Wineries for sale in Malaga, the Lords of the vines

Malaga is one of the eight Spanish provinces that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is situated on the Mediterranean coast, between the provinces of Granada (East) and Cadiz (West), while the North borders Cordoba and Seville. With more than one and a half million inhabitants, it is one of the most populated districts in Spain. It is distributed in 9 regions and 103 municipalities, among which some popular names are Marbella, Ronda or Mijas.

HISTORY OF WINE

The territory occupied by the province of Malaga has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the collection of dolmens from Antequera. The province was an economic and commercial centre for the Carthaginians, Romans and Byzantines. Ronda is home to the ruins of Acinipo, which reveal the production of wine and the cultivation of raisins, a genuine tradition in this province. Wine also had historical antecedents during the ancient Muslim kingdom of La Taifa de Málaga.

The protection of this sector began in the Christian era with the creation, in 1502, of Los Señores de las Viñas o Viñeros (The Lords of the Vines). At the request of this sector, the Catholic Monarchs established the first wine ordinances and gave the residents of the land and mountains a licence to plant vineyards. The Vineyard Brotherhood was created during the reign of King Philip III; in 1806, La Casa y Compañía de Comercio de Viñeros de Málaga appears; and already in 1900 the Regulations of the Gremial Association of Wine Exporters Breeders of Malaga are drafted.

On September 8th 1933, at the request of the Malaga Winemakers' and Winemakers' Guilds, the creation of the Regulatory Council of the D.O. Malaga was achieved.

WINES AND WINERIES

The province is home to the Designation of Origin Malaga, known for centuries for its sweet fortified wines made with Moscatel and Pedro Ximénez grapes. In 2004 the Councils of the three designations "Málaga", "Sierras de Málaga" and "Pasas de Málaga" were merged.

Some of the wineries that have given Malaga its reputation are Bodegas Bentomiz, Bodegas Descalzos Viejos, Bodegas Jorge Ordoñez, Bodegas Dimobe, Bodegas Excelencia, Bodegas Hidalgo, Bodegas el niño de la salina, Bodegas Veta, Cortijo de los Aguilares, Bodegas La Capuchina, Bodegas Joaquín Fernández, Bodegas Casa de Guardia, Bodegas Schatz, Bodegas Cézar, Bodegas Conrad or Bodegas Sedella, which is one of the most unique in the province.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Malaga means Costa del Sol, which covers the southern coast of the province and part of Cadiz. With more than 300 sunny days, it is one of the most important tourist areas in Spain, with an infinite number of busy beaches. The province also boasts a rich underground archaeological heritage: to the dolmens of Antequera must be added the cave paintings of Nerja Cave, the first known to mankind, more than 40,000 years old.

The city of Malaga has been declared a Historic Site, as few cities have so many traces of the passage of civilisations, with monuments such as the Roman Theatre, the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, Customs and the Jewish Quarter. Holy Week in Malaga, with images processioned on thrones, has been declared of international tourist interest since 1965, and the city's Film Festival has gained increasing prestige. Malaga offers the popular tapas spread throughout Andalusia, including sardine skewers and pescaito frito (fried fish).