Casa Castillo

Casa Castillo is widely regarded as Jumilla’s top estate—and one of Spain’s finest—thanks to the vision and dedication of owner José Maria Vicente. In a region once known for bulk wine, Vicente has brought international acclaim with his refined, expressive Monastrell wines that reveal the grape’s full potential.

The estate’s roots go back to 1941, when José Maria’s grandfather bought the land, which included an old 19th-century cellar built by French winemakers fleeing phylloxera. While the land was used for mixed farming for decades, serious winemaking began in 1985 when Vicente and his father started replanting. Their first vintage came in 1991, marking the beginning of a relentless pursuit of quality that continues today.

Now certified organic, Casa Castillo has 170 hectares of dry-farmed bush vines—mostly Monastrell, Garnacha, and Syrah—growing in calcareous, sandy soils with gravel in key plots. With vineyards perched at around 700m on north-facing slopes, the wines benefit from cooler conditions and a wide day-night temperature range, preserving freshness in this otherwise hot, arid region.

Vinification is low-intervention, using native yeasts, concrete and stainless steel fermenters, and aging in concrete and large old French oak. The wines are elegant, pure, and precise—far from what you’d expect from such a harsh climate.

The lineup includes the outstanding-value Monastrell, the fragrant 100% Garnacha ‘El Molar’, and the nuanced ‘La Tendida’ and ‘Las Gravas’ blends. The crown jewel, ‘Pie Franco’, is a legendary Monastrell from ungrafted 1942 vines, often earning near-perfect scores and standing among Spain’s most celebrated wines.

Buy Casa Castillo wine below.