Producer Ponce

At the ripe old age of 23, Juan Antonio Ponce (pronounced pon-thay) left a coveted position in the winemaking team of Spanish giant Telmo Rodriguez, to found Bodegas Ponce in the region of Manchuela.

Here, with the native varietals of Bobal, Albilla and Moravia Agria, Juan Antonio began applying a degree of meticulous care to the vineyards that’s rarely seen in such a humble appellation.

More than a decade later, Ponce wines have become emblematic of a new philosophy in Spanish wine: biodynamically and organically farmed, focused on representation of terroir and heavily influenced by the natural wine movement in France.

His success has shown a lot of young winemakers that patience, care and hard work can elevate lesser known varietals and regions to great heights.