One of the southernmost wineries in Europe, Cortijo los Aguilares sits in the hills of southern Spain. A classic Andalusian farmhouse with numerous archaeological remains from Roman and Moorish times imbues the site with a long regional history. After successfully recovering area vineyards that were dormant for almost 100 years after phylloxera arrived, the estate now focuses on achieving the most singular expression their terroir.
CLIMATE: Mediterranean mountain: concentrated rainfall between November and April, including intense rains known as the cold drop phenomenon; average temperature of 63°F (17°C)
ELEVATION: 2,950 feet(900m)
SOILS: Calcareous clay, with some limestone, sand and quartz
CLASS: DO Sierras de Málaga
VINE: 96 acres(39ha)acrossfiveplots
KEY VARIETALS: PetitVerdot,Pinot Noir,Tempranillo,GarnachaandGraciano
ECO: Certifiedorganic
INNOVATE: Successfullycultivating PinotNoirinsuchasouthernlatitude
The area of Ronda has been linked to vine cultivation for centuries. In fact, it is what the region was known for until the arrival of phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. Grape-growing resumed 100 years later when some intrepid entrepreneurs decided to bring back the tradition and replant vines in the area. Among them was the Itarte family, following in the footsteps of Alfonso de Hohenlohe, whose vineyards they have cultivated since 2014.
Cortijo los Aguilares was founded by J.A. Itarte in the 1990s. For 20 years, the estate has employed local families to work in the vineyards and cellar. The emphasis on family helps maintain continuity and commitment to the estate, and helps fulfill the mission to involve the whole community in reviving the winemakingtraditioninthearea.
Technical Director Bibi García studied chemistry with the idea of becomingaperfumer.Shefellinlovewithwinealso,andearneda master’s degree in viticulture and enology. After work experience in Priorat and Chile, Bibi joined the winery in 2007 overseeing bothviticultureandwinemaking.
carefully stewards the 2,000-acre (809 ha) estate that borders the Sierra de las Nieves National Park. Many additional crops and livestock are raised on the estate, ensuring biodiversity.
Additionally, they minimize their ecological impact by using hybrid vehicles on the estate, renovating buildings to increase energy efficiency, and preparing a future project to generate solar energy at the winery.
Winery founder Jose Antonio Itarte was a lover of Burgundy wines, and decided to grow Pinot Noir in spite of being located much further south than recommended for the variety. Between the high altitude and efforts of the vineyard team, the Pinot Noir is able to thrive and provide a very unique expression of their terroir.
The Serranía de Ronda is a meseta at 2,300 to 3,280feet(700to1,000m)ofaltitudebetween the two mountain ranges of de las Nieves and Grazalema. The microclimate is influenced by the altitude and its proximity to the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Abundant rainfall between November and April mitigates the dry summers, while wide diurnal temperature shifts helpasteadyripeningprocess.
Soils are varied among the four parcels, but clay, calcareous clay and limestone predominate. Different orientations of the parcels also play a role in ripening times. Each parcel is matched withthevarietiesthatbestgrowthere.
FOUR PARCELS Grape varieties are matched to the conditions of the estate’s four parcels. In El Olivar, late-maturing Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot are paired in clay and limestone soils. On a steep slope at 2,950 feet (900 m) is the El Encinar parcel; a 500-year-old old Holm oak (encina) stands watch over Tempranillo and Pinot Noir planted in a northwest orientation on clay and limestone soils. Pelele is a parcel with very diverse soils of sand, clay and limestone; goblet-trained Garnacha, Petit Verdot and Graciano vines are planted in a low density so they struggle less for water resources.ElCaleroisnamedforthehighlimestonecontentofitssoil,andisplantedwithPetitVerdot,SyrahandMerlot.
VINIFICATION Depending on the grape and expression desired, the decision is made to completely or partially destem bunches. They are fed by gravity into stainless steel or concrete tanks with an emphasis on extracting the aromatics of the fruit.Parcelsarevinifiedseparatelytocapturethepersonalityeachvarietal.
AGING AgingtakesplacenearlyexclusivelyinFrenchoakbarrelsthatareusedforfourorfiveyears,impartingbothtannic structureanddepth.Aconcreteeggwasaddedin2013,andsince2015,thewineryhasusedclayamphoratoagewines.
How is the terroir reflected in the wines of Cortijo los Aguilares?
Thevineyardisaround 2,950 feet (900 m) abovesea level. The ripe and aromatic fruit is balanced by balsamic notes derived from the altitude and freshness from the cool nights. Often the nose is ripe and opulent, while the palate is fresh and more vertical.
The minerality in all the wines produced is also part of their character, and could be a result of the soil complexity, as well as the Mediterranean and Atlantic influences. Aromatic plants that surround the vineyards are also reflected in the aromas of the wine.
Cortijo los Aguilares is one the southernmost wineries in Europe, and uses all the advantages of their terroir to produce fresh, lively wines. They have recovered the viticultural tradition of the area after almost 100 yearsofinactivityafterphylloxeraarrived.
Why is Cortijo los Aguilares a Grandes Pagos de España winery?
Cortijo los Aguilares was proud to join GPE in 2015, after many years of working to create wines that reflect the rich terroir of their estate. Most of all, they value the interchange of ideas at GPE winemaker meetings, and the opportunity to show their wines alongwiththoseofothermembers.
CORTIJO LOS AGUILARES
PORTFOLIO:
Tadeo, Tadeo Tinaja, Pago el Espino y Pinot Noir
Tadeo
DO Sierras de Málaga
Variety
100% Petit Verdot
Vinification
Grapes are destemmed, fermented. Malolactic and 14 months aging in 225 and 300 L French oak barrels
Good to Know
All grapes from pago El Calero
Pinot Noir CLA
DO Sierras de Málaga
Variety
100% Pinot Noir
Vinification
Partially de-stemmed, fermented. Malolactic and aging in oak and ovoid concrete tanks
Good to Know
Grapes picked at two different dates in order to get a balanced maturity
CORTIJO LOS AGUILARES
Ctra. Ronda a Campillos, km. 35 29400 Puente de la Ventilla Ronda
Contact: Bibi García bodega@cortijolosaguilares.com