cerro del Castillo” (Castle Hill).

This district of cellars is a good synthesis between the uniqueness of its heritage and its state of conservation. The ashlar barrel vault is used in a third of the accessible underground cellars. The wineries are notable for their high capacity.

In 2018, this district of cellars is being studied by the Fuentespina Town Council through the architect Alfredo Sanz Sanza, making an inventory:

• 106 cellars with their own entrance, organised in 3 levels of superimposed galleries, at a depth between 0 and 9 metres. The average length is 27 metres, reaching a total of 3 km of underground cellars.
• Thereare 69 wine presses, 14 of which are semi-underground, facilitating racking by using gravity. The total capacity of these wine presses is 22,000 hl of wine.
• 144 vats.

The map in the attached image shows the precision with which this study has been carried out.

VISITS to the underground cellars of GUMIEL DE MERCADO:

• There are currently no visits open to the public to these wineries by the Town Council.
• Most of the wineries in Gumiel de Mercado belong to private individuals and associations.