Gil Family Estates Celebrates 110th Anniversary

Gil Family Estates, a respected name in Spanish viticulture and producer behind the renowned “Juan Gil” wines, recently announced a year-long celebration in 2026 to commemorate its 110th anniversary.  To mark this milestone, they have released a limited-edition commemorative wine, “Hijos de Juan Gil Guerroro” (Children of Juan Gil Guerroro), and are hosting a series of special tasting events across the United States.  One of these events was the recent Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival on April 11th where fifth-generation family member Francisco Gil and his team of winemakers hosted a dinner alongside Michael’s Cuisine of Fort Worth.

Bodegas Juan Gil traces its roots to Juan Gil Giménez, whose first harvest in 1916 established a family legacy that has been carried forward with pride by each successive generation.  This 110th anniversary release honors his son, Juan Gil Guerrero, who bottled the first wine made from the family’s estate.

The winery focuses on Monastrell, red blends (Cabernet and Syrah), and Albariño.  The estate owns or controls approximately 4,364 acres of vineyards throughout their eleven wineries scattered across ten different Denominación de Origen (DO’s) in Spain.

I had an opportunity to sample this special release wine.  This is a 100% Monastrell made from organically dry-farmed 50-year-old vines planted at 2,300’ in the Jumilla DO in Southeastern Spain.  Harvested at just 1,780 lbs./acre, it is an intense, concentrated, and full-bodied Monastrell with notes of lush blackberry and dark plum alongside hints of herbed meat, pepper, and cedar supported by lively acidity and firm but smooth tannins with a lingering finish.  A rich and expressive wine that pairs well with grilled, smoked, or roasted meats, mushrooms, or aged and blue cheeses.

If you missed the chance to taste these wines at the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival, Gil Family Estates representatives will continue their U.S. tour later in 2026 at the events shown below.  Mark your calendar and plan to attend the event nearest you for a rewarding experience.