Bodegas Olvena takes its name from the town of Olvena, a small village in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees. Founded in 1999 by Antonio Abbad, the winery is the fulfillment of his life-long dream to return to his agricultural roots. Born just a stone’s throw from Olvena, the Spanish entrepreneur returned to the region in 1980 and bought a pear orchard. By the late 1990s, the estate covered more than 600 hectares, with 200 under vine.
Today, Bodegas Olvena is a leading, family-owned and operated winery in Somontano, Spain’s most promising appellation for the production of fine wine. All of its wines are made using estate-grown fruit and the winery is run by Antonio’s daughter María José Abbad and her husband Roberto Pan, who oversee every aspect of production, from vineyard to cellar to bottle to market.
The Abbad family attributes the longevity of its wines to Somotano’s unique terroir. Excellent ventilation and high altitude make for fresh wines, with superior aging potential. The promise of this young appellation is such that the Abbad family was able to convince world-renowned winemaker Michel Rolland to consult for them.
“When Michel Rolland came to Somontano and discovered the possibilities offered by the terroir and the bodega,” remembers María José, “he didn’t even think twice. We were extremely pleased. He began working with us during the 2007 grape harvest and has focused his efforts on introducing new vine-training methods that enhance the ripening of the grapes and perfect fermentation conditions.”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that one of France’s great winemakers would embrace the opportunity to work with Somontano’s leading winery: unlike the majority of Spanish appellations, Somontano enjoys a “continental” climate, more akin to French wine country than to the rest of Spain. Rolland’s support for incorporating technological developments into viticulture also makes him a natural fit for the progressive Somontano region.
Bodegas Olvena takes its name from the town of Olvena, a small village in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees. Founded in 1999 by Antonio Abbad, the winery is the fulfillment of his life-long dream to return to his agricultural roots. Born just a stone’s throw from Olvena, the Spanish entrepreneur returned to the region in 1980 and bought a pear orchard. By the late 1990s, the estate covered more than 600 hectares, with 200 under vine. 
