Table Wine Bodegas: Hacienda Parrilla Alta

This fine cortijo built in 1881 and owned by the Rebuelta González brothers (related to González Byass), is located in an old 400 hectare estate at San José del Valle, about 35 km south east of Jerez, in lovely countryside close to the Sierra de Cádiz. It was planted with olives in the mid XIX century and currently includes agricultural and pasture land, where pure bred Iberico pigs roam free, and 16.5 hectares of vineyard. The pigs are sold to Sanchez Romero Carvajal who own the famous 5J brand. Nearby is the old Moorish castle Gigonza, and just a few km away is the large reservoir of Guadalcacín. The vineyard is on a fairly steep slope with albariza soil round which is the Arroyo (gully) Alquitón which drains into the Guadalete.

Vineyard manager Nicolas Lobato, manager Juan Miguel Gomez and proprietor Ricardo Rebuelta

The grapes, which are sustainably grown, are 6.5 hectares of Palomino and a little PX planted in 1972, and 10 hectares of the red varieties Tintilla, Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Merlot, planted in 2001/2, all supported on wires and all hand- picked. In 2012 they began to make red wines and gradually converted the old olive mill into a bodega as it was ideal for the purpose having thick walls and a high roof. Modern equipment was installed along with mostly French oak barrels for ageing. Ramiro Ibáñez was appointed as winemaking consultant and the wines, which are contract bottled by EMC3, are gaining a good reputation. 

Production totals a little over 20,000 bottles (plus olive oil) and the wines, which are Vinos de la Tierra de Cádiz, are:

Blanco Joven Palomino and PX cold fermented, 6 months on fine lees before bottling.

Tinto Joven Petit Verdot, Tintilla, Syrah tank fermented, malo-lactic plus 4 months in French oak.

Arroyo Alquitón Destemmed Tintilla from the best parcel undergoes alcoholic and malo-lactic fermentation in barrel followed by 12 months in French oak, then bottled with minimal filtration.

Tinto Dulce Tintilla and Syrah made sweet by stopping the fermentation and aged in French oak for 3 months

Address: Carretera de Gigonza (CA-5033) km 3.5, 11580 San José del Valle (Cádiz)

Telephone: (+34) 647 625 786

Website: www.haciendaparrillalta.com