Place & Heritage
Bodegas Peral is located in Colmenar de Oreja, one of Madrid’s most historically important wine towns. For centuries, wines from this village supplied the city of Madrid, long before modern appellations or commercial branding existed. The winery traces its origins to 1872, when an underground cellar was established to serve the capital’s growing demand for wine.
In 1953, the cellar passed into the hands of the Peral family, who have safeguarded it ever since. The winery sits directly beneath the village, carved into limestone rock, with natural conditions that have preserved wines for generations: stable temperature, natural humidity, and silence. These caves are not preserved as a museum - they remain fully active today.
Family & Continuity
Bodegas Peral is a five-generation family winery.
Antonio Peral, the father, laid the foundations of continuity and care that still define the cellar. His son, Jesús Peral, is the current owner and winemaker, responsible for both the technical direction and the human experience of the winery.
The next generation, Hugo Peral, represents the future of the family’s commitment to this place and its traditions.
After studying winemaking around the world, Jesús returned home to blend modern knowledge with century-old traditions. Decisions here are not driven by fashion or volume, but by familiarity with the vines, the cellar, and the land—and by the responsibility of carrying forward a legacy that has endured for over a century.
Vineyards, Land & Grapes
Key grape varieties include:
Tempranillo (Tinta de Madrid / Tinta Fina) - the backbone of the red wines
Malvar - a traditional Madrid white grape central to Peral’s identity
Moscatel de Grano Menudo - used for aromatic white expressions
Small proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in select red blends
Winemaking Philosophy
Bodegas Peral’s approach is defined by continuity and restraint. Modern control exists, but it never overrides tradition. One of the winery’s defining practices is sobremadre, a historic local method in which wines complete fermentation and aging in contact with their own lees or skins. This technique builds texture and complexity naturally, without forcing weight or extraction.
Fermentations take place slowly, aided by the constant conditions of the underground cellar. Oak barrels, traditional clay tinajas, and stainless steel coexist - each used deliberately, never as a stylistic statement. The result is wine shaped by time, not urgency.
Wines
Bodegas Peral produces a range of wines that reflect both Madrid’s traditions and careful contemporary execution.
Whites & Traditional Methods
Peral Sobremadre Blanc
Malvar fermented and aged on its lees using the sobremadre method; structured, expressive, and deeply local
Clarete Sobre Madre
A historic Madrid wine style, clarete sobre madre blends red and white grapes and rests on its lees for added texture, freshness and complexity.
Reds & Crianza
Menina Tinto
Tempranillo-led, balanced and food-driven
Menina Crianza
Aged in French oak, refined without excess
Peral Sobremadre Tinto
A red wine shaped by skin contact and time, offering depth without heaviness
Aromatized Wines
Vermú Reserva Peral
A classic expression aligned with Madrid’s aperitif culture
Visiting the Winery
A visit to Bodegas Peral begins with a descent underground. The original cellar, excavated in the late 19th century, remains the heart of the winery. Stone corridors, earthen walls, and natural silence frame the experience.
Visits are personal, unhurried, and by appointment. Tastings typically include a selection of wines alongside local products such as cheese and cured meats, reinforcing the winery’s connection to the table and to daily life in the region.
How to curate a meaningful visit:
- Begin with the story of the cellar and its role in Madrid’s wine supply
- Taste across styles to understand sobremadre, crianza, and village winemaking
- Pair wines with local food to experience them as they were intended
Nearby places
Why It Matters
Bodegas Peral is not a revival project. It never stopped.
It matters because it embodies Madrid Wine Country as it truly is: a place where wine has always been made quietly, underground, close to home, and close to the table. A living cellar that remembers — and continues.