As we all know Christmas is just around the corner, and therefore, from Bodegas Loli Casado we want to recommend our top 3 best wines to make these dates as special as possible. We invite you to join us in this article so you can find the wine you need this Christmas.

First of all, we believe that the most sensible thing to do would be to start with a classic and traditional wine. This is the Jaun de Alzate Gran Reserva. A wine that remains in its barrel for 30 months, patiently maturing and then spending 36 months in the bottle, polishing its flavor and reaching its final elegance. The result? A subtle, fine, complex wine, but at the same time lively and expressive.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a more modern wine, we would like to propose the Polus Reserva 2014. This 100% Tempranillo wine, which comes from vines over 75 years old, has a special elaboration, and that is that, from its birth until it is moved to barrel, it spends about a year in 5,000 L vats maturing and developing, and then spend 18 months in barrel and 18 more in bottle. This is how it obtains its fine tannins, vanilla and smoked aromas… Given its elaboration, it is not surprising that it is a limited production wine.

Finally, if you are looking for a signature wine with a completely different character, we recommend our Polus Tempranillo 2018. This is a wine with its own personality, which requires a lot of attention, both in its production and in the tasting. This is due to the methodology used in its maturation, which manages to provide it with unique characteristics that could not be obtained in any other way. Like the Polus Reserva, the Polus Tempranillo is born in contact with wood, but in its case, in 225 L French oak barrels. This is why this wine acquires its unique flavor, intensity and personality.

So far our top 3 wines for Christmas, now it is up to you to decide which of them you want to be surprised with. Do you want to try them?

That said, here ends this article of wine recommendations for Christmas, next week we will talk about the history of wine in the Middle Ages. If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to visit our YouTube channel, where every Saturday we upload a video dealing with the same topic as here in greater depth. The video related to this article will be released this Saturday.

The entry WHAT WINES TO GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.

Christmas time is approaching and as every year, in Bodegas Loli Casado, we have mounted our Christmas Nativity scene themed in our region, more specifically in our town, Lapuebla de Labarca. If you want to know more about it we invite you to stay with us.

For more than 30 years, each and every year we have set up our Nativity Scene. At the beginning, it used to occupy a corner of our living room, but every year we increased its size, its characters, its trades, etc. There came a point in which more than a common crib seemed a very detailed representation, and therefore, after several decades, we decided that the best thing would be to share it with everyone. Thus was born the nativity scene between barrels, an event that takes place from the bridge of the Immaculate Conception until Epiphany, in which each week this representation is updated, adding, moving or replacing figures, giving more life to the Bethlehem.

As we mentioned at the beginning, we consider it a nativity scene themed with the region, and this is because in this we can find represented a number of trades, such as beekeeping, livestock, viticulture, pottery or cooperage. These are and have been very common trades in the region and also correspond to the possible trades that were carried out (among others) at that time.

In this way, in Bodegas Loli Casado we try to bring the Christmas season closer to our culture, offering a didactic Nativity Scene with which everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, can learn something new.

That said, here ends this article dedicated to our nativity scene, next week we will talk about what wines we recommend for this Christmas. If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to visit our YouTube channel, where every Saturday we upload a video dealing with the same topic as here in greater depth. The video related to this article will be released this Saturday.

The entry A NATIVITY SCENE AMONG BARRELS was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.

Before we begin, it is worth clarifying that we are addressing the tempranillo variety at all times. This is important to mention because depending on the type of variety and/or the region, the times, characteristics and other factors that are related to the grape may vary.

That said, the first thing we can highlight about the vine is its longevity. The vine can perfectly produce grapes even if it is more than 100 years old. It is obvious that, by its nature, a 100-year-old vine will not produce the same quantities of grapes as a 30-year-old vine, but it will offer us a denser fruit in must, more concentrated and interesting for some types of wines.

On the other hand, another important point to highlight is that a vine will not start to produce grapes until 3 or 5 years after it was planted, and that, in addition, until it reaches a minimum of 10 or 12 years of age, these grapes will not be of high quality, as a general rule. During the first 50 or even 60 years, the production of the vines is regulated at 6,500 kg of grapes per hectare of vineyard. After this age, the vineyard will be considered quite old and, although its production regulation will remain the same, its real production will gradually decrease until it reaches 3,000 or 3,500 kg.

As this happens, the quality of the grapes will also increase. This is because due to the number of clones (which we could consider them as different subvarieties within the same variety) we will find different types of Tempranillo, which will create a wine with different aromas and flavors when making wine. In addition, as the grapes are smaller and more concentrated, the must/skin ratio will be lower, so, as we know, the skin is what provides the aromas, colors and flavors to the wine, and the wine will have more contact with the skins during its elaboration, which will make the wine more interesting.

In general, these vines, which were planted by Eusebio Casado, Loli’s grandfather, who started the whole world of wine in our family, will be the ones we use to make our most special wines, such as Polus Tempranillo, Polus Reserva, Jaun de Alzate Reserva and Gran Reserva, mainly.

Here ends this explanatory article about what the age of the vine says about your grapes and wine, next week we will talk about the harvesting of olives. If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to stop by our YouTube channel, where every Saturday we upload a video dealing with the same topic as here in greater depth. The video related to this article will be released this Saturday.

The entry WHAT DOES THE AGE OF THE VINE TELL US was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.

The first buildings were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known as guardaviñas or chozos (huts), which were built with the same stones obtained from the plowing of the land. This type of stone was used to make these igloo-shaped constructions, which had doors facing south and where a maximum of 6 people could enter.

These constructions had thick walls and did not have any kind of mass to support these walls, stones of different sizes were simply piled up in order to fit together. In addition, the upper area used to have certain openings in order to let the smoke out in case of making a fire inside.

But why were these constructions so important? At that time, the farmer used to go by donkey or on foot to the vineyard, to spend the whole day working there, taking food and drink for the day. Therefore, in case a storm could surprise them at a given moment, they needed these shelters. In addition, during the summer, due to these thick walls that they had, their interior used to harbor a certain coolness, in which, in addition, they would pass certain refreshing breezes.

Now, you may be wondering how all this is related to sustainability. From Bodegas Loli Casado, we believe that it is necessary to preserve what we have inherited, and after several attempts, we have managed to rebuild our Chozo after it collapsed a few decades ago due to the storm.

We also believe that the magic of the Chozo and its landscape is something we should share with our friends and customers, and that is why we have rebuilt it in such a way that, while respecting its structure, location and even more than half of the original construction, we have created a semi-open space with a table and benches at the top of one of our vineyards, where you can enjoy the views and a pleasant lunch accompanied by our wines.

Therefore, we invite you to take a look at our website and discover a little more about the Chozo, and, in case you have a free weekend, especially in autumn, when the leaves of the vines begin to obtain golden or coppery tones, do not hesitate to contact us to enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience.

That said, here ends this article on sustainability in the chozo, next week we will talk about one of the current trendy wines, vegan wines. If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to stop by our YouTube channel, where every Saturday we upload a video dealing with the same topic as here in greater depth. The video related to this article will be released this Saturday.

The entry SUSTAINABILITY: THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CHOZO was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.

In recent years the word sustainability has been gaining momentum. We hear it more and more, but what exactly is this term about? Today, in our weekly article, we will be talking about how we understand the word sustainability and what work we carry out in our winery in order to contribute a grain of sand to the ecosystem.

Sustainability for Bodegas Loli Casado is a very broad concept that encompasses many aspects that influence the environment in which we operate. We can start by mentioning the way we work the vineyard, not using herbicides to control weeds or using organic fertilizers instead of mineral fertilizers. What is clear is that we believe that everything should be done with the least possible impact on the ecosystem, from the work in the fields, to the winemaking process and even the visits to the winery.

Although it is true that we do not make organic wines, for the moment, many of the processes we carry out follow the established guidelines for making these wines.

Throughout the development of the vine, we carry out tasks such as stripping and leaf removal to favor aeration and sunlight exposure of the cluster and thus reduce the risk of diseases. We also reduce phytosanitary treatments to a minimum, extending the application periods according to weather conditions.

We carry out a minimum tillage of the soil, avoiding soil erosion. The loss of topsoil is a serious problem that can affect the future of our vineyard and any other crop.

In addition, we maintain the soil, irrigation ditches, and walled areas that are found in our plots, favoring a favorable habitat for the development of the microfauna necessary for the self-control of pests and insects.

We maintain and plant native trees such as olive trees, holm oaks, kermes oaks, etc. where reptiles, small mammals and birds are sheltered and contribute to the necessary balance. In addition, we act on aspects such as lower fuel costs by reducing mechanical work on the farm.

In the winery, we have minimized expenses by adapting the lighting to LED or low-consumption systems. We have also reduced water consumption by studying how to clean tanks, hoses and barrels using less water.

We have initiated steps to use recyclable cardboard, grouping of auxiliary materials such as glass, capsules… and thus reduce our stocks.

All this keeps alive our conviction that everyone can contribute in their own way to a sustainable environment, and in this way we will be able to continue making our wines with little impact on the ecosystem of the area.

That said, this is the end of this article. Next week we will talk about visual and sensory control of grape ripening. If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to stop by our YouTube channel, where every Saturday we upload a video addressing the same topic as here in greater depth.

The entry SUSTAINABILITY: WHAT IT IS AND HOW WE CONTRIBUTE was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.

Do you have a weekend off and want to get away but don’t know where to go? If so, stay with us and we will explain you what to do on a weekend in Rioja Alavesa.

First of all, as far as accommodation is concerned, we have many options, and to make the search for accommodation easier, we recommend that you click on this link and see for yourself the options we recommend, from the hand of the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route.

Once we have decided the lodging, the only thing left to do is to plan what we are going to do during the whole day on Saturday and Sunday. From Bodegas Loli Casado we recommend you to visit some of the family wineries in the area. This way you will be able to see the differences between the different wineries in the elaboration, the facilities, the wines, etc. In other words, you will get to know everything there is behind the wines of Rioja Alavesa. In addition, if you have the opportunity, we would recommend that if you visit a winery, this visit should include a walk through the vineyards of the winery in question or a special corner, such as our “Chozo”, to be able to live a closer experience and feel the freedom and peace that you can breathe in our region.

Once you have spent the morning visiting and getting to know a winery, we would recommend you to go to one of the restaurants in this link, where you can enjoy a delicious meal of the region.

On Saturday afternoon we would recommend you to visit the town of Laguardia, walking through its centenary streets and knowing all its most romantic places. In fact, we encourage you to contact one of the guides specialized in the area and let them take you to know all the curiosities and anecdotes that Laguardia hides.

Saturday would end with a stroll through the bars of Laguardia, eating some tapas and drinking some local wines.

We would start Sunday either visiting another winery or perhaps going to visit some of the monuments (such as the dolmen of the sorceress of El Billar or the Poblado de la Hoya in Laguardia) or museums in the region.

Finally, we would conclude by having lunch in another of the restaurants we mentioned at the beginning, thus ending a weekend of cultural and leisure activities in the Rioja Alavesa.

That said, this is the end of this article. Next week we will talk about green pruning. If you enjoyed this article, we invite you to stop by our YouTube channel, where every Saturday we upload a video addressing the same topic as here in greater depth.

The entry WHAT TO DO ON A WEEKEND IN RIOJA ALAVESA was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.

Vendimiando en Bodegas Loli Casado, el juego de cartas que acompaña al vino estas Navidades

Primera baraja para conocer la vendimia

Rioja Alavesa cuenta con su propio juego de cartas para aprender a vendimiar

Un juego de cartas para aprender a cultivar viñedos y a hacer vino

Juego de cartas con Bodegas ‘Loli Casado’ y alianza Villa Lucía-Flores de Queso

Vino Para Disfrutar 3

Bodegas Loli Casado y el primer juego de cartas para saber más de vino

Vendimiando en Bodegas Loli Casado

¿Quieres saber más sobre el juego? Descubre todo lo sobre Bodegas Loli Casado en nuestro blog.

The entry HARVESTING AT BODEGAS LOLI CASADO IN THE MEDIA was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.

Now that the harvest is over, we want to present you “Vendimiando en Bodegas Loli Casado”, an idea we have developed in the form of a board game.

What is Harvesting at Bodegas Loli Casado?

Harvesting at Bodegas Loli Casado is the first vineyard related board game designed and developed by a Rioja Alavesa family winery.

It is a card game of limited production to 500 copies with which we want to approach in a simple but real way, the multiple factors that accompany the development of the vineyard until the harvest arrives. In it, we are going to find harmful factors such as hail or diseases and other beneficial ones such as fauna that naturally control plagues.

And we wanted to present it in an attractive and understandable way for audiences of all ages, so that it can be played with family, friends or even by the little ones in the house. The cards have fun and colorful designs with which to play quick games and encourage healthy rivalry.

The game consists of 54 cards among which we can find represented 3 varieties of grapes used in the winery: Graciano, Tempranillo and Viura. The players will accumulate these cards with which, at the end of the game, they will be able to elaborate musts of Bodegas Loli Casado: Jaun de Alzate, Polus Graciano, Polus Tempranillo, Polus Viura and Polus Rosado.

But, besides the grapes, we will also find event cards that represent different factors that affect the vineyard. Some of these charts present aspects that can be beneficial for the vine, while others can affect it negatively.

And how does it is played?

When it comes to playing Harvest at Bodegas Loli Casado, we must get into the role of the winegrower and prepare ourselves for the hard work and uncertainty in the vineyard.

Each vineyard is different and, therefore, when preparing the game table, we will place all the cards face down as we like to “plant” a different vineyard in each game.

During our turn, we will raise a card. If it is a letter of grape, we will keep it until the end of the game to elaborate musts. But, if it is an event card, we will apply its effect and then send it to the discard pile. The cards that represent beneficial factors for the grapevine will help us during the game, allowing us to pick up more cards during our turn or making our opponents lose theirs; while, if we pick up a card with a negative factor, we will receive a penalty that can make us lose the next turn or have to discard any of our grape cards.

When there are no cards left to pick up, each player will return to their cellar and combine the grapes they have picked to make must, each with its own value. The player who gets the highest score with the musts he has been able to make will win the game.

These musts will ferment in tanks in the winery and, in time, will be converted into wine. But that is already a story for another day…

May the harvest be with you!

Jesús and Loli

The entry HARVESTING AT BODEGAS LOLI CASADO was published first in BODEGAS LOLI CASADO.