Centuries-old winery discovered beneath Spanish farm
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Restoration work in Ponferrada, Spain, revealed a wine cellar hidden beneath an old monastic farm in El Bierzo.
The cellar, linked to a religious priory that once occupied the land, had been concealed for over two centuries. The discovery occurred while the building was being renovated for a new purpose, prompting a need to carefully document and relocate the historical structure.
Archaeologists confirmed the cellar dates to the 18th and early 19th centuries, based on a coin from 1775 minted during the reign of Carlos III. They found three large wine vats and pottery fragments inside. Before dismantling the cellar, the León Territorial Commission for Cultural Heritage mandated detailed records including plans, photographs, and 3D scans.
Pescaderías Coruñesas S.L., the current owner who purchased the 13-hectare property for €470,000, plans to integrate the cellar into an exhibit as part of a larger restoration project. Local officials describe the project as a key recovery effort for the historical landscape of the Tebaida Berciana region, an area known for its concentration of early medieval monasteries.
The region of El Bierzo has a long history of winemaking, dating back to Roman times, and is now recognized for its Mencía and Godello grape varieties.
