I knew something was going to be different as our group of wine bloggers arrived at Bodegas Carchelo in D.O. Jumilla in Spain. Painted on the wall of a large building was a beautiful young woman’s face. She had a slight smile as she held a bottle of wine. Horizontal black and white stripes surrounded this striking piece of art and I anticipated a visit with a surprise. Then, bounding outdoors was Joaquin Galvez Bauza, highly respected oenologist who was thrilled to share his knowledge about the winery, Monastrell, and their wines. But this article is just as much about friendship, caring for others and charitable giving as it is about the wines and mission of Bodegas Carchelo. Read on…
Bodegas Carchelo is located at Sierra Carche Regional Park which has a Continental Mediterranean climate, calcerous soils, and an altitude of 1371 meters. 100 hectares of vineyards are located on their estate and even more are owned or leased are in different areas in Jumilla. Monastrell, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown in “different valleys and different orientations and altitudes” which helps minimize climate issues and produce grapes which complement each other due to their unique characteristics. Joaquin explained that their aim is to “produce refreshing wines in a warm climate” and a variety of winemaking techniques are used. Planting Cabernet Sauvignon on south facing slopes, regulating yield with pruning, and using organic practices are just a few strategies. I found interesting was that the inspiration for the stripes as part of the Bodegas Carchelo logo is from the shadows and lines in the vineyards. Simply beautiful.
A tour of Bodegas Carchelo included the vineyards, barrel rooms, bottling area, a tasting of Syrah from one of the barrels, and a visit to the sleek and pristine tasting room where pop art style bottles of wine were waiting to be enjoyed. There were many delicious wines with a range of aromas and tastes and plenty to quench the thirst of eight wine bloggers.
One of my favorites was Carchelo A – Altico 2011 of 100% Syrah which was aged for twelve months in French oak barrels. Incredibly smooth and balanced, the wine showed intense red fruit aromas and floral and spice notes. Refreshing, the wine was a beautiful pairing with the creamy cheeses in the tasting room and the finish was long and satisfying. The Sierva 2011 was a lovely blend of Monastrell, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine, too, was aged for twelve months in French oak barrels and the combination of grapes produced a full bodied and complex wine. The nuances of each variety could be found and the well integrated tannins of this fruit forward wine helped make this wine a keeper!
But the wine which caught my eye and now my heart was one which Joaquin had mentioned during our tour. Autista, vino de autor, is produced in honor of the now 12 year old son of Jorge Pastor, one of the winery’s shareholders. This young boy has autism. Why is that meaningful to me? When I’m not traveling, tasting wine and writing, I teach young children with developmental delays, many of whom have been diagnosed with or who have characteristics of autism spectrum disorder. How special to find a winery with people who care enough about each other to produce a bottle of wine in honor of another. All proceeds of the wine are donated to the Autistic Developmental Disorder Association (ASTRADE) and Jorge Pastor is extremely involved in its various activities. The beautiful label was designed by another shareholder, Lorenzo Abellan, as a surprise to his business partner and best friend, Jorge Pastor.
The blend of Monastrell, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon in Autista changes annually depending on the creative winemaking techniques of Joaquin Galvez Bauza. Aged for fourteen months in French oak barrels and with 14.5% alcohol, the color in the glass was a deep purple. After oxidation, aromas burst out of the glass and we noted plums, blackberries, and vanilla. On the palate, fruit was front and center, tannins were defined, and the finish was long and pleasant. Approximately 1200 bottles are produced and the wines are only available for wine club members (and me!).
Written on the bottle is poetry…words which may be a reflection of the thoughts of someone who has autism…
Soy diferente, (I am different)
Soy unico, (I am unique)
no soy como vosotros, (I am not like you)
tengo alma, (I have soul)
corazon (heart)
y amo la vida, (and I love life)
pero nadie me entiende, (but no one understands me)
Poco cambiare (I will change very little)
Con el tiempo (in time)
What I learned from Joaquin Galvez Bauza was that there is a spirit of giving, compassion towards others, and intense motivation to create delicious wine at Bodegas Carchelo. Please check out their website for detailed information about their wines, vineyards, and mission. As we were leaving, Joaquin gave each of us our own bottle of Sierva 2011 to enjoy at a later date and the birthday girl in our group received a few more bottles to help get the party started!
But what more was special? Joaquin presented me with my own bottle of Autista…which I saved until I returned home and savored with others just before I wrote this post…Thank you to Joaquin Galvez Bauza at Bodegas Carchelo for a memorable visit~
Cheers to loving someone special and unique ~ Cindy
**For more information about Autism Spectrum Disorder, please contact your health professional, Special Education Coordinator in your school district, friends and neighbors who may have a child with autism, or those at Autism Speaks.
You may also want to read these recent posts about my visit to Spain’s Region of Murcia~
You’re Invited – A Virtual Wine Journey to Spain’s Region of Murcia, Home of Monastrell
Tasted for the Very First Time – Monastrell in D.O. Yecla
Wine for Your Weekend with Murcian Salad Canape
Lunch at Bodegas Castaño: (Quickly) Easing into the Spanish Lifestyle
Wine for Your Weekend with Goats Cheese Roll with Fig Jam
Wine for Your Weekend with Manchego Cheese and…
Jumilla and Monastrell – The Tradition Continues at Bodegas Juan Gil
Wine for Your Weekend with Spanish Omelette
Elena Selva Olivares – Rooted in Family and Wine (and someone who thinks like me!)
Wine for Your Weekend with Cauliflower Fritters
Wines from Bodegas Olivares – A Few of My Favorites
