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Writer's pictureJohnni Medina

From Phoenicians to Poe: Montilla's Wine Story

Updated: Nov 19, 2023

When a region is granted Denominación de Origen (Designation of Origin) status, it serves as a global signifier that this is a place where fine wine is made. It testifies to the commitment of those winemakers in their dedication to uphold tradition, blend history and culture with innovation, and assure a high level of quality. Regions with a DO status are known to garner the trust of consumers and have a positive impact on the worldwide wine market.


Montilla was officially granted DO status in 1945, but it had established itself as a leader in Spanish winemaking centuries before.

Situated approximately forty kilometers from the Cordoba province in the Andalucia region of Spain, Montilla is steeped in history. Architectural marvels fill Montilla’s borders, with palaces, churches, convents, and castles dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries. By the 18th century, Montilla had established itself as a cultural and religious center, and the construction of these significant buildings only increased.


Ownership of Montilla has changed hands through the centuries, and each occupying power has left its influence, especially on winemaking.

Viticulture was brought to what is now southern Spain by The Phoenicians around 1100 BCE. Centuries later, the Romans expanded upon these practices with their own traditions, and helped cultivate grapes such as the versatile Moscatel, still used today in sweet, dry wines. During the Moorish era (beginning in 711) the region suffered both progress and setbacks, as better irrigation practices were introduced and adopted, but the overall practice of winemaking was discouraged and, in some cases, forbidden.


However, the Christian reconquest of this land in 1492 largely brought the practice back, and the

Catholic Kings who ruled Montilla and the lands beyond encouraged a winemaking resurgence. During the 16th century, Montilla became known for its fortified wines, which were especially amenable to transportation due to their resistance to high temperatures. Montilla was named a city by Spain in 1630 and has continued its practice of winemaking excellence since, even making an appearance in Edgar Allen Poe’s 1846 story "The Cask of Amontillado", in which wine from this region is tempting enough you may call it… to die for.


That brings us to today.


Montilla has enjoyed their DO status for over 80 years, with an established propensity for fine dessert and white wines, and use of the solera system of aging, which creates consistently high quality sherries year to year. Every September, Montilla celebrates their long standing love of viticulture with a grape harvest that features traditional grape treading, offering to the Virgin of the Vineyards (Virgen de las Viñas), and oenology (the study of wine competitions).


Montilla’s winemaking heritage, much like the grapes that have evolved to thrive in this warm region, is a story of adaptation and resilience. Its journey as a region and winemaking leader reflects its commitment to both tradition and innovation and sets Montilla apart as a region to watch.



Courtesy of https://www.spain.info/en/destination/montilla/



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