Winenxt

Vineyards of Spain

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SPAIN

Region: DO RIAS BAIXAS APPELLATION

The Rias Baixas appellation began in 1980 on October 11 when the denomination especifica albarino was legally established and recognized by the Spanish state in Galicia. In the period between the years 1987 and 2001, the number of growers rose from 492 to 5,059 the number of wineries increased from 14 to 161 and the surface vineyard area expanded from 237 hectares to 2,408 ha.

These lands are lowlands, generally situated at an altitude of less than 300m, close to the sea and the lower stretches of rivers, which bring about Atlantic climatic conditions with mild temperatures and extensive rainfall and a drier period during the month of summer. Rainfall is around 1500 mm/year; with average temperature of 18 degree Celsius and 75 to 80 % humidity. These climatic characteristics combined with the appellation’s soil types- poor, acid and loose sandy soils- provide the grapes with their individual, fresh and aromatic character. The mother rocks of these vineyards are the granite rocks which are covered with superficial covering of soil up to 15 cm; having PH around 5. Polyclonal variety of Albarino is grafted mainly on R110. Albarino is more famous than the appelation Rias Baixas, so everybody can call a wine by albarino; this is one of the weaknesses of the DO whereas it is a DO with 3500 ha only.
BODEGA PAZO DE SENORANS

The Pazo de Senorans is located at Vilanovina in the Pontevedra town of Meis, in the Salnes area, which is one of the Rias Baixas appellation’s sub-zones. The manision, which is owned by the husband and wife team of Soledad (Marisol) Bueno and Javier Mareque; took on its wine-producing role in 1989, although the estate had been growing grapes of 100% albarino variety (which now covers 14 hectares) since the beginning of the 1980s which has a present age of 30 to 40 years old.
They have strict restriction on the yield of the grapes up to 6000kg/ha where as DO permits around 12000 kg/ ha. For multiplication of vineyard; scion (plant material) is selected from the good mother vines in their vineyards itself on the criteria of quality which are further multiplied in private nurseries in France. Vineyards are installed on pergola or emparrado system of training where plant population is maintained to around 800 to 3000 plants/ha. They have installed irrigation systems but they don’t use them regularly. After every 3 years PH and deficiency of magnesium and potassium is corrected. For canopy management only pruning is practiced according to the training system; they never practice any kind of green pruning or pre- pruning.

They have 500 different parcels, so for determination of maturity they check the weight of the berries, malic acid, tartaric and sugar parameters and search for equilibrium. Harvesting period is in between 5 to 20 September. Sometimes there are possibilities of post harvest diseases like milidium.

The annual production capacity of this winery is about 400000 litres of wine but the actual production is 450000 bottles. They have four commercial brands of wine in national market and two distilled products from marc. Pazo Senorans selection de anada (vintage selection) is an albarino made up of a selection of grapes with higher alcohol levels and greater acidity, Albanino is a harmonious blend produced at the winery from different plots. There are about 12 to 15 family persons working in this winery. Clarification is done before fermentation with cool temperature. Fermentation at 18°C, and when the grape is too much acidic they leave the malolatic to happen.

Tasting reports of products:

Pazo de Señorans 2008, alcohol 12%, fruity/floral, price around 12 euro, at bodega and 18 euro at restaurants.
“Seleccion de añada” 2004, 36 months over lies, price around 35 euro.
“Sol de Señorans” 2006 fermented in inox and aged in oak for 6 months; price about 29 euro.

They have a commercial office within the winery which works for national and international sales organized by two people. They do conduct promotion and advertisements periodically. Means of advertisement and publicity is carried by news papers – media and magazines. For promotional activities, participation in fairs is done, also specialized vehicles are sent, to magazines like Wine Spectator, with wines to taste and evaluate. They do have external Support for promotion or publicity from government, DO and etc. They are part of an Exporting consortium called ‘Wineries with Soul’. Five cellars from different regions are associated to exchange knowledge and to help each other to export. They conduct marketing research and allow around 10 % budget for marketing.

Their annual sales are 20% in Galicia, 45% rest of Spain mainly big cities and 35% for export for 32 countries. Main national destination for sales are South coast, Barcelona and International are EU, Porto Rico. Fall in export and high restaurants margin is one of their major problems. Biggest challenges are to make a brand of quality wines. Their future plans are not to expand but to maintain the high quality brand. Main competitors are DO Rueda, with the wines from verdelho that has a nice aromatic character and cheaper than albarino.

BODEGA MARTIN CODAX

The Martin Codax winery was founded in 1986 in Cambados, the capital of the “Salnes Valley”; by a group of winegrowers. It has 274 shareholders and 300 grower’s associated. The company owns 40 ha vineyards and growers contribute around 450 ha (Only albarino variety).

Polyclonal of Albarino grafted on R110, couderc 3309, 196-17 rootstock. They send the scion material to nurseries at Rauscedo in Italy to graft and multiply. Yield per ha is limited to 8000 kg for quality control. Plant density is restricted to 800 plants per ha which are trained on emparado or pergola system. They allow spontaneous vegetation as cover crop. Strict maturity indices are considered and analyzed before harvesting.

Clarification of the must with enzymes and cold temperatures is done before fermentation. Fermentation is carried out at 18°C with natural yeasts for 15 days. They do “pie de cuve” in 5 tanks and then they use the same colony of yeast for all the wines. During post-fermentation sometimes they do malolactic in percentage of wine. The acidity (malic ) is usually high.

Tasting report of products:

Alvariño 2008 100% malolactic, 12,5 alcohol, price about 10 euro.
“Organistrum” part of fermantation was in French barrel , batonage and malolactic in barrel; price about 16 euro.

The company has a marketing office for national and international sales organized by four people. Means of advertisement and publicity are news paper, media, magazines, specialized media in wine, brochures. Participation at international fairs like Vinexpo, Alimentaria (barcelona), Prowine. External Support for promotion and publicity is from government, DO and etc. They conduct marketing research before introduction of new brand or a product; but they don’t have any fixed decided percentage of budget allocated for marketing. Distribution channels and selling points are mostly HORECA, 53% Spain and 47% export. For hotels, restaurants, Pubs they have modified their packaging labeling in attractive and appealing way. They have different brands for HORECA and supper market.
ANALYSIS AND RESULT

The Pazo de Senorans is a 3 times smaller winery then Martin Codax; which make them easy to manage their own vineyards to make estate quality wines which has helped them to developed good reputation in national market. They have smaller limits for yield while Martin Codax has comparatively high yields per hectare.

Martin Codax has allocated funds for preparation of experimental vineyards which help them try different trellis system and cultural operations. Martin Codax has wide range of product and brands for different market. They have very professionalized people dedicated for naming of a brand, packaging and labelling; this has helped them to establish their brand in national and international market. The company applies an efficient manner of working that has led it to become leader, constantly expanding at international level, swiftly anticipating the trends and demands on today’s markets.

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