The Arboledilla winery, owned by Bodegas Barbadillo, commemorates 150 years since its construction in 1876. This iconic building, initiated by Cipriano Terán Carrera, is regarded as a masterpiece of Spanish winery architecture and a sanctuary for aging manzanilla under a veil of flor.
Dubbed the 'Cathedral of Manzanilla' by agronomist engineer Isidro García del Barrio, Arboledilla spans nearly 5,000 square meters. Its design, featuring six naves and one hundred brick pillars, impresses with its dimensions and intelligent conception, functioning as a sophisticated bioclimatic machine.
Strategically located forty meters above sea level and just eight hundred meters from the Atlantic coast, the winery masterfully harnesses the cool, humid Westerly wind (Poniente) arriving from the ocean after crossing Doñana. Simultaneously, it shields itself from the warmer, drier Easterly wind (Levante) through a combination of orientation, ventilation, and construction solutions.
The Levante-facing facade is protected by the grove that gave the complex its name, while the Poniente-facing facade remains open to capture Atlantic breezes. Its roofs reach 12.80 meters in height, and its thick, stepped walls, hollowed arches, and irrigated albero floors help maintain the temperature and humidity conditions favorable for the development of the flor veil.
This architectural uniqueness, the result of centuries of accumulated learning, gave rise to one of Barbadillo's high-end references. Álvaro Alés, Marketing Director at Bodegas Barbadillo, emphasizes that great innovations require the idea, recognition of its value, and its realization.
The concept to explore aging differences emerged during the preparation for a tasting at Vinoble. Tim Holt, from Barbadillo's international department, proposed comparing three samples of the same manzanilla and solera, aged in different areas of La Arboledilla. Enologist Montserrat Molina immediately noticed distinct wine profiles.
Following scientific analyses that confirmed the influence of winds and microclimate on the wine's final personality, Barbadillo launched Arboledilla Levante and Arboledilla Poniente in 2017, each shaped by a distinct wind expression.
To commemorate this 150th anniversary, Barbadillo is offering a special promotion of Arboledilla Levante and Poniente, along with an enotourism experience to discover the winery and toast its legacy.
