Málaga province produces sweet wines from Moscatel and Pedro Ximénez grapes that have been exported since the 18th century. A guided tour through Bodega El Pimpi and specialist wine bars pairs Málaga's sweet wines and dry rosés with local food: ajoblanco (cold almond soup), dates, anchovies, and local cheeses.
Málaga province is one of Spain's oldest wine regions — documented since Phoenician settlement more than two thousand years ago — and its sweet wines, made from Moscatel de Alejandría and Pedro Ximénez grapes grown on steep schist terraces, were fashionable exports to northern Europe from the 18th century onward. Today the region is undergoing a significant revival, with a new generation of winemakers producing dry whites, rosés, and reds alongside the traditional sweet styles. A guided wine and food pairing tour in Málaga explores this full range within the city's vivid culinary culture.
The anchor for most Málaga wine experiences is Bodega El Pimpi, a legendary bar-restaurant on Calle Granada between the Cathedral and the Roman Theatre. Founded in 1971, El Pimpi is as much a cultural institution as a wine venue — its bodegas are lined with signed barrels from celebrity visitors, and its atmospheric courtyard hosts regular events. Guided visits cover the bodega, the solera system used for Málaga DO sweet wines, and a structured tasting of three to five wines: Moscatel de Málaga (fragrant and honey-sweet with orange blossom character), a dry Málaga Seco, a local rosé, and Pedro Ximénez dulce (intensely concentrated, with fig and raisin flavours).
Food pairings are carefully matched to each wine style: ajoblanco (cold almond and garlic soup) with Moscatel, queso manchego with Pedro Ximénez, and boquerones en vinagre with the dry style. These pairings demonstrate how Málaga's local food culture grew up around the wines produced in its surrounding sierra vineyards.
Devour Málaga, the local affiliate of the Devour food tour network, offers a broader walking tour incorporating Bodega El Pimpi alongside other wine bars and tapas stops in the historic centre. Tours run over two to three hours with eight to twelve participants and include three to four wine stops with food pairings. All tastings and food are included; additional drinks are not. Language is English and Spanish. The tour route through Málaga's historic centre is flat and walkable. Dietary substitutions are available with advance notice from Devour Málaga.
Good to know
- Operator
- Devour Málaga
Highlights
- Bodega El Pimpi: a Málaga cultural institution since 1971 with celebrity-signed barrels
- Structured tasting of Moscatel de Málaga, Pedro Ximénez dulce, dry Málaga, and local rosé
- Ajoblanco and Moscatel pairing — Málaga's cold almond soup matched with its wine signature
- Devour Málaga walking tour combining El Pimpi with historic-centre tapas and wine stops
- Wine region with over 2,800 years of documented viticulture history in Andalusia
Tips for visiting
- El Pimpi is open for walk-in visits but guided tasting sessions should be booked in advance
- Ajoblanco is best in late summer and early autumn when local almonds are freshest
- Pedro Ximénez dulce is intensely sweet — a small pour goes a long way; pace accordingly during the tasting
- Combine the wine tour with a visit to the Museo Picasso Málaga one block from El Pimpi
- Málaga wines are significantly cheaper locally than in export markets; the shop at El Pimpi stocks the full range at local prices
Frequently asked questions
Is the Málaga DO the same as Sierras de Málaga?
They are related but distinct. Málaga DO covers the traditional sweet and fortified wines made from sun-dried or late-harvest grapes. Sierras de Málaga DO covers dry table wines — whites, rosés, and reds — produced in the same province. Both are often tasted together on Málaga wine tours.
How sweet are Málaga sweet wines?
They range from moderately sweet (pale Moscatel styles) to intensely concentrated (PX dulce with residual sugar exceeding 200g per litre). The guided tasting typically introduces the range from driest to sweetest, allowing visitors to identify their own preference.
Are Málaga wines widely available outside Spain?
Traditional Moscatel de Málaga and PX dulce are exported to some markets, but availability is limited compared to Rioja or Cava. Purchasing bottles at the source from El Pimpi or specialist shops in Málaga is the most reliable way to access the best producers.
Is the food component substantial enough to replace a meal?
On the Devour Málaga walking tour, the combined tastings across three to four stops constitute a light meal equivalent. Participants are generally advised to arrive with some appetite but not on an empty stomach, as the pace is designed for flavour appreciation rather than satiation.