Bendito Destino

In the sun-baked hills of Ribera del Duero, a region where Roman mosaics of Bacchus whisper tales of winemaking antiquity, Bendito Destino (“Blessed Destiny”) is rewriting Spain’s wine narrative. Founded by Terry Kandylis—a sommelier turned “vineyard archaeologist”—and Guillermo Cruz Alcubierre, this project is a love letter to forgotten vines. During the pandemic, Terry stumbled upon abandoned centenarian vineyards near the village of Canalejas de Peñafiel, their gnarled roots clinging to history. These plots, some dating to 1908, were on the brink of extinction, casualties of a region that prized young vines over heritage. Terry and Guillermo became custodians of this legacy, reviving 8 hectares of bush vines using organic practices and Burgundian finesse