"LO MEJOR ESTÁ POR LLEGAR”
“El Montecillo” is a beautiful place in Fuenmayor, in the heart of La Rioja, that many years ago lent its name to this winery that symbolizes a calling and a personality: the vineyard is the origin and foundation of everything. It just celebrated its 150th anniversary. It is the third-oldest winery in DOCa Rioja, and its name is Bodegas Montecillo.
In 1870, Celestino Navajas Matute, whose family was from the town of Fuenmayor, founded his winery after inheriting vineyards from his mother-in-law six years earlier. A true visionary, he sent his son Alejandro (second generation) to study in Bordeaux, and upon his return, the latter purchased an estate that would become the centre of the family business. This was in the late 19th century (1880).
By the 20th century, in around 1943, the third generation arrived on the scene, in the person of José Luis Navajas, who also studied in France, but in the other winegrowing epicentre, Burgundy, and introduced innovative winemaking techniques (cold vinification). He became the manager of the winery, making
