Bodega Frontio

In 2016, Dane Thyge Benned Jensen quit his job as an executive of the Maersk Oil company in Copenhaguen and settled in Arribes del Duero, a remote area in the Zamora province of Spain, to pursue his wine-making dream. Bodega Frontio, his personal project, is focused on the production of low- sulphite wines from long-forgotten local varieties, using only native yeasts, with very little extraction and a minimal intervention, hands-off approach to winemaking.

Located right on the border with Portugal and along the banks of the Duero river, the Arribes region has a rich heritage of local grapes that are not found anywhere else in Spain. The most important is the rare and delicate Juan García, which has become Mr. Jensen’s grape of choice and is the main component of most wines of Bodega Frontio. Besides, he also uses Rufete and Bruñal, two characterful local grapes, and small amounts of Tempranillo and Grenache. The white varieties are Doña Blanca and the recently recovered Puesta en Cruz. The grapes are sourced from 10 to 100-year-old vines grown in gravel and quartz soils and farmed following organic techniques, which include the use of cover crops.

Light to medium-bodied, the wines of Bodega Frontio are produced with minimal intervention techniques to preserve the compelling personality of the Arribes native varieties. The opposite of fruit bombs, these wines usually have moderate ABV (around 11-12%), exceptional freshness, an alluring aromatic profile and a restrained, kind of rustic elegance. On top of that, they are sold at very reasonable prices.

• Year of foundation: 2016
• Addrress: Calle Requejo 170
• City: Fermoselle
  
• Province: Zamora
• Zip code: 49220
  
• Country: Spain
• Phone number: 34 652 460 462
  
• Guided visits? Yes
• Wine tourism services?  Yes

Designation of origin:

Arribes

Red wine varieties:

Juan García, Rufete, Bruñal, Grenache, Tempranillo.

White wine varieties:

Doña Blanca, Puesta en Cruz.