“This is a project that tends to be overlooked, but it deserves as much attention as the personal project from Raúl Pérez and his nephew César Márquez, as it has the hand and experience of both and the backbone of the family vineyards. The wines are very clean; the whites are a little more reductive, but the reds have lots of purity and are homogeneous and very representative of their birthplace. They have some of the best vineyards in the village, and these are some of the best wines they have produced, with precision and cleanliness.” –Luis Gutierrez [Wine Advocate – July 2025] 

Since 1752, the Pérez family has owned and farmed vineyards around the ancient Roman fortress of Castro Ventosa (translating to Windy Castle) and taken its name for their vineyard domain. Dedication to the integrity of the terroir both defines and honors the work of their ancestors and can proudly say that it is one of the few and last remaining estates tending to vines upwards of 100 years old. With 195 acres under vine, the Pérez family is also the most prominent vigneron in the region. While the wines have been spectacular for generations, Raúl Pérez Pereira has been cementing the family legacy into written history.

Raúl has been celebrated as one world’s top 100 most creative business minds [cover of Forbes Magazine, April 2024], being named “Winemaker of the Year”  [Der Feinschmecker, 2014], “Best Winemaker in the World” [Bettane + Desseauve, 2015] and a notable high point with Master of Wine Pedro Ballesteros being quoted: “Raúl Pérez is the archetype of the intuitive winemaking genius.” Coupled with an image of Raúl in the same publication asking, “Is this the best winemaker in the world?” [Decanter, February 2018].

Producing his first vintage in 1994 at Castro Ventosa, conversations about “The New Spain” wine movement are never without Raúl and the Pérez family. In 2005, Raúl expanded his wine making footprint to also include his own project, creating Bodegas y Viñedos Raúl Pérez while continuing to make wines for Castro Ventosa.

In recent years, another family member has joined Raúl in making the wines and only continuing to elevate the estate. Nephew César Márquez Pérez joined in 2019 and together have resulted in wines of even greater finesse, delicacy and brilliance and have the continued press and accolades to support it.