La Revista de Sotogrande 92

Page 130

BODEGAS DE LA REAL DIVISA, S.A. MARQUÉS DE LEGARDA

Oldest bodega in la Rioja Alta chooses Vinopolis A recommendation made at a party by a client led Managing Partner of Vinopolis, Richard Bell-Young, to contact this illustrious Bodega and to his surprise learn that they did not have representation in the Sotogrande and Marbella areas. After a short while, and no doubt a few sample bottles later, the relationship was established and these great wines are now available here.

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O why can Bodegas de la Real Divisa claim to be the oldest in La Rioja? King Garcia III (1035– 1054), of the Royal House of “Navarre”, founded the “Orden de la Terraza” (Order of the Pitcher) to commemorate his encounter with an image of the Virgin Mary in a cave. The Monastery of Santa Maria La Real de Najera was then built over this cave, which then became the final resting place for the Kings and Queens of “Navarre”.

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LA REVISTA DE SOTOGRANDE - VINOPOLIS

Tradition states that King García, whilst hunting with his Hawk, was startled by a partridge and he released his hawk to give chase. The partridge flew into a hidden cave and the hawk followed. When the King entered the cave he came face-to-face with an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus; the partridge and the hawk were at the Virgin Mary’s feet and in the foreground, a pitcher filled with white lilies. The grandson of King García, Prince Ramiro of Navarre, married Cristina Elviria, daughter of Spain’s medieval hero “El Cid Campeador”. It was this branch of the Royal House of Navarre that created Bodegas de la Real Divisa in the 12th century and the property of the Bodega remains with the founding family to this very day!


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