-Casa Castillo, Jumilla (May 14th & 15th)-

With the desire to inspire other wineries to follow respectful viticulture practices, in 2020, the Futuro Viñador Association was born, and we are more than proud to be part of it since its foundation.

The Association brings together a total of 14 wineries that share values such as active ecology, sensitivity to the territory and knowledge and, already in 2021, celebrated Primavera Futuro Viñador, a series of workshops and conferences that allowed us to host the first of the meetings in our winery: Mosaico Mediterráneo.

Following its path, the Association has once again organized a new event. This time, at Casa Castillo, among almond, pine and olive trees. In an estate surrounded by vineyards clamoring to the sky for hours, days of rain.

In Jumilla (Murcia) and 760 meters above sea level. Far from the rush. Close to passion. A place that is worth visiting and which has been able to enjoy to the fullest this new meeting entitled “El Futuro Viñador”.

Two days of reflections and tastings

“El Futuro Viñador” was, above all, a meeting with friends. A place where the attendees have had the opportunity to share knowledge, greet colleagues and taste wines from 29 different wineries.

All of this, condensed into a two-day event that would well deserve a 99/100.

Sunday, May 14
The first day was focused on the presentation of the book Good pruning practices by its author, Agronomist François Dal. This book has recently been published in Spanish by the Association itself.

A little more than 50 minutes of lecture to inform us about wood diseases and the best pruning practices to extend the life of the vines. A technical, practical and rigorous study that should be required reading for any pruner.

After a few minutes to exchange impressions, the afternoon of this windy Sunday continued with a tasting of 6 white wines based on 6 pruning techniques and their territory. An excellent way to give meaning to the previous conference that left us pleasant surprises and in which we were able to taste exceptional wines such as: Longitude Blanc de Blancs from Larmandier-Bernier, Champagne (taille chablis); Cuvee Monsignori 2020 from Argyros, Santorini (kouloura); Silex 2020 from Domaine Didier Dagueneau, Pouilly Fumé (guyot poussard); Grain Cinq 2021 from Marie-Thérèse Chappaz, Valais (gobelet tire-bouchon); Palo Blanco 2021 from Envínate, Tenerife (braided cordon); and Nosiola 2014 in magnum from Foradori Fontanasanta, Vigneti delle Dolomiti (pergola).

With the excellent sensations transmitted by all of them, the patio of Casa Castillo awaited us for dinner, where we were invited to taste wines from the 2022 vintage of the wineries associated with Futuro Viñador.

Monday, May 15
Monday morning woke up cool in Jumilla, but that was no excuse to skip a visit to the estate of our host winery.

Accompanied by José María Vicente, we walked through his vineyards and learned about their particularities. Up to 150 ha of vineyards, planted at low densities on limestone and sandy soils, with a viticulture that adapts to an extreme climate and where it rains very little. As little as 15 measly liters in the last 12 months, the winemaker told us.

A light walk before starting with the 3 conferences scheduled for this second and last day of the event.

The first was given by Amelie Aranguren, who presented “Campo Adentro”, an artistic and cultural project that calls for a reencounter between the countryside and the city as a basis for sustainable development strategies.

After this first presentation, it was the turn of agronomist Léa Darricau to share her thoughts on the “History and future of wine cooperation”. In this conference, Darricau highlighted the gradual disappearance of all those plants that, until the beginning of the 20th century, grew near the vine. A process resulting from the mechanization and specialization of crops.

A historical review with some proposals for the upcoming years was followed by the last of the sessions. In it, the scientist Stefano Mancuso presented, under the title “The future is vegetable”, how plants have made and will continue to make life on Earth possible. A set of reflections that made us think about the role of the human species on the planet and generated debate among the attendees.
And nothing better to digest all the information received than ending the day with a wine tasting of wines from the 14 wineries associated with Futuro Viñador along with 15 wineries invited to the event, producers who share our same philosophy of honest viticulture, attached to their landscape and their people.

A nexus of union that ended up strengthening in the meal that served to close this edition of Futuro Viñador.

Good food and magnificent wines to put an end to this event, which left a great taste in our mouths and we are already looking forward to the next edition to continue setting the course of what should be the “future winemaker”.

Wineries attending “El futuro Viñador”
Associated Wineries

4 kilos Vinícola, Adega Algueira, Bodegas Artuke, Adegas Guímaro, Casa Castillo, Celler del Roure, Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez, Dominio del Águila, Dominio del Bendito, Granja Ntra. Sra. Remelluri, Ostatu, Bodegas y Viñedos Ponce, Bodegas Zárate, Raventós i Blanc.

Invited Wineries

Casa Lebai, Bodega Cerrón, César Márquez, Doniene Gorrondona, Curii, De la Riva, El hato y el Garabato, Envínate, Agricola Foradori, Javi Revert, Champagne Larmandier-Bernier, Bodega Miguel Merino, Pepe Mendoza Casa Agrícola, Celler Pujol Cargol, Soca-Rel.