Following an early start in the middle of February, the day was filled with blue skies and sunshine.
On our arrival at Bodegas Viña Elena in Jumilla, we were met by our hostesses Maria and Maggi with a very welcome glass of Pacheco Rosado, a very jovial, friendly and refreshing wine with good intensity of fruit aromas.
The bodega was founded by Francisco Pacheco in 1948 who began making wine at home with a modest wine press in the family home. The business was later taken over by Paco Pacheco who then went on to expand the company and currently the third and fourth generations are still at the helm, continuing the family legacy.
Their motto is ‘Tradition, with an eye on the future’. They are a young dynamic team that combines tradition and modernity by bringing to light everything they have learnt from past generations while, at the same time, contributing the most innovative and cutting-edge knowledge to the art of wine making.
They have also expanded their product range to include their very own home-grown extra virgin olive oil and fried almonds, which, together with the vineyards, pay homage to the three traditional crops or ‘Trinity’ of the high plains of Murcia.
Our visit included a tour of one of the vineyards and 3 wineries from 1948, 1978 and 2005, the latest being the most up-to-date facility, housing the production area with the latest technology, a wine ageing room, offices and the shop.
After the tour, we had a four-course lunch in the family house – La Casa de los Abuelos. This is where the Pacheco family grew up and has recently been restored to become a gastronomic space dedicated to serving visitors. The chef prepares the different menus whose dishes, traditional and typical cuisine of Jumilla with modern touches, pair with each of the wines.
The delicious lunch included chargrilled bread with the bodega’s home-grown extra virgin olive oil, a traditional Murcian dish Zarangollo, served with Pacheco Blanco family wine 2024, a medium high intensity wine with notes of white flowers, tropical fruits and melon. The next course was Cod with peppers and tomatoes, served with Familia Pacheco Monastrell Organic 2023, 100% Monastrell without ageing, a young red wine. The main course was Pork loin with fried potatoes accompanied by Familia Pacheco Barrica 2021, a well balanced red wine with notes of red fruits and light notes of vanilla. A selection of local goat and sheep cheeses followed and was served with Pacheco Selección para Paco 2020, a coupage in tribute to the patriarch of the family, Paco Pacheco. Monastrell, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, kept 12 months in French oak, a very special wine with aromas of red fruits well integrated with hints of French oak, such as cloves and spices.
We then paid a visit to the shop where copious amounts of wine, olive oil and almonds were purchased. Soaps and candles were also available which had been made from the by-products of wine making.
As you can imagine, the journey home was quiet with the majority of our group recovering from their lunch.
A perfect end to a very enjoyable and relaxing day.
Review by Brian, Pat & Keith, Photos by Dina