Founded in 1729, Bodegas Alvear is one the most prestigious and oldest family run wineries in the world. It is the second oldest winery in Spain and the oldest in Andalucía. Focused on producing the finest wines in Andalucía from the Pedro Ximénez variety, the current 8th generation of the family upholds the tradition established by Diego de Alvear y Escalera several centuries ago. Although the variety Pedro Ximénez is commonly understood as the sweet wine from Jeréz (sherry), it is actually its own variety – believed to have been brought to Spain by a soldier of the Spanish tercios by the same name after his tour in the 16th century Eighty Years’ War. The vast majority of Pedro Ximénez plantings are located in D.O. Montilla-Moriles, a high altitude rolling terrain surrounding the city of Cordoba. This sweet wine is obtained by drying the Pedro Ximénez grapes on mats in the sun. Once pressed, the raisins deliver an intensely rich must. Aged in the criaderas and solera system which was started in 1927.