Montilla-Moriles is one of Spain's most prestigious Designations of Origin, located in the south of the province of Córdoba. Famous for its fortified wines made with the Pedro Ximénez grape variety, this land of albariza soils and radiant sunshine has managed to combine centuries-old tradition with innovation to conquer the most demanding palates in the world.
At The Sun Places we invite you to discover its secrets, its history and its emblematic wineries.
📍Where is the Montilla-Moriles Designation of Origin located?
The Protected Designation of Origin Montilla-Moriles extends over 18 municipalities in the south of the province of Córdoba, the main nuclei being Montilla and Moriles, which give name to the DOP. It covers more than 4,850 hectares of vineyard, cultivated by nearly 2,000 families, many of them on smallholdings.
The white albariza soils of the Sierra de Montilla and the Altos de Moriles constitute the higher quality areas, characterised by their high calcium carbonate content and their ability to retain moisture.
The climate is a determining factor: temperatures in summer reaching around 40 degrees, prolonged absence of rainfall and a deep Mediterranean influence that gives the wines their own personality.
📜 History of Montilla-Moriles: from the Romans to world recognition
The wine-growing history of Montilla-Moriles dates back to Roman times, when wines were already being produced in the area. However, the great boost came in the 18th century with the founding of centuries-old wineries.
The oldest winery in the denomination is Alvear, founded in 1729, which continues to produce wines with more than three centuries of history. Other historic wineries such as Omete (1730, now disappeared) and Ceceta (17th century) marked the beginnings of the local wine industry.
The ageing system under flor veil, which characterises finos and amontillados, was not established in Montilla until the 1920s, although its origin dates back to the late 17th century in the taverns of Cádiz. During the 19th century, all the great wineries in Jerez had a winery in Montilla, which boosted international trade, especially with England.
A fundamental milestone was the export of wine from Montilla to England by Bodegas Alvear in the 18th century, which put this region on the world wine map. The Designation of Origin was officially constituted in 1944, after overcoming the bureaucratic problems of the Civil War, and the following year its regulations were approved.
🍇 The queen grape of Montilla-Moriles: Pedro Ximénez, versatility and exceptional quality
The Pedro Ximénez variety is the soul of Montilla-Moriles. It covers approximately 95% of the DOP's land. It is a very thin-skinned grape, very sensitive to humidity, which reaches a high alcohol degree but is not particularly aromatic in its natural state.
Its origin is uncertain: an old tradition without ampelographic foundation assures that it was brought by a German soldier of the Tercios of Charles V, but most current experts lean towards a Mediterranean origin. Its great peculiarity in Montilla-Moriles is its versatility: with a single variety, five different types of wine are produced.
It all begins with fermentation in stainless steel, which then passes to cement vats for classification, and then fino, amontillado, oloroso, palo cortado or sweet Pedro Ximénez can be produced. In addition to this queen variety, white grapes such as Airén, Baladí, Torrontés, Moscatel, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo are also grown for young wines.
🍷 Types of wine in Montilla-Moriles: from finos to sweet Pedro Ximénez
Several types of wine are produced in Montilla-Moriles, all of exceptional quality:
- Young Wine: Low-alcohol, light and fruity. Made with Pedro Ximénez, Airén, Baladí-Verdejo and other varieties, offering pale, transparent, dry or slightly sweet wines. Its consumption has grown among young people because it is softer and easier to drink.
- Fino: The most universal fortified wine. It is aged under flor veil, a layer of yeast that protects the wine from oxidation. It is clean, bright, light and olive-yellow in colour. On the nose, piercing, almondy notes with hints of yeast stand out. In Montilla, finos need more ageing time than those from Jerez to show their full potential, reaching between 8 and 10 years.
- Amontillado: It is born from subjecting a fino to oxidative ageing for many years. It is the king of fortified wines. Its colour evolves to amber tones and its aroma becomes more piercing, with unmistakable hazelnut notes. On the palate it is tasty, dry and elegant. Its name comes from Montilla: the Jerez winemakers who tasted this wine wanted to imitate it and called it "amontillado" in honour of its origin.
- Oloroso: Another great fortified wine of dark mahogany colour, the result of controlled oxidation. On the nose it is round, balsamic, with hints of freshly cracked walnut and spicy nuances. On the palate it is velvety, full-bodied, energetic and smooth at the same time.
- Palo Cortado: An exceptional wine that combines the characteristics of amontillado (in colour and smell) and oloroso (in taste). It is a rarity within the denomination.
- Pedro Ximénez: The naturally sweet wine par excellence. It is made from sun-dried grapes, resulting in a dark ruby or almost jet-black wine, dense as honey, loaded with aromas of nuts, figs and molasses. It is one of the most popular wines among enthusiasts.
- Moscatel: Natural sweet wine ranging from young abocados to old jet-black, perfumed and complex soleras.
🏆 International awards: Montilla-Moriles, one of the most awarded DOPs
Montilla-Moriles is one of the most awarded Designations of Origin in the world. In recent years, its wines have achieved success in prestigious international competitions:
- At the Prowein 2025 fair (Düsseldorf, Germany), Bodegas Robles received three medals: Grand Gold for Piedra Luenga Fino, Gold for Piedra Luenga Pedro Ximénez and Gold for Brut Nature 24 months. Also Los Insensatos de la Antehojuela achieved Grand Gold for El Lechinar 2023 and Gold for La Manga del Negro 2023.
- At the Bacchus 2025 International Competition, the sweet wine La Aurora Montilla Bacchus, produced by the La Aurora Cooperative of Montilla, obtained two gold medals, highlighting the quality of its Pedro Ximénez.
- At the Austrian Wine Challenge (AWC) Vienna 2023, Bodegas Navarro achieved Gold for the Pedro Ximénez Solera Fundación 1830 and Silver for the verdejo Flor de Córdoba, among more than 11,000 participating wines.
- These awards reinforce the international projection of the DOP and consolidate Montilla-Moriles as a world reference for fortified and sweet wines.
🏛️ The best wineries in Montilla-Moriles?: tradition and excellence
The Designation of Origin is home to around a hundred wineries. These are some of the most emblematic:
- Bodegas Alvear: Founded in 1729, it is the oldest winery in Montilla-Moriles. Its most interesting wines include Fino Capataz, Amontillado Solera Fundación 1729 and excellent vintage PX. It was the first Montilla winery to export wine to England. Its palo cortado is a rarity in the area.
- Bodegas Robles: Founded in 1927, it is one of the oldest wineries. They have bet on organic and sustainable wines, as well as innovative products such as vinegars, jellies and vermouths inspired by Andalusian tradition. Their Piedra Luenga Bio fino is a benchmark, and at Prowein 2025 they achieved a Grand Gold and two Golds.
- Lagar Blanco: Owned by the renowned oenologist Miguel Cruz Marqués, located on the Cuesta Blanca estate at almost 700 metres above sea level. He recovered an old cooperative and produces wines in traditional clay jars with a limited production of 60,000 litres. His Fino Lagar Blanco is a compendium of orange blossom and salinity.
- Lagar La Inglesa: Owned by Antonio Doblas Alcalá, dating from the early 19th century and houses some of the oldest fortified wine casks in the world. The building was commissioned by Diego Alvear y Ponce de León in 1807. It houses exceptional wines such as en rama fino or aged fino, and amontillados from the founding solera of 1927.
- Bodegas Pérez Barquero: Founded in 1905, another of Montilla's historic wineries. Its en rama Fino, with 8-10 years of ageing, is a dense, meaty wine with great nerve and highly gastronomic. It is considered a "Dos Palmas" due to its age.
- Bodegas Toro Albalá: Founded in Moriles in 1922, it is a benchmark for sweet and fortified wines with long ageing.
- Bodegas Delgado: Founded in 1874 in Moriles, it has also won international awards.
- Bodegas Navarro: The second oldest firm in Montilla-Moriles, with wines such as Pedro Ximénez Solera Fundación 1830 (25 years of ageing) and the verdejo Flor de Córdoba.
- Los Insensatos de la Antehojuela: A Moriles winery that bets on parcel wines with their own identity, linked to the sustainable care of the vineyard. It obtained Grand Gold and Gold at Prowein 2025.
- Cooperativa La Aurora: Founded in Montilla, its sweet wines have obtained gold medals at the Bacchus competition.
These wineries, many of them centuries old, offer guided tours, tastings and wine tourism experiences. The Sun Places arranges private tours of the most exclusive ones for you, with transport from Córdoba and tastings commented on by oenologists.
🏅 What Montilla-Moriles represents for Córdoba, Andalusia and The Sun Places
For Córdoba, Montilla-Moriles is a source of identity pride and an economic engine that provides employment for thousands of families in the south of the province.
For Andalusia, it is one of Spain's most prestigious Designations of Origin, a world reference for fortified wines and an ambassador of Andalusian wine culture.
For The Sun Places, it represents the opportunity to offer our guests a unique luxury wine tourism experience: explore centuries-old vineyards, taste award-winning wines in wineries with centuries of history, pair them with the best local products (oil from the Sierra and wines from Moriles).
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Where to eat near Montilla: haute cuisine and traditional tapas
If you take a tour of Montilla-Moriles, we recommend these places to eat in Montilla and the surrounding area. In Montilla capital, traditional taverns stand out where you can pair the local wines with Cordoban cuisine. Some references:
- Restaurante El Recreo de Montilla: Traditional Andalusian cuisine with local products. Their grilled meats and home-made stews stand out.
- Taberna El Corregidor: In the heart of Montilla, offers typical tapas and portions: salmorejo, flamenquín, oxtail and aubergines with cane honey.
- Restaurante La Casería: Specialising in Cordoban market cuisine, with wine pairing options from the DOP.
- Bodega San Francisco: A charming space for tapas and tasting Montilla wines, with a very pleasant terrace in spring.
- In Moriles: The neighbouring town has winery-restaurants such as Bodegas Toro Albalá, offering tastings paired with cured meats, cheeses and local products.
- In Córdoba city: If you prefer to return to the city, we recommend the Michelin-starred restaurants Choco and ReComiendo, or traditional tapas in Bodegas Mezquita (in the Jewish Quarter), Casa Pepe de la Judería, Taberna La Montillana and Bodegas Campos.
The Sun Places recommends and manages reservations for you at the best restaurants in Montilla and Córdoba, combining the best gastronomy with the most award-winning wines from the Designation of Origin.
🏠 The perfect plan with The Sun Places for Montilla-Moriles
Friday:
- Wine tasting of Montilla-Moriles in a specialised tavern in the Jewish Quarter
- Dinner at Choco (one Michelin star) with wine pairing from the DOP
Saturday:
- Private wine tourism route through Montilla and Moriles. Visit to Bodegas Alvear and Bodegas Robles with tasting of finos, amontillados and Pedro Ximénez
- Lunch at a traditional restaurant in Montilla paired with local wines
- Dinner at ReComiendo (one Michelin star) with pairing of amontillados and olorosos
Sunday:
- Free morning to visit the patios of the Santa Marina Neighbourhood and San Basilio (in May) or to buy crafts at the Jewish Quarter Souk
- Farewell with a tasting of Pedro Ximénez and Oils with DO at Terra Olea or Bodegas Mezquita
- Return with a bottle of the best wine from Montilla-Moriles
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your tour of Montilla-Moriles. Wine, history and luxury await you. ✨
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