This family bodega was founded in 1974, though
its founder, José Mellado Martín (born 1935) was brought up with the wines of
Chipiona, where in many homes people used to make a little Moscatel, which has
an aroma which never leaves you. The Mellado family was no different and José
heeded the call to the wine trade. They bought their first bodega, called Bodegón
Alobasto in the Calle del Castillo in 1974 and before long were producing
1,500,000 litres and bottling them.
 |
| The new bodega built 1990 |
In 1980 they consolidated with the acquisition of
another bodega opposite Alobasto from Florido Hermanos and made this the centre
of operations introducing their own brand, called the Playa Regla range, at the
same time. Until then they had supplied Moscatel to the big bodegas such as
Domecq, Garvey, Real Tesoro, Terry etc. They are now the largest Moscatel
producer. In 1985 they launched the Moscatel de Pasas Soleras de la Abuela, a
special wine made from selected sun-dried Moscatel grapes.
 |
| Moscatel sunning at the bodega |
1990 saw the construction of another bodega
sited in one of the firm’s vineyards – they own all their vineyard - just off
the Rota road, and here they installed more up to date equipment. While they
specialise in Chipiona’s famous Moscatel, famous since before Roman times, they
also produce a good range of other wines, though they cannot carry the DO Jerez
as they are aged in Chipiona. If you are in Chipiona you can buy the wine bottled
or draught at the bodega or a two despachos (shops) in the Avenida de la
Diputación and Calle Víctor Pradera. The firm is registered with the Consejo as
a shipping bodega.
 |
| Legendary Chipiona-born singer and actress Rocio Jurado visiting |
The Playa Regla range consists of:
Moscatel: Dorado, Oscuro, Especial and Pasas, each
with different degrees of sunning and ageing
Fino, Oloroso and Cream
Address: Crtra. A-491 Chipiona-Rota,
Km. 2, 11550 Chipiona, Cádiz
Telephone: (+34) 956 370 197
Visits? By appointment
No comments:
Post a Comment