Jumilla Wine Route: Bodegas San Dionisio
Tradition meets modernity at this leading Jumilla winery
Bodegas San Dionisio was founded in 1957 by a group of agriculturalists in the town of Fuenteálamo, in the province of Albacete, who formed a cooperative and began making their own wines. Since then the reputation of the cooperative has grown to the point where some of its products are now permitted to bear the DOP Jumilla label, and the winery is affiliated to the Jumilla Wine Route..
In the early days the members of the cooperative had to combine their everyday farming activities with the role of entrepreneurs, maintaining high quality grape yields while gradually evolving to adopt 100% ecological and natural production techniques. In this way thy honed the local knowledge which has been handed down through the generations for centuries, and over time grape growing and wine production became their main source of income.
As in the whole of the Jumilla wine area, the dominant strain of grape is the Monastrell, which reaches full maturity towards the end of October.
The vineyards are at an altitude of approximately 800 metres above sea level, and of course they receive little rainfall. Monastrell vines occupy around 70% of the 5,500 of land devoted to grapes, including some 200 hectares of old “European root” plants, which survived the calamitous Phylloxera infestation in the 19th century. The remaining vineyards are devoted to strains such as Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Garnacha and Petit Verdot for red wines and Macabeo, Airén, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo for whites.
80% of production at Bodegas San Dionisio is sold in bulk and only the remining 20% is bottled, with numerous products satisfying a wide variety of tastes. At the same time, alongside the vines are olive trees and the facilities include an olive oil press where virgin and extra virgin oil has been produced since 1999.
WINES
The Mainetes label
Mainetes Crianza, a young red made from Monastrell grapes.
Mainetes Crianza 12 Meses, another red made using Petit Verdot grapes.
Verdejo Mainetes, an ecological white.
Monastrell Dulce, a sweet dessert Monastrell.
The Señorío de Fuenteálamo label
Monastrell Roble Señorío de Fuente Álamo, made entirely using Monastrell grapes, matured for 4 months in oak barrels.
Syrah Roble Señorío de Fuente Álamo, a similar fermentation process is used to créate this Syrah red.
Sauvignon Blanc Señorío de Fuenteálamo, white Sauvignon Blanc.
Tinto Joven Ecológico · Monastrell Señorío de Fuente Álamo
Blanco Joven Ecológico · Verdejo Señorío de Fuente Álamo
Rosado Joven Ecológico · Monastrell Señorío de Fuente Álamo, a rosé.
The TXOPO label
Monastrell · Garnacha Tintorera TXOPO, made with Monastrell and Garnacha Tintorera grapes, matured for 9 months in the barrel prior to bottling.
OLIVE OIL
Aceite Oliva Virgen Extra Botella Willy DOP, made from cornicabra, arbequina, manzanilla, cuquillo and picual olives.
Aceite Oliva Virgen Extra Botella Biolio DOP, a similar mix of the cornicabra, arbequina, manzanilla, cuquillo and picual strains.
ALL PRODUCTS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT THE SAN DIONISIO WEBSITE OR AT THE SHOP ON THE PREMISES:
WINE TOURS AT BODEGAS SAN DIONISIO
Guided tours are offered in Spanish for groups of at least 6 people, seeing the production area and then tasting three wines along with an aperitif.
The price of these visits varies depending on the number of people taking part: please enquire.
CONTACT DETAILS
For bookings: 967 543032 / email sandionisio@bodegassandionisio.es
Tour times: Saturdays 12.00 to 13.00 (prior booking is required).
Address: Carretera de la Higuera, s/n · 02651, FUENTEÁLAMO, Albacete, Spain (click for map)
There is free parking and the facilities are fully accesible. Free wifi, winery shop.
The winery itself is open on weekdays from 9.00 to 14.00 and 15.30 to 18.00, and on Saturdays from 9.00 to 13.00.
For more information about visiting Jumilla, including what's on, local news and all of the bodegas on the Jumilla wine route, visit the home page of Jumilla Today.
