Finca Sandoval

We aim to produce terroir-based wines reflecting the limestone soils, the high altitude, the various grape varieties in southeastern Spain's Manchuela. We seek to maintain the southern European tradition of field and cellar blends of grapes. Our approach is based on low intervention - only native yeasts are used, minimal SO2 additions at bottling, with no filtration or fining. We hold a certification of organic viticulture.

Central Manchuela has rolling terrain, slowly rising toward the Cuenca mountains due north. Vineyards abut othercrops, particularly cereals and olive trees. The altitude is from 750 to 1,000 meters. The medieval Alarcón castle, with a reservoir near it, is a highlight to the west, while just to the east lie the spectacular Hoces del Cabriel, the canyon dug by the river that separates Castilla-La Mancha from Valencia.

We work from a simple, functional 900 square meter facility, with small (50 hl), gravity-fed, open-top, temperature-controlled fermenting vats. Basket press, hand pigeage. Aging is in large 300 l barrels.

Higueras y Olivos, 7.0 ha, four types of limestone-based soils, syrah and touriga nacional

Las Hacillas del Rapaz, 3.1 ha, clay-limestone, syrah

Casilla de Don Tomás, 3.5 ha, limestone rocks on clay-limestone, bobal and monastrell

La Bodega, 0.5 ha, limestone, touriga nacional