Vineyards
In January 2018 we began the search for vineyards with native grape varieties, but without closing ourselves to foreign varieties that meet our expectations in their adaptation to the territory.
The location and orientation are important, poor soils with good drainage, environmentally friendly cultivation, limiting grape production for the sake of quality. The plots are owned, long-term leasing contracts and in some cases we buy grapes from good winegrowers.
At present, we are still looking for vineyards, preferably in the areas where we are working, first with the paraje classification and then with the experience of several years we can find their details and start working on the parcel concept.
Ainzón, Zaragoza
Ainzón and Tabuenca are located in the southwest of the Campo de Borja region. It is the area with the highest altitude and where the mountain ridges are over 1,000 metres high and the slopes where the best vineyards are located, with the backdrop of the majestic Moncayo, the highest peak in the region. This area was codified as 05-UT in the study and doctoral thesis "Alma de Terroir" elaborated by Dr. Miguel Lorente Blasco in 2017. An important part of the study corroborates the characteristics of the wines: lots of red fruit and freshness.
The continental climate of this region is characterised by low rainfall and water resources, very cold nights in winter and cool nights in summer, average annual temperature is 14°C and rainfall is around 450 mm.
The soils are mainly composed of Triassic Bundsandstein materials, consisting of conglomerates, deep red siliceous sandstones and shales.
HISTORY
It was in the 12th century, with the construction of the Monastery of Veruela by the French Cistercian monks, that vine cultivation was reborn in these lands. Today it is one of the areas in southern Europe where there are most old Garnacha vines.
Varieties: Garnacha.
Vineyards: Pozos de Mata, El Romeroso and Feremosa
San Martín de Valdeiglesias
Madrid
San Martín de Valdeiglesias is located to the east of the Sierra de Gredos and to the west of the Sierra de Guadarrama, at an altitude of 681 metres above sea level and geographically at a point where the provinces of Madrid, Toledo and Ávila meet.
Its climate is Mediterranean, dry and temperate, with average annual temperatures of around 13°C, long, cold winters and hot, dry summers. The average annual rainfall is around 500-550 l/m2, mostly falling during the autumn and spring months.
The soils come from the natural disintegration of granite. Weathering favours the formation of sandy, stony and very poor in organic matter soils, excellent for vine growing.
HISTORY
It was in the 12th century, after the Muslim domination, when the monks of the Cistercian Order settled in the Monastery of Santa María de Valdeiglesias in Pelayos. Many of the agricultural lands were planted with vineyards, a period of splendour for these wines. Centuries later, the wines of San Martín supplied the courts of Madrid and Toledo and were praised by Tirso de Molina, Cervantes and Rojas among other illustrious writers.
After phylloxera ruined the Spanish vineyards, muleteers from Aragon brought Garnacha plants which were grafted onto American rootstock. Today it is the most widespread variety in the area, with some vineyards being over a hundred years old. Around the same time, the Malvar variety arrived in the area from neighbouring Toledo.
Varieties: Malvar and Garnacha.
Vineyards: Paraje La Mata
Bespén
Huesca
With the spectacular backdrop of the Sierra de Guara, Bespén and its region "la Hoya de Huesca" are characterised by a climate in transition from the cold and humid mountain climate that prevails in the highest mountainous areas of the territory to the warm and dry continental Mediterranean climate. Focusing on the south-east of the district, the altitude above sea level of Bespén is 450 metres and the average annual temperature is 13°C. Rainfall is 480 mm per year, the vineyards enjoy good sun exposure and the local wind (cierzo) blows regularly.
The soils are alluvial conglomerates with alternating sands and clays of Lower Miocene Tertiary age.
History
In a transcendental event in the history of the Crown of Aragon, the wines of Bespén are mentioned. "At the betrothal of Doña Petronila to Don Ramón Berenguer, held in Barbastro on 17 August 1137, thirty bottles of wine were brought from the Bespén Garnacha vines for the toasts of the marriage vows".
Varieties: Garnacha, Miguel de Arcos and Alcañón.
Vineyards: Las Pilas.
