Bodegas Abanico

About Bodegas Abanico

Bodegas Abanico is a project of Rafael De Haan and Nuria Altes. After meeting in the wine trade (Rafael exported Nuria's wines from Celler Batea), the two developed a close partnership to discover and select the best wines Spain has to offer. 

Bodegas Abanico really began in its current form in the fall of 2006 when Rafael and Nuria decided to create their own wine at Celler Batea in the DO Terra Alta in northeastern Spain's Catalonia region.

At the time, the two had hired a New Zealand winemaker at Bodegas Abanico, with whom they wanted to create something special from the old vines of Garnacha and Syrah in Terra Alta. The result was the wine Las Colinas del Ebro, which has since become one of the most successful brands in Bodegas Abanico's own range. More than anything, this experience showed Rafael and Nuria that they could produce much better wine than what was currently offered throughout the region in terms of wine quality and packaging.

Since 2006, under the name Bodegas Abanico, the two have developed numerous brands from all over Spain and now South America. The two continue to seek out great wines and exciting regions to add to their portfolio.

Bodegas Abanico - that's UK-born Rafael first, who studied history and Latin American studies before joining the UK wine trade in 2000. As an assistant buyer, he traveled to Argentina and Chile where he realized he wanted to be close to the vines rather than in an office.

After moving to Barcelona in 2001, Rafael discovered the great potential of Spanish wine, which at the time was not really seen at all in the international market. So he started learning as much as he could about the regions, the grape varieties and the people involved. In 2002, after selling his first pallet of wine to England, Rafael opened a small wine and tapas bar in Barcelona. By 2005, the wine business became big enough for Rafael to sell his share of the restaurant and start Exportiberia as a fully active company. Finally, in 2006, Rafael founded Bodegas Abanico with his partner Núria Altès.

Núria Altès studied agronomy and, after graduation, was primarily tasked with overseeing production and quality control at Celler Batea, which is probably not a satisfying job in the long run at the largest winery in DO Terra Alta. Nuria's unwavering enthusiasm for the wines and the Terra Alta region ensured that she was soon promoted to sales manager. She wasted no time in establishing her products in numerous international markets. Núria owns 50% of Bodegas Abanico, which she runs with her partner Rafael, and continues to be export manager for Celler Batea.