Conveniently located in the town of Peñafiel, between the cities of Valladolid and Burgos, you will find Hotel AF Pesquera. Housed in a meticulously renovated old flour mill that dates back to 1922, the hotel is the vision of the Fernández Rivera Family, who is one of the pioneering families of Ribera del Duero. For those of you wondering why the letters AF accompany the name of the hotel, they stand for Alejandro Fernández, who in 1975 with his wife, Esmeralda García, began making wine near the hotel in an old 16th-century stone wine press.
The hotel, along with Tinto Pesquera and Condado de Haza, the two wineries founded by Alejandro and Esmeralda in Ribera del Duero, accompany other projects throughout Spain that are part of the Familia Fernández Rivera Group. All are run by Alejandro and Esmeralda’s granddaughters who represent the family’s 3rd generation. The Familia Fernández Rivera Group has two other wineries in its portfolio, Dehesa La Granja and El Vínculo. They are located in the regions of Zamora and La Mancha.
The hotel sits at the foot of the historic Peñafiel Castle and consists of 36 unique rooms. It features a spa, two restaurants, a gym and a charming courtyard. Their Origen-es restaurant, which is run by Chef David Pérez Ruiz, focuses on seasonal and local ingredients and features produce from their Dehesa La Granja estate. Another treat to dining at Origen-es is that you can enjoy older vintages of their wines that can’t be found elsewhere. At their other restaurant on-premise, La Perla Tavern, we were lucky to enjoy a delicious five course meal so either way you are guaranteed to dine well.
We were fortunate to stay in El Castillo “The Castle” room and found the name to be fitting as it boasts a stunning view of the Peñafiel Castle. The room was beautiful, spacious, and had all of the amenities we needed to feel at home. We are grateful for the staff who was courteous, attentive, and extremely helpful throughout our visit. If you are looking for a strategic spot to call home while exploring Ribera del Duero, making Hotel AF Pesquera your home away from home during your travels might be the way to go.
