What is an winemaker?
The winemaker is the technical advisor responsible for managing the
process of winemaking. He/she is
the expert who oversees all the winery processes,
storage, analysis, preserving, bottling and marketing of wine.
“The winemaker with their
responsibility and hard work have got the solid reputation they have in the
world of wine”
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| José Luis Chueca (Winemaker) |
Where did you start your oenological activity?
It all started at home, my
father was winemaker and my grand parents winegrowers.
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| José Luis Chueca (Winemaker) |
Then, you
have always been in touch with the wine World!
Yes
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| José Luis Chueca (Winemaker) |
What is the
Empire of Garnacha (Grenache)?
It is the name given by the
D.O. to Campo de Borja, we are experts in this vine variety, it has grown here
for ages, its origin is Aragon, and we know how to keep and maintain the oldest
vines.
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| Grenache |
How could
you get the great transformation of the Grenache?
Firstly, because we believe
in it from the winery, then we knew the potential of the variety and finally
because it is the legacy of our ancestors.
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| Centenarians Grenaches |
When is the
best moment to a Grenache vine to produce wine?
From 15-20 years old on, older vines produce more concentrated wines.
From 15-20 years old on, older vines produce more concentrated wines.
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| Grenache |
How is the
influence of the zone and the soil in the Grenache vine?
The influence is very
favourably, structured soils with many
minerals, like iron, pyrite, slate ...
and at the same time poor in organic
matter. Due to these conditions, the vine suffers and it produces more complex
and concentrated grapes.
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| Soil - Grenache |
Which is the
difference between the Aragonese Grenache and the Grenache grew in other place?
The biggest difference is the
soil, which is mineralized and altitude differences, from 300 to 900 meters.
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| Altitude - Soils |
How is
possible to produce a world-class wine?
There are many factors on it,
from the vine variety, the means used, good commercial work and country allocation;
get the wine reaches the wine critic and also the final public.
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| Tres Picos - Borsao |
What longevity can get to have Grenache wines?
They can get as old as any
other kind of vine. I still taste Grenache wines 34-37 years old, household
produced, and still amazing, despite the few means they had in 70’s.
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| Tasting room |
Some people are trying to include expiration date to wines, what do you
think?
Wine does not have expiration
date. We can talk about longevity or live cycle, best before… and everything
depends on the kind of wine.
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| Wine Cellar Borsao |
What production is having the winery?
Around 10.000 and 11.000
tones of grapes
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| Wine Cellar Borsao |
D.O. Campo de Borja and the wineries had cooperated in a Project
together with University of Zaragoza and its Aroma and Oenology Analysis Lab.
What can you tell us anything about it?
Yes, I am member of the
Consejo Regulador Taste Committee and we worked together identifying aromatic
compounds, more natural flavours, synthetics, stronger or weaker… it is a
wonderful team work, a group of winemakers, all members of the D.O. Campo de
Borja working with worldwide reputation professors as Dr. Juan Cacho and Dr.Vicente Ferreira.
This project started due to
one of the formalities needed to get the D.O. Quality Certification, ISO
45.011. We looked for help in Zaragoza University and we keep on working in
this field and with this team of great professionals.
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| Room of Casks |
There are small wineries getting a better position in the market, above
wine under a D.O. Do you think that this situation explains that some of these
wineries want more flexibility to produce wines?
It is not necessary to be a
big winery to make a good wine, or belong to a specific D.O.
The D.O. certifies the
quality, and the rules are closer to viticulture and commercialization.
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| Different soil types |
Nowadays,
export is the engine in almost all the wineries. Nevertheless, most of them are
forgetting the national market. What is Bodega Borsao doing for national
market?
Bodega Borsao bets also for
the national market, we make tastings all over Spain; we attend the main fairs
and wine events related to wine world.
Although we sell even more in
Spain and our name is well known, our winery is an export winery mainly.
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| The Moncayo |
You also work with the Australian winemaker Chris Ringland in BodegaAlto Moncayo. How are the wines you produce in this cellar?
We produce 100% Grenache
wines, looking for mature wines, structured and easy to drink, seek the essence
of the Grenache.
When Chris Ringland came for
the first time in 2001, he was delighted with our soils, climate, altitude,
vines and variety.
Thanks to this great
surprise, he decided to co-operate with us in new projects, as the present one:
Bodegas ALTO MONCAYO.
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| Chris Ringland |
How many bottles are you producing?
Borsao 9.000.000 bottles,
Alto Moncayo 120.000 bottles.
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| Logo |
Social
networks are changing our lives and therefore the wine world. What do you think
about it?
We evolved in all aspects,
and social networks and internet accelerate the change process last years.
All of us, we are in social
Networks, in a direct or an indirect way; they help us to disseminate events,
tastings, courses, fairs, studies, prizes, articles, blogs … its quickness and
viralness amazes us.
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| José Luis Chueca (Winemaker) |
What do you do in your spare-time?
I enjoy being with my family,
whenever I can, I go to the countryside, along with my father and my son and we
take care for our vineyards.
Thank
you very much, José Luis. In vino veritas, longae vitae!))
I
want to thank Ms. María Sancho Alberto (Marketing and Communication Dept.) for
the invitation and help me with the interview!
“The sons of
the wind” is a video about Bodegas Borsao, its history, its wine tradition and
its love for the work well done. From the core of the Grenache, Borsao shows
its vineyards, people and the winery.
Translated by Lola Torres
