Zorro fans soon to visit Spain?
Zorro fans could soon become guests of Antonio Banderas, spending the night at his Spanish vineyard in a new hotel – the Hollywood heartthrob is looking into opening a small hotel to encourage wine tourism to the area and help increase production.
The actor, who has starred in Hollywood hits such as The Mask of Zorro, Shrek and Philadelphia, bought a 50 per cent share in the vineyard in the famous Ribera del Duero wine area of northern Spain earlier this year. The vineyard was subsequently renamed Anta Banderas and the Spanish national clearly has big ideas to develop the business.
Speaking to the Spanish newspaper El Mundo Banderos said: ‘I have plans to revitalise this project with conferences, for example, on wine and literature, and I want to promote wine tourism. ‘In fact, we are studying the possibility of building a small hotel to welcome wine enthusiasts because it is a marvelous place.’
Visitors to the vineyard could soon spend their days touring the vines to learn more about the red and rose wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and local grape Tempranillo, before bedding down for the night à la Antonio.
If they’re lucky, they may even coincide with a visit from the 49-year-old star himself. The voice of Puss In Boots in the hit film Shrek already does his bit for promoting tourism to certain parts of Spain.
Every Easter he returns to his home city of Malaga to take part part in the traditional religious marches through the streets, attracting scores of adoring fans. His wife Melanie Griffith is even well-known enough referred to by Spaniards simply as ‘La Melanie’.
