Founded in 2004, Jorge Ordofiez Winery is jointly owned by the Ordofiez family of Malaga and the Kracher family from Austria, along with a number of local friends and entrepreneurs. Owner Jorge Ordofiez is one of the most prestigious importers of Spanish wines to the United States, and his sister, Victoria Ordofiez, serves as the winery's general manager. In 2010, New Zealand winemaker Alistair Gardner, a specialist in dry white wines, joined the winemaking team, assisting Jorge Ordofiez's other wineries in Rias Baixas and Valdeorras. Perhaps most novel for this wine enterprise is the presence of world-renowned Austrian winemaker Alois Kracher, undisputedly the world's leading sweet wine producer. In 2008, his son, Gerhard Kracher, succeeded him. Established in Almachar in 2004, the winery was the first of its kind to develop in Malaga's Axarquia region. Traditionally, the Muscat Alejandria grapes were grown for raisins, not wine. Axarquia, a mountainous region near the Mediterranean Sea with steep slopes and slate soils, is considered one of Europe's oldest grape-producing regions. Due to steady growth in production, the winery began relocating to its current location in Vélez-Malaga in 2008.
Region
Axarquia's vineyards are situated on a partially weathered foliage rock, mixed with limestone and clay. This results in poor soil quality, with bedrock often exposed, further arduous the already challenging task of viticulture due to the rugged terrain. The most notable topographical feature is the slopes, which range from 40% to 60% or more, with an absolute height difference of 400 meters, a major constraint on agricultural production. This is a very difficult, mechanized cultivation method and is currently rarely used.
Axarquia's primary grape variety is Alejandria, and thanks to the terroir, large, very sweet grapes are grown. The resulting wines are rich in sugar, with delicate aromas of honey, orange blossom, and fresh, sweet grapes. Vines are pruned and planted according to the cup-shaped system, using early-season farming, an ancient method still practiced in this part of Malaga.
The region's climate is dry and sunny, yet tempered by Mediterranean influences. The average temperature is around 16°C, dropping at night, and rainfall is minimal, around 500 mm. This climate, combined with the region's characteristic soils and the age of the vineyards, results in very low grape yields. While grapes are primarily supplied by local growers, our winery also has its own vineyards. Jorge Ordonez & Co. is rooted in innovation and a relentless pursuit of quality while preserving the region's unique values. Using old vines of the Alexandria Muscat variety, the company produces both a naturally sweet wine from Malaga and a dry Moscatel from the Sierras de Malaga, a point of great pride for the owner.
Winemaking
Jorge Ordonez is most proud of his philosophy of innovating within tradition. When Malaga's first maritime exports began in the 18th century, sweet white wines were produced to accommodate the long voyages. Within this traditional environment, Jorge has furthered these values, collaborating with the renowned Austrian sweet wine-making family, Alois Kracher, to produce a series of sweet white wines (the winery's Seria N 1°, 2°, 3°, and 4) using the local Muscat grape. He then went on to create another innovative dry white wine, Botani. Botani's success has even made it a truly unique and iconic wine from the region.
