Bodegas Félix Callejo

The history of Bodegas Felix Callejo is still quite young, but the year it was founded in 1989 by Felix Callejo coincides with the time when the Ribera del Duero region began to reinvent itself and set out for new shores. Felix Callejo is a child of the village of Sotillo de la Ribera on the northern edge of the course of the Duero river. Today, José Felix Callejo runs the winery, but he only took on the responsibility after travelling extensively to top wineries and oenologists around the world. He gained experience at the Bordeaux legend Chateau Petrus, at Torres in Chile and at the Californian icon winery Araujo Estate, among others. At an impressive 830 to over 900 meters, the vines grow on the region's characteristic limestone soils, but also on clay, sand and pebbles left behind by the river in the lower-lying parcels. The Callejo family owns a total of 24 parcels, which are dedicated exclusively to Tempramillo. And as this noble variety develops a different character on the various soils, you can really "play" with these terroir-influenced wines in the cuvées. The must is fermented with indigenous, natural yeasts and the skin contact lasts around 15 days. The still young wine is then allowed to rest and mature for 15 months in French oak barrels. Once it has been bottled, it is perfectly suited to a few more years in the bottle. The wines with the pretty, original labels are not yet so well known outside Spain, but after the Master of Wines and wine journalist Tim Atkin proclaimed Felix Callejo "Winemaker of the Year 2021", this is likely to change quickly.