Antigua Bodega La Sangre is a historic winery, whose architecture dates back to the 17th century. It preserves the traces of the past and the authenticity of centuries of winemaking tradition.
Set near to the Iglesia de la Mayor and just a four-minute walk from "Casa Museo Don Bosco", the winery is part of an urban landscape that has witnessed generations of people from Ronda. Every stone, wall, and courtyard reflects the centuries-old practice of transforming grapes into wine, keeping alive the artisanal methods that were once at the heart of the city’s social and economic life.
The winery’s original name, La Sangre (“the Blood”), refers to wine, the land, manual labor, and the daily life of those who made it. The space was not just for producing wine - it was a gathering place and a center of tradition, where time was measured in harvests and fermentations. Wine was not a complement; it was an integral part of daily life.
Wineries and venues connected to storing and drinking wine served as spaces for conversation and community. They were not ceremonial - they were alive. Here, people discussed harvests, roads, local politics, news brought by muleteers and travelers; deals were struck, and silences shared.
There were many old sayings and “wine slang.” In the past, one didn’t ask for a glass of wine: one requested a “nip”, a “quick gulp”, or a “cautious sip”. If the wine was good, someone might say, “This is worth singing about.” If it had character: “This wine has backbone.” And if it went straight to your head: “It’s lively!” Measures were also expressed in colloquial speech: “a quarter", “a splash” or ”a mouthful".
In these historic spaces, wine shaped social life. People didn’t drink to analyze - it was shared, a bond and a reason to gather. A minimal gesture, a quick sip, could be enough to feel part of the community.
The restoration and preservation of this winery aim to honor this living history. Visitors today can immerse themselves in a space that combines authenticity, heritage, and unique sensory experiences, keeping alive the memory of a place that remains central to tradition in Ronda.
Reviving “vino a pellizco” in an environment such as this is more than a short tasting; it’s an opportunity to engage with a centuries-old tradition, where wine meant conversation, rest, work, laughter, and identity. The modern experience connects with this tradition - brief, authentic, and tied to the land, as it always was.
