Category Archives: wine

axarquía getaway day 2 – part one: bodegas bentomiz

12 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by in andalucia, getaways, Malaga, malaga getaway, wine

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Nothing quite prepares you for your first look at the modern and minimalist slate structure that is Bodegas Bentomiz. It looks like it has risen up from the very ground surrounding it and inside it is both functional and attractive, with massive windows everywhere letting in lots of natural light. Spectacular views of the mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean are everywhere you look.

After the wonderful day spent out in the vineyards and at the bodega at Dimobe in Moclinejo Victor brought me back to Málaga where I had arranged to meet up with winemaker Clara, co-owner of Bodegas Bentomiz, which she runs with her husband André, who is not only the resident chef, but also the architect who designed the building (and several others nearby). Clara had been in Madrid and was arriving in Málaga by train in the evening, and had very generously offered to take me out to their installation just outside Sayalonga, as well as inviting me to stay the night.

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axarquía getaway day 1 – part 2: bodegas dimobe & viñedos verticales

11 Wednesday Mar 2020

Posted by in andalucia, getaways, Malaga, malaga getaway, spain, tourism, wine

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Victor & me at the end of a spectacular day
saying goodbye to Málaga from the Parador Hotel Gibralfaro

First off I have to say that each of the three bodegas I visited in the Axarquía over two days were all completely different and totally wonderful experiences. First up, after a hearty pre-bodega breakfast at El Roper in El Palo, Victor and I made our way to the ridiculously pretty white village of Moclinejo, high up in the mountains. There we were greeted by Juan Muñoz Anaya and Vicente Inat, two winemakers who work together at Bodegas Dimobe, as well as working together on a separate project Viñedos Verticales. Dimobe was founded in 1927 by Juan’s grandfather and he now runs it with siblings Antonio and María Luísa. In 2015 Juan and Vicente founded Viñedos Verticales, a “sister winery” project which uses the same installation as Bodegas Dimobe in Moclinejo, and with different vine plots and grapes they are creating something that is both old and new.

Just to confuse you further, Vicente is also the winemaker at Bodegas Descalzos Viejos in Ronda, which I had visited a week earlier, and his wife Ana (who I got to meet later in the day after lunch) is the winemaker at another Ronda winery I visited, La Melonera. This was something I got used to over my two weeks of visiting Málaga wineries… that everyone not only knows each other, they sometimes work together and more often than not are very supportive of each others projects. It’s actually a lovely thing to see. Especially in Ronda the whole winemaking scene is quite new, starting sometimes in the 1980s, and everyone wants to see the region doing well. But I digress…

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axarquía getaway day 1 – part one: breakfast

11 Wednesday Mar 2020

Posted by in andalucia, getaways, wine

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Day one of this week’s Axarquía Getaway started way too early (had to get up at stupid o’clock to catch an 8am train) so of course there was no time for breakfast. Happily I had seen an Instagram pic of some rather decadent looking lomo en manteca on toast at a place called Bar Roper, which happened to be on the way to my first bodega visit. So after the Amazing Victor @boke picked me up at the station, we headed over to the market in El Palo, meeting up with our friend David who lives nearby for a hearty pre-winery brekkie.

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verema 2020

09 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in sevilla, wine, work

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Had a great time at my third Verema event, held at the glorious Alfonso XIII Hotel, and featuring winemakers from all over Spain. I wondered if I should attend, what with the whole coronavirus threat, but somehow it only dawned on me after I was there that maybe this wasn’t the smartest move. Oh well, it’s done. At least I didn’t go back for the after-lunch session because I didn’t want to stress my sprained foot too much. It was great seeing old friends (the usual suspects) and meeting a few new ones too. Also got to know a few new wines. A good day.  🙂

ronda research

04 Wednesday Mar 2020

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What a day! Hot on the heels of my last Decanter Magazine article on Madrid, my pitch for Málaga was accepted so I am out and about doing bodega research this month. First stop… Ronda! I’ve been wanting to visit Bodegas Descalzos Viejos for years and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact it was one of the best bodega visits ever. I also got to visit Bodegas Melonera and Bodegas Schatz. All in one afternoon! More to come, but for now a few pics of these beautiful wineries. Next up… the Axarquía!