- Company Name : Bodegas Castillo Viejo S.A.
- About Us : Bodegas Castillo Viejo combines tradition and innovation to produce the bestquality offered by Bodegas Castillo Viejo S.A. region. In this age of wine factories buyouts, increasinglyconsolidation and mass production, our (almost) artisan wine making methodsproduce fine wines, full of personality and character, in a fruit driven and longtasting style. The vineyards grow close to the Rio de la Plata, 34 southern latitude, benefitingfrom a sunny and cool Atlantic climate. The terroir is clay loam soil although it contains some rocky material having a moderate water retention capacity. A terroir of this type produces more tannins and stronger, structured and fruitywines.The property is strategically located, at 35 km (21,7 miles) from the coastline,surrounded by 3 big rivers which creates a unique microclimate. The altitudeabove sea level is 100 m (328 ft) above sea level. Rainfall at this location is lowerthan in other places in Uruguay. The thermal amplitude is 18 degrees withvariations from 30C (86 F) and 12C (54 F).We cultivate and harvest by hand 100 hectares of low yielding and high densityTannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot vines, Chardonnay,Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Gewurztraminer. In very limited quantities wegrow Tempranillo and Pinot Noir which gives a volume of approximately 55.000cases.We think in bunches of berries per plant instead of kilograms per hectare. Ourplanting system is the OPEN LYRE with an density of 4.000 plants per hectaredepending on soil type and variety, clone and rootstock vigour. We search forequilibrated vines that produce 2 or 3 kilograms per plant depending of thevarietys characteristics. We use only our own grapes and this is the source of100% of our wines. We neither buy grapes nor wines.Our vineyards management is based on the principles of respecting theenvironment and minimum intervention. We do not irrigate and we do not useresidual herbicides/pesticides. Normally we use only mineral fungicides andorganic fertilizers when needed. The natural grass cover the land till the end ofspring rains helps us to extract excess water. Three to four times during thegrowing season we defoliate the bunch area for better exposure of the grapes. Wetake away excess crop when needed and clean up late flowering bunches thatwould not be completely ripe at harvest time. The grapes are 100% hand picked - two times if necessary to achieve full bunchmaturity. Maybe the most distinctive point of the harvest at Bodegas CastilloViejo is that we harvest most of our grapes during the night.Transport to thewinery in 16 kg boxes in not more than an hour from picking to crushing.Our winery is characterized by small tanks for better skin contact 8.000 to16.000 litters, epoxy coated cement vats and inox tanks for fermentation andstorage. Temperature control in with cold water running through spiral Inox pipesin contact with must. Regarding the use of wood, we privilege fruit over the wood aromas and flavours, thus we use it in short period for oxygen exchange only and to add some complexity, not to mask fruit varietal aromas and taste.The winery was founded in 1927 by Don Santos Etcheverry, his work wascontinued by Don Horacio Etcheverry who from 1950 to 1978, carried out thefirst expansion of the winery, extending both the line of production and itscommercialisation. The Etcheverry family comes from the South of France(Hasparren) from where comes the tradition of making wines that reflect thecharacter of the land and the people who make them. Family hands cultivate thegrapes, taking away excess crops in productive years, taking leaves away toexpose bunches to the sun for better maturation and skin colour. Smallquantities of each variety allow us to wait the perfect maturation to the last day.
- Product/Service : wine, Red wine,White Wine,Sparkling,Liquor,Catamayor Sauvignon Blanc - Wines of Uruguay, Catamayor Tannat - Wines of Uruguay, Catamayor Merlot - Wines of Uruguay, Catamayor Cabernet Sauvignon - Wines of Uruguay, , El Preciaedo 1er Gran Reserva - Wines of Uruguay
- Country/Region : Uruguay >
- Category : Food & Beverage
- Contact Person : Mr. Federico Domingo |||Export Manager
- Link More : Uruguay Food & Beverage ,Uruguay Alcohol
- Telephone :
- Fax :
- Address : Ruta 68 Km 24
- Website : www.castilloviejo.com
- Business Type : Manufacturer
