Bodega de las Estrellas - Spain

In the southern part of the Spanish region of Castilla-La Mancha, Bodega de las Estrellas is the 200 year old De Nova family winemaking legacy, an estate which has been making organic, natural wines using amphora with vessels from the 19th century. With vineyards situated at 700 meters (almost a 1/2 mile high) with marl and limestone soil, Bodega de las Estrellas is now led by fourth generation winemakers Dionisio and Karina de Nova, Bodega de las Estrellas is committed to crafting wines that are traditional to their area, but are also trailblazers in the local organic and natural wine movement.

Making their US debut with Vero with their bottled wines, Bodega de las Estrelllas is the first winery in Castilla-La Mancha to be certified organic and using amphora, Bodega de las Estrellas creates natural wines using only native yeast fermentation and with no added sulfites. Dionisio De Nova and his family with Bodega de las Estrellas has carved their own path to create environmentally sustainable methods to biodynamically craft their wines. Part of this is the decision to make their wines exclusively in amphora.

Clay vessels of oblong shape, Bodega de las Estrellas works with amphora (or tinajas in Spanish) that hold approximately 5000 liters of wine. The amphora are an important part of Bodega de las Estrellas’ sustainable approach, as the thick clay walls and vortex shape vessels of the amphora help to naturally maintain even temperatures and to keep t. As well, the amphora when used as aging vessels can create unique wines when compared to modern oak/wood vessels. The ceramic material of the amphora allows for a slight micro-oxidation (like an oak barrel), but without imparting any tertiary flavor to the wine. Filtering is done naturally by decanting directly from the amphora.

All told, Bodega de las Estrellas’ methods create wines that embody natural wine principles. For example they use of winemaking by-products for fertilization in order to reduce the carbon footprint. Their use of amphorae in the winery, combined with biodynamic and organic processes in the vineyard, create natural wines that give a sense of place, transporting you to the Land of La Mancha.