Ángel Calleja’s passion for wine runs in the family. His grandfather made wine at Villamayor de Santiago (Cuenca), his home town. His father has always worked in wine distribution and retail, and his three brothers are also oenologists and work as such in different regions around Spain. After more than thirty years at Bodega Cuatro Rayas, Calleja knows better than anyone the many and varied possibilities of the Verdejo grape.

In 1975, after obtaining the qualification of Senior Specialist in Viticulture and Oenology at the Madrid School of Vine and Wine, Calleja launched his professional career with the Castilian Agricultural Co-operative Society, where he has remained ever since. During his time there, he has not neglected his education, having studied several master’s degrees and specialist viticulture, sensorial, oenology, and wine analysis courses. More recently he obtained recognition for his qualifications as equivalent to an Oenology Degree. He has also devoted time to teaching, leading courses on winemaking, tastings for sommeliers, and forming part of the teaching team for the Advanced Course in Winery Management for the Valladolid Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as collaborating with various university research projects.

In addition to his job as technical manager at Bodega Cuatro Rayas – Agrícola Castellana, Ángel Calleja has also collaborated as oenological advisor for bodegas endorsed by several appellations (Rueda, Cigales, Ribera del Duero, Toro, Rías Baixas, Ribeiro, and Arlanza), and belongs to the rating committees for Rueda, Cigales ,Toro, and Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla y León. He has also participated as a jury member in national and international competitions.

His responsibilities as technical manager at Bodega Cuatro Rayas are focused on winemaking and design, as well as coordinating the production and quality control departments; all in close collaboration with management and the sales department.