October 13, 2015 – The famous Rock of Gibraltar will soon become an international site for wine storage according to The Guardian, a British newspaper. The Royal Engineers prior to the Second World War carved miles and miles of tunnels out of the limestone. The developer, Tracy Lee, heard about the tunnels, which have been off limits to the public, from her father who served in the military. She says that in some places, two 10-ton trucks can fit side by side and that some tunnels are the height of cathedrals.
The government of Gibraltar took over management of the tunnels from the British Ministry of Defence and is keen to develop them for other purposes. Ms. Tracy was obliged to test the space as suitable for wine storage. She told The Guardian, ““We have the perfect conditions within the rock: 70 to 80% humidity, 13 to 14 degrees (55-57 F.), no light, no vibrations.”
Gibraltar is located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula and it has been owned by Great Britain since 1713. While only 2.6 sq. miles, it has always been important militarily because it is the gateway to the Mediterranean. It is a busy port of call for cruise ships and its most famous inhabitants are wild monkeys. Lots of wild monkeys. Beside tourism, it is also a center for online gambling, financial services and shipping. Soon there will be another reason to visit The Rock when the caves open mid-2017 for wine storage.
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