In Spain’s second largest and most populous autonomous community Andalucia, the province of Cordoba is littered with small towns producing some of the best wine in the world.
One such town is Montilla, a small municipality with a rich history stretching back to the Roman Empire. Montilla is known for its iconic white houses, as well as the historical churches, palaces, convents, and castles from the 16th and 17th centuries.
However, among these remarkable historical structures, one aspect of Montilla's heritage continues to stand out even today—its vineyards, creating quality wine steeped in tradition.
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Montilla is home to an extensive network of wineries and wine cellars, known to the region as bodegas. The winemaking traditions of this region can be traced back to ancient times, with influence from both Roman and Moorish methods. The oldest winery in Montilla, Alvera Bodega, first began production in 1729, and is still making wine to this day.
While this region produces a wide variety of grapes, Montilla is best known for its use of the sweet Pedro Ximenez grapes and for the production of rich, dessert wines with an alcohol content that reaches up to 17%. Most of the wine is made with the solera method, similar to the production of sherry, where wine is first fermented into stainless steel vats, then matured in upright earthenware vessels called tinajas, before finally aging in traditional wooden casks.
Every September, Montilla’s wine becomes the center of attention during their annual grape harvest festival. The primer mosto (or first pressing) kicks off the celebration as the first grapes of the harvest are pressed in a true traditional style, as an offering to the virgen de las viñas. This tradition marks the start of the new wine season, a culmination of the traditions and methods that have come centuries before.
"The winemaking of Montilla predates the town itself, with grapes nurtured and methods cultivated by diligent hands over countless generations."
The winemaking of Montilla predates the town itself, with grapes nurtured and methods cultivated by diligent hands over countless generations. This enduring passion for fine wine continues to mark Montilla as a truly remarkable region. To drink wine from Montilla is to get a taste of history.
We invite you to explore all aspects of wine from the region, from the profiles unique to Spanish wine, to the interplay between climate and vine, the most popular vintages, and more. Welcome to Montilla Uncorked.
Photo by Kelsey Knight on Unsplash
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