Guided hiking route in the Picos
With a local guide: routes from Fuente Dé (Horcadina de Covarrobres, Hoyo Sin Tierra) or from Pido, 4-7 hours depending on fitness. Bring your own gear (boots, layer, water, food). Book ahead.
Getaways
Liébana: wine tourism at the foot of the Picos de Europa
Artisan winery-distillery in the Liébana valley, a Cantabrian microclimate 5 km from Potes and at the gates of the Picos de Europa. Mencía, Gewürztraminer and Liébana orujo.
From 150 € /person
1-3 nights
Potes No commitment · We design it with you
§02 — The place
Cantabrian Mencía, Liébana orujo and the Picos in the background
Five kilometres from Potes, the Picos de Cabariezo winery-distillery hangs off the valley with the Picos de Europa as backdrop. The wind rising from the Deva river smells of apple orchards and oak; inside, copper stills have been distilling orujo since 2007, and they vinify Mencía, Gewürztraminer, Godello and Syrah — varieties that behave differently here because of the microclimate. The tasting comes with Liébana cooked-paste cheeses, local cured meats and an artisanal coffee shot. Afterwards: the Santo Toribio monastery, the Fuente Dé cable car or a walk through Potes. Mountain wine tourism, not plateau.
§03 — Why it stands out
Why it stands out
- 01
Award-winning artisan winery-distillery
Picos de Cabariezo won the 2017 National Fecoes Award for best artisan winery-distillery in Spain. This isn’t marketing — it's copper stills, small batches and brandies that are exported to Europe.
- 02
Rare grape varieties in Spain
Cantabrian Mencía (only found here, Galicia and western León) plus Gewürztraminer (of Alsatian tradition, rare in the Iberian climate). Tasting them at their source is a rarely repeated experience.
- 03
Peaks of Europe 20 minutes away
Few wine regions have the Fuente Dé cable car (753 m elevation gain, 4 minutes) just 20 minutes from the winery. You ascend to 1,847 m and see panoramic views of the Picos before descending for dinner in the valley.
- 04
Warm microclimate in Cantabria
Liébana is the sunniest region of Cantabria, sheltered from the north by the Picos and from the south by the Peaks of Europe. This allows for grapes, cherries and cider apples – crops unthinkable in the rest of the Atlantic region.
§04 — Who it fits
Who it fits
With friends Ecotourism Romantic Relaxation Gastronomy
Fits if: you want wine tourism combined with mountain (Picos, trekking, Fuente Dé cable car), look for a human-sized artisan winery, value Cantabrian cuisine (Liébana cheeses, cocido lebaniego, cider). Adults. Works for couples, groups of friends, and wine travellers curious about uncommon varieties.
Doesn't fit if: you want resort-style wine tourism with vinotherapy spa (see Mainetes in Albacete), seek Cantabrian beach (you're inland, 1h30 from the coast), or dislike driving mountain passes (San Glorio, Piedras Luengas). Kids are welcome in Potes and Fuente Dé but the tasting is adult-only.
No commitment · We design it with you
§05 — What you can live
What you can live here
An editorial showcase of what the destination offers. Nothing to book here - we shape it when you write to us.
Adventure
— The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.The active side: guided or self-guided activities, no sugar-coating the gradient.
Culture & heritage
— What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.What makes this place different: heritage, crafts, local history.
Santo Toribio de Liébana Monastery
6th-century monastery that holds the world's largest Lignum Crucis fragment. Jubilee Door of Forgiveness. 10 minutes from the winery. Free entry, optional guided tour at set times.
Walk through Potes
Comarca capital of Liébana, medieval old town with the Torre del Infantado, bridges over the Quiviesa river, cobbled streets. Traditional market Monday and Thursday mornings.
Food & drink
— Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.Eating well without the manual - local product, village pace.
Guided visit to Picos de Cabariezo Winery-Distillery
About one hour through the vinification room and the distillery with copper stills. Explanation of mountain-grown Mencía, Gewürztraminer, Godello and Syrah, and the Liébana orujo process.
Wine and spirits tasting with local products
Tasting of house reds and whites, award-winning gin and orujos (white and coffee), with Liébana cooked-paste cheese, Cantabrian cured meats and rustic bread. Small group.
Traditional Liébana meal
Cocido lebaniego (local small chickpeas, kale, cured meats), cooked-paste cheeses, sobaos pasiegos, orujo digestif. Restaurants in Potes or the valley. Heavy — don't pair with a long tasting on the same day.
Where to sleep
— Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.Where you sleep - inns, rural houses, hotels with character in the valley.
Rural inn in Cabariezo or Potes
Small character inns (8-15 beds) in stone and wood, family-run. Rooms with valley views, breakfast with Liébana products. Some with jacuzzi or small spa.
Nature
— Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.Landscape unfiltered: what you see on foot, without the car.
Fuente Dé cable car
753 m vertical climb in 4 minutes up to 1,847 m. El Cable lookout, panoramic view of the Picos de Europa central massif. 20 minutes by car from the winery. Closes in high winds.
Walking route along the Deva valley
Gentle routes between Potes and Espinama along the Deva river, 6-10 km one way. Mixed forest, low pastureland, panels along the Liébana Way. No steep climbs.
30-60 min away
— Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.Half-hour side trips if you've time left or it rains.
Hermida Gorge
21 km Deva river canyon between 600 m limestone walls. N-621 road (the natural northbound exit). Lookouts and hung villages like La Hermida or Lebeña with its 10th-century Mozarabic church.
§06 — The practical side
Weekend practicalities
- Best season
- Spring · Summer · Autumn
- Fitness level
- Easy
- Typical length
- 1-3 nights
More practical details
Physical level & requirements
Low to moderate physical demand. The winery visit involves 45-60 minutes of walking with stairs. The Fuente Dé cable car is accessible but the upper viewpoint requires a 200 m walk on uneven ground. Picos hiking moves the bar to moderate-high.
How to get there
Best season: May-June (green Liébana, snowmelt) and September-October (harvest plus autumn forest). Summer is excellent but holidays clog Potes. Winter brings snow on San Glorio and Piedras Luengas passes; winter tyres recommended.
Getting there: car essential. Santander 2h via A-67 + N-621 (Hermida Gorge); León 2h over San Glorio pass; Bilbao 2h45. Airports: Santander and Asturias (Oviedo).
Gear: trekking shoes if you walk the Picos, a layer year-round (Fuente Dé runs 10°C cooler than the valley), swimwear if your inn has a pool, umbrella (Cantabria rains in summer too).
Booking: Picos de Cabariezo winery operates by appointment (small slots). Fuente Dé cable car sells online; in August and holidays book ahead.
Recommendations
Book the Picos de Cabariezo winery in the morning (around 11am) so you have time to eat in Potes and ride the Fuente Dé cable car in the afternoon. In Potes order cocido lebaniego (it's heavy — don't pair it with a big tasting), and visit on Mondays or Thursdays (traditional market). Santo Toribio Monastery keeps the largest fragment of the Lignum Crucis and sits 10 minutes from the winery — free entry. At Fuente Dé, bring a layer if you take the cable car — it's almost always 10°C up top; the ride lasts 4 minutes. To return, the Hermida Gorge is the most spectacular northbound exit.
§07 — Bookable packages
Bookable packages
§08 — Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does the visit to the Picos de Cabariezo winery last?
Approximately 1 hour: tour of the production facilities (wines and spirits) plus tasting. Small groups, family-friendly atmosphere. Prior appointment required.
What exactly is tasted?
It usually includes red wines from Mencía and white wines from Gewürztraminer/Godello, an award-winning gin and artisan brandies (white orujo and coffee orujo). Accompanied by Lebaniego cheeses and local cured meats.
Is it a good destination with kids?
To stay overnight and ride the Fuente Dé cable car, yes; the adult tasting, no. Consider combining it with walks to the Monastery of Santo Toribio or around Potes with kids.
When is the Fuente Dé cable car not operational?
Closes with strong winds (>60 km/h) and for scheduled maintenance (usually a few days in November). It’s advisable to confirm the day before.
Are there gourmet dining options in the area?
Potes has well-rated restaurants serving traditional Leonese cuisine. For fine dining, you should look to Santillana del Mar or Santander (1h45-2h). Liébana is known for its local products: cheese, sobaos, orujo, honey.
How many days do we recommend?
Minimum 2 nights: day 1 winery + Potes, day 2 Fuente Dé cable car + Santo Toribio, day 3 route through the Picos or return via Hermida. With 1 night you only cover winery + Potes.
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