Bodegas Campos Reales
The landscape of Meseta Central stretches out endlessly to include La Mancha, the land of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and also Spain's largest wine region.
The heart of the Iberian peninsula is characterised by an extremely continental climate with scorching summers and freezing winters. Luckily, the scarce downpours are aptly retained by the calciferous loamy soil in order to enable the vines' survival. Quite often, these are very old, gnarled, and stunted in their growth. In order to shield the grapes from the torrid heat using their leaves, the vines still are often reared low to the ground in the traditional manner -- also known as bush vines or 'en vaso'.
Red wines from Bodegas Campos Reales
from Bodegas Campos Reales
Next to Tempranillo or its local nomenclature Cencibel, the Bodegas Campos Reales also cultivate since 1950 many other grape varieties: Garnacha, Tintorera, Bobal, and white varieties such as Airén (which incidentally claims the largest vine area worldwide) or Macabeo, to name a few.
This is yet another case in which tradition meets modernity. The cellar's implementation of the latest vinification infrastructure does not exclude traditional processes such as hand-picking (which also applies to simple wines), the nurturing of the vines, the preservation of indigenous grape varieties, or the ageing in barriques. Led by a young, dedicated and highly specialised team, the bodega belongs to those vineyards propagating the self-proclaimed revolution of the Mancha wines and which carries its reputation worldwide of having an amazing price/pleasure ratio.
Producer
André Clouet / Jean François Clouet
We didn’t find the low house, dating from the 17th century, straight away, even though the village of Bouzy is not very large. Modest buildings are grouped around a courtyard, behind which a vineyard lies, similar to a clos.
Chazánte
Chazánte – the best of grapes and tea. Chazánte is a non-alcoholic sparkling tea that combines the complex aromas of exclusive teas with the freshness and mineral notes of wine – refined with fine carbonation.
Domaine de la Commaraine
The beauty behind the walls of Château Commaraine
The Burgundian municipality of Pommard has a classic, historic ambience with most of the buildings and walled vineyards (clos) intact, exuding a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere. The small, romantic village square conveys a slightly exotic feeling to its visitors – an unusual sensation in rural Burgundy indeed!