Bodegas Fernando Castro Raices Gran Reserva 2018 is a classic Spanish Gran Reserva from Valdepeñas, made from Tempranillo and aged for a minimum of 60 months. The wine comes from the Raices line, the flagship of Bodegas Fernando Castro, where the house truly expresses its traditional style and long family history. With 18 months of aging in French and American oak, this red wine achieves that recognizable combination of ripe fruit, toast, spiciness, and a long, soft finish.
Valdepeñas is located in Castilla La Mancha, in the south of the Spanish Meseta.
Location / Origin: Bodegas Fernando Castro is located in Santa Cruz de Mudela, in the heart of the D.O.P. Valdepeñas, between the plains of La Mancha, Campo de Montiel, Campo de Calatrava, and the Sierra Morena.
Altitude: The vineyards around Finca Los Altos are situated at an altitude of 705 meters. This is remarkably high for this warm part of Spain and helps the grapes maintain sufficient structure alongside ripeness.
Soil: The region has calcareous, sandy, and reddish clay soils. These poor soils are not very fertile, which is beneficial for grapevines that need to produce concentrated grapes.
Climate & Influences: Valdepeñas has a distinct continental climate, with hot summers, cold winters, and little rainfall. More than 2,500 hours of sunshine per year ensure full ripening of the Tempranillo.
Vineyard & Harvest: Bodegas Fernando Castro works with 380 hectares of vineyards around Finca Los Altos, where the Castro family personally oversees the vineyard management.
The long aging gives this Gran Reserva its classic Spanish character.
Aging / Oak Maturation: What does Gran Reserva mean? Gran Reserva stands for a longer aging period before release. This wine ages for a minimum of 60 months, of which at least 18 months are spent in French and American oak barrels of a maximum of 225 liters, complementing the fruit with toast, spiciness, and a softer structure.
Alcohol percentage: With 13% alcohol, the wine remains smooth and accessible, while the long aging provides extra depth, roundness, and a savory finish.
This Gran Reserva is entirely supported by Tempranillo, the classic red grape of Valdepeñas.
Tempranillo – D.O.P. Valdepeñas: Tempranillo gives this wine its base of ripe red fruit, soft tannins, and spicy oak notes. The long Gran Reserva aging gives the wine more roundness, a riper aroma, and a softer finish.
