Barbadillo

Barbadillo's story dates back to the early nineteenth century. One of the oldest wineries in Spain, it established itself in the 1820's in what was then the beginning of the Manzanilla denomination (Fino sherries made in the town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda). The winery, now into the seventh generation of the Barbadillo family, has grown and experimented through out the years to become a distinct exponent of the dry, salty sherries heavily influenced by the proximity to the Atlantic ocean. 

As with many other big wineries in Jerez, in the last few years, Barbadillo has created a special division with their top small production wines. Called internally "alta gama" (high end), the division is helmed by the enologist Montse Molina and the über connoisseur of the region's wines Armando Guerra (Taberna Der Guerrita). 

This has allowed the winery to experiment with new and old production methods and come up with wines like Mirabrás and As de Mirabras, two distinct non fortified white wines borne out of an old and almost abandoned tradition in Jerez of "sunbathing" the Palomino fino grape. Or their Arboledilla Levante and Arboledilla Poniente duo, two Manzanillas with five year aging that play with parcel winemaking with a easterly and a westerly facing version of the wine. Or their more recent and experimental Nude, a 100% Tintilla de Rota red wine that is reminiscent of light carbonic maceration wines from much higher latitudes.

All in all, a new and distinct offering from one of Spain's oldest wineries.