BODEGAS PARRA DORADA’S HISTORY
The story of the winery dates back from 1850, when the Castro family founded a winery in Santa Cruz de Mudela, in the Spanish region of Valdepeñas. Bodegas Parra Dorada was consequently born thanks to the close relationship between the Castro family and the Ishkovs, a Russian spirits maker family. The Ishkovs were born in Siberia and many generations of the Ishkovs
produced strong and tasty traditional Siberian liquors, made out of natural ingredients such as hazelnut, blueberry, juniper, or pine and cedar shoots. Nowadays the Ishkovs produce Siberian liquors at a modern production plant. Bodegas Parra Dorada is in fact a winemaking project whose aim is to create easy to drink, interesting and memorable wines that match the tastes and requirements of new consumers. In this project, both Castros and the Ishkovs have been very successful at combining the two centuries-old Castros’ winemaking tradition with the innovative spirit of the Ishkovs. Castros’ reputation for value is well-established, and Bodegas Parra Dorada challenge is to maintain this reputation while leveraging overall quality. Additionally, Bodegas Parra Dorada applies a creative and professional approach to all its business processes, being able to provide a personalized product and service. Given both associates consistent achievements, there is no reason to expect anything but overwhelming success from this common venture.
СТР.2. VALDEPEÑAS REGION
Valdepeñas Coat of Arms
Valdepeñas covers an area of 30,000 hectares where 35 wineries produce 50 million liters of wine annually. Valdepeñas, which translates as "valley of stones," has been a part of Spain's winemaking heritage since at least the 4th century B.C. The area is known for its tradition of fermenting wines in huge (1,600 liter) earthenware jars called “tinajas”. In past centuries, winemakers partially buried these large vessels in the earth, which helped keeping the wine cold throughout the fermentation process. Today the jars have been replaced by modern equipment and production processes, and the region has long held a reputation for producing quality, value-priced wines. Thanks to the thriving wine industry, a new class of winery owners appeared over the last century, and many historic and majestic houses can now be seen on estates across the region. Attractive religious buildings and typical Spanish architecture contribute to a number of routes that meander across Valdepeñas region. Thus, Villanueva de los Infantes, the original home of Don Quijote, is just 35km away from Valdepeñas.
СТР.3. TERROIR
Valdepeñas is almost completely surrounded by mountains and hills, although the main wine-growing area is situated on a plain at 705 meters above sea level. The mountains protect Valdepeñas from the effects of the Mediterranean Sea, but also ensure that the climate is completely continental. Winters in Valdepeñas are cold and summers are hot and dry. Droughts in summer are fairly common, frosts in winter can occasionally occur, and hailstorms and high winds are rare. Rainfall is sparse, with most rain falling during spring and autumn. The soils of Valdepeñas are stony, as you would expect from the DO's name, and quite poor in organic matter. The soils have a high percentage of limestone, over a subsoil of calcium carbonate, with good moisture retaining properties. The topsoils range from stony to chalky or sandy, dark red in color with a high lime content, which often forms hard crusty layers, which have to be broken to help the roots penetrate. Because of Valdepeñas' continental climate, the winery has traditionally concentrated on grape varieties that can tolerate heat, drought and occasional frost: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Airén, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Among these varieties, Tempranillo and Airén are unquestionably the most representative grapes. Being an early-ripening grape with a moderate production output, Tempranillo wines are intensely aromatic that are ideal for ageing, both in barrel and bottle. On the other hand, Airén, a thick-skinned strong variety, provides wines with fresh, clean and fruity aromas.
СТР.4. ABOUT OUR WINE
KEY DATA:
Annual production (bottles)
25.000.000
Total Vineyard Area (acres)
675
Planting Density (plants per acre)
769
Average Yields
18,94 hectoliters per acre
Average Vine Age (years)
30
Farming Method
Traditional
Harvesting Method
Traditional
Grape varieties (red)
Tempranillo, Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
Grape varieties (white)
Airén, Chardonnay,
Sauvignon Blanc
СТР.5. TABLE WINES
Red wines produced from Tempranillo are defined by its saturated ruby color, bright typical tempranillo’s aroma, velvety texture, powerful but at the same time so balanced taste. The ideal serving temperature for red wines is around 14ºC to 18ºC and we recommend to taste them with meat dishes, grilled vegetables, spaghetti and various meat snacks. These wines are perfect for daily consumption just in the family or in big friends’ parties. White wines produced from Airen are distinguished by its light golden color, delicate fruit aroma with notes of green apple, fresh, elegant and slightly acid taste. It is recommended to serve them at 10-12 C ° to accompany fish and vegetable dishes, spaghetti, rice with seafood. The semisweet wines with the content of sugar of 20-30 g/l are produced by Bodegas Parra Dorada as well. These flavored, medium sweet wines are very pleasant and easy drinking. They are ideal for such dishes as various snacks, easy main courses, fruit and desserts, and also as a digestif drinks.
