Place & Heritage
Bodega del Nero is located in Chinchón, a historic hill town whose relationship with wine predates modern appellations by centuries. The winery was founded in 1870, at a time when wine here was produced for daily life - for homes, taverns, and the capital itself - rather than for markets or trends.
The bodega occupies a traditional cellar building over 150 years old, naturally insulated by thick walls that maintain stable temperature and humidity year-round. This is not a reconstructed or symbolic space. It is a working winery that has remained continuously active across five generations.
Family & Continuity
Bodega del Nero remains fully family-owned and operated, now led by Álvaro López del Nero and Roberto López del Nero, brothers representing the fifth generation of winemakers in the family. Knowledge here has never been abstract. It has been transmitted through harvests, cellar work, and vineyard decisions, passed from one generation to the next through practice rather than theory.
The family remains present in the winery, often guiding visits themselves and maintaining a direct relationship with both the land and the wines.
Vineyards, Land & Grapes
Grape varieties cultivated include:
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) - the structural backbone of the reds
Garnacha - contributing aromatic lift and balance
Graciano and Petit Verdot - used selectively for depth and tension
Airén - a historic white grape treated here with seriousness and care
Malvar - a local white variety valued for freshness and texture
Winemaking Philosophy
Bodega del Nero’s winemaking philosophy is grounded in respect for traditional methods combined with quiet technical control. A defining element of the cellar is the continued use of tinajas - large clay vessels historically used throughout central Spain. These allow gentle oxygen exchange without imparting external aromas, preserving fruit expression and vineyard character.
After fermentation, some wines are aged in a careful combination of French and American oak barrels, selected for balance rather than dominance. Modern technology is present where it serves clarity and hygiene, but never at the expense of identity. The objective is precision, not intervention.
Wines
The winery produces a focused range of wines that reflect both Chinchón’s history and contemporary restraint.
Wines
NERI Blanco
100% Airén, sourced from old vines. A white wine of clarity and texture that reclaims Airén as a grape of character and quiet elegance.
NERI Tinto
Tempranillo-led, supported by complementary varieties. Balanced, expressive, and oriented toward the table.
NERI Cepas Viejas
From older vines, offering greater depth, structure, and harmony.
TRAPISONDERO
100% Tempranillo, aged several months in a combination of tinaja and oak. Pure fruit, controlled structure.
TRAJÍN
Tempranillo with extended aging, showing greater complexity and evolution.
VALDELICEDA
A more structured Tempranillo expression, designed for aging and long meals rather than immediacy.
Visiting the Winery
A visit to Bodega del Nero is best understood as an introduction to village wine culture, not a staged tasting experience.Visits are by appointment, personal, and unhurried. They typically include:
• An introduction to the family history and vineyards
• A walk through the historic cellar spaces, including tinajas
• A guided tasting of key wines
• Local pairings that reflect Chinchón’s traditional table
The experience is direct, human, and rooted in place.
Nearby Places
Why It Matters
Bodega del Nero matters because it demonstrates that Madrid Wine Country did not need reinvention — only continuity. Here, wine is not revived. It never left.