History of a family
The wine of Toro, recognized since ancient times as stands for quality, was the main reason for Antonio Velasco, our father, to migrate from Medina del Campo to Toro in the first half of last century to begin a new life. With only 16 years old, and thanks to the experience acquired with his father, wine dealer in Serrada and Rueda, created his first wine industry in Toro, named Bodegas e Industrias Velasco.
In the 50s, after getting the title of "Master Winemaker" at the School of Enology and Viticulture in Haro (La Rioja), he acquired some vineyards and an underground wine cellar to produce wine sold in bulk to meet the demand of wines of the the region and muleteers who came from northern Spain. This winery today is restored and open to visitors.
Shortly thereafter, adapting to new patterns of consumption, he began bottling the wines elaborated helped by their sons, which he iniciated in the world of wine, teaching the art and craft of making wine. Impelled by market trends, where the bulk wine was declining to give way to quality bottled wine, the creation of new processing facilities is decided.
In 1999 the current winery, facilities with greater capacity for elaboration and aging and most modern equipment adapted to the new needs to elaborate quality wines, was opened under the protection of the Apellation of Origin D.O. Toro. Al this without forgetting our roots and know how that Antonio Velasco, our father taught us.
The brands under the control of the Apellation of Origin D.O. Toro are "Garabitas" and "Peña Rejas", names taken from the areas of the countryside of Toro where our most iconic vineyards are located.
Today we have two main challenges. The first is to strengthen our position in the U.S. market where our wines are already present and the second is to become a reference in Toro wine tourism. We consider it’s very important to show our origins and heritage, and for that we have the old wine cellar, which now is restored and open to the public. You can find there, in addition to our wines, other local products such as cold meats, cheese, sweets and legumes.