Bodegas: Bodegas Sainz de Baranda S.L.

This small firm was founded in Sanlúcar by Manuel Sainz de Baranda Mediavilla. He was a native of Torrelavega (Santander), and like many “montañeses” (people from the mountainous north), began with a grocery business before moving into the wine business in 1912.

He acquired vineyard in the pago Hornillo, just outside Sanlúcar, and a bodega at the Calle Bolsa, 169 which was a building previously used as a thread-spinning mill. This was always a small family business, an almacenista, and on the death of the founder it passed to his son, Manuel Sainz de Baranda Ibáñez. He in turn passed it on to his sons who made the firm a Sociedad Limitada (S.L.)

In the 1990s, with a change in the regulations, the firm was now able to market directly its own bottled brands: Manzanilla Pasada Tia Cari and Manzanillas Clareá and Paisana. They also produced Amontillado and Oloroso. The bodega latterly covered some 2,000 square metres, but downsizing meant much stock was sold leaving some 700 butts mainly of Manzanilla Pasada. Vineyard was sold as well leaving around 7 hectares.

Patio at the bodega (foto:Manuel D Montero/Cosas de Come)

The bodega is now in the hands of the Asociación de Amantes de la Manzanilla, a society dedicated to spread the word about the culture of Manzanilla, and is known as “la Bodeguita del Barrio”. There is plenty of space for tastings, dinners and all sorts of events in the fantastic surroundings of an old bodega still retaining its old equipment. The soleras are still run and Manzanilla Pasada, Amontillado and Oloroso are available here, all bottled by hand without filtration. The original bottling registrat-ion (RE) number is still in place.

The range of wines (foto:tubal.blogspot)

The wines are:

Amontillado en Rama, Oloroso en Rama and Manzanilla en rama, all bottled by hand.

Address: Calle Bolsa, 169, 11540 Sanlúcar de Barrameda

Website: www.msbr1946.wix.com  E-mail: amantesdelamanzanilla@gmail.com  also on Facebook