Vineyards have been present in the area since Roman times and the variety of grape found is autochthonous. The vineyards are planted in small holdings situated at about 650 mts., on steep terrain forming terraces in some areas. The soils are poor and acidic, slate and fan-like tertiary alluvials originating from the decomposition of the predominantly granite surroundings.

The vineyards are relatively small and the vines are old, between 50 and 100 years old. They are planted at densities of about 2700 vines per hectare at 2x2 mts, which makes mechanization very difficult (animals are still often used for ploughing), and clipped in the ¨glass¨ shape. Chemical herbicides and pesticides are not used excepts for the Bordeaulaise mixture and sulphur. Manure as opposed to chemical fertilizers, is generally used on the vines about every four years. Average grape yields do not exceed 3000 kgs per ha.

This terroir with its extreme Mediterranean climate give rise to a very high quality grape, few bunches of grapes per vine and small size of the grape.

 

The autochthonous grape variety used for our red wines is JUAN GARCIA, ancient and unique to Arribes del Duero. This grape produces very complex wines, with good body and subtlety, suited to ageing. The wines are warm with high alcoholic levels of 13-14º, since the grape´s prime maturity for picking happens when sugar concentrations are already high. Our young red wines are bright ruby in colour, with strong fruity aromas, very characteristic of this grape and typical of granite and slate soils. On the palate they are unctuous and the taste is lasting. Our rosé wines, also produced with Juan García, have a bright raspberry colour, with fresh red fruit aromas, which persist on the palate with herby undertones. The rosé wines ideally have an alcohol level of about 12´5 to 13º.

The white grape variety used is Malvasía, widely planted during the Middle Ages throughout the Mediterranean. It is currently found in Italy, Spain and Portugal, and produces dry and sweet wines with intense aromas. The wines are golden and bright, with pear and apple aromas and floral and herb undertones, which leave a wide and unctuous taste on the palate, with a fresh and green aftertaste. Its ideal alcohol level is between 12´5 and 13º.