The winery
history
Family winery located in SAMANIEGO, in the heart of one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world RIOJA ALAVESA, one of the seven foral districts that make up the Historical Territory of Alava in the Basque Country.
The project, as it stands today, is inseparable from the story of a marriage:
Miguel Ángel Pascual Larrieta and Rosario Gómez de Segura, both related to the world of wine for generations.
In 1988 Michelangelo arrived home from work to find his father disappointed:
- Today I sold the jug of wine for 500 pesetas.
- You have to bottle – replied the young Michelangelo.
This brief dialogue marks the decision to undertake a new project and is a milestone in the formation of the winery.
The other was the wedding with Rosa in 1996.
Both ended up leaving their jobs to devote themselves entirely to their family winery project.
One thousand liters of young wine were enough to start the adventure.
Later came the Crianza, Reserva, Tempranillo Crianza and Gran Reserva.
Today they have managed to become winegrowers, like their parents and grandparents.
In total, the family tradition today treasures more than two hundred years of experience.
The Building
The winery is literally our home. We sleep above the tanks, i.e. on the upper floor.
This construction facilitates our way of life and our day-to-day work, behind which we seek to achieve something personal, with the knowledge that our family experience gives us and with the means that modern viticulture offers us.
Our project is designed for limited quantities and high quality.
THE PROCESSING
Two production systems are used:
- Traditional whole bunch system, or also called whole grape CARBONIC MACERATION, used for young wines with 90% tempranillo and 10% viura (white grape). During the 13 or 15 days that the fermentation lasts, daily pumping-overs are carried out with a duration of approximately one hour, as reflected in the reddish foam or “barraco” on the top of the tank. In order to achieve a homogeneous fermentation. In other words, a pumping system is used to pump up the must from the lower part.
- DESPALILLADO system: consists of separating the berry from the stalk (skeleton of the grape). As if you were to pick up a grape and move it quickly, what remains in your hand is the stalk and the grape berries are what goes into the tank. With this system, wines with more acidity are obtained, for ageing wines. The grape variety used is 100% Tempranillo.
THE ENOLOGIST
For years we have relied on the professional knowledge of Fernando Salgado.
Born in Haro, wine also runs through his family tree and is the guiding thread of his life. He has been dedicated to wine for 50 years.
Father of a large family, lover of his land and passionate about wines with personality, he has a special commitment to take Rioja Alavesa wines to the high place they deserve, in terms of quality, consistency and flavour.
We have been working with Fernando for 25 years now and the recent recognition of our Crianza, Reserva and Argia wines would not have been possible without his participation.
