The strange story of a vineyard canterana

It is curious that the concept of sustainability is causing in our society. Fifty years ago, it was unthinkable to imagine that a cement reused the grounds of an already exhausted quarry to cultivate a few vineyards. In fact, for 50 years who could imagine that a cement factory would have an agricultural Division? In both cases, Cemex has broken expectations and has been able to adapt to the times.

Rafael Sempere, who told us how the idea of reusing a quarry with elements more respectful with the environment is responsible for this project and the agricultural Division of Cemex in Spain. "Our business - explains - focuses on the cement, concrete, mortar and aggregates, but to manufacture these products we need to use raw material mainly from the quarries."

"Cemex has a policy of restoration of quarries - added - which goes beyond the legal requirements, requiring to restore the quarries once exploited." "The company has always been committed to restore and reinstate the environment the quarries in the most user-friendly way, tried to these spaces recovered similar conditions to those that existed before that these areas were exploited".

Thus, the company always trying to adapt to the possible conditions of more compatible with the natural habitat or the agricultural practices of the area. For this reason, as said the own Sempere, "is clear that the space where this quarry is located (Yepes) is a wine-growing area with a long tradition." "For this reason that at the time to begin the restoration of this quarry was toyed with the possibility of converting the quarry in vineyard and this has been the result."

It is obvious to say that in Cemex are not experts in the manufacture of wine, is for this reason that they decided to get in touch with Bodegas Olarra, who have shown to have a long history and a national and international recognition of its wines. The reasons that made them to opt for this Winery are that "Olarra brought everything that we wanted, - says Rafael Sempere - knowledge of the business, proximity, prestige and quality in its caldos…" "We believe that Bodegas Olarra we were going to bring everything we desconocíamos business, and finally demonstrated."

And the end result is a wine called 'Viña canterana', which is produced from Syrach, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties. This wine, other than serve to "return to nature that we gave to this vineyard" says Rafael Sempere, is a way to make a present to your customers. It is not a division of business of Cemex, which has very clear that its objective is the construction industry and public works.

In this regard, Sempere has made it clear that "we are not cement winemakers." "We do not know to make wine, simply grow some vines in a space that before we exploit and we have believed that restore this way was the most appropriate for the place where the quarry was located". He also explained that "our wine is used as a corporate gift." It is a way to our clients and friends know how have recovered this space, what possibilities offer land as it... "and that they can taste the fruits of the Earth."

And the truth is that this is a corporate policy that takes quite some time now taking place. There are already six vintages harvested by Cemex and Bodegas Olarra in the old quarry close to Toledo and hope to continue to cultivate many more years. While the Mexican cement company owns quarries throughout the territory, for the moment not arises cultivate more vineyard. Not by costs or complexity might have, but for a much simpler reason.

The truth is that "every quarry is different and for each there is a plan of restoration of its own". In the case of Toledo, he opted for a vineyard because the land had the right conditions and the area has the tradition be an expert in wines. But in other areas of our country, opt for other options. "We have restorations of very unique quarries which we have received many awards and national and International recognitions." In Alicante, we have transformed another quarry already exhausted in a prosperous farming of citrus. "Are about 138 hectares which are home to oranges and mandarins of varieties, producing about 1,000 tonnes of fruit annually, says Rafael Sempere.

If to this we add the almonds cultivated in Majorca, we can get an idea of how Cemex restores the ground which has been able to exploit, giving a natural look back to a ground that under normal conditions would seem Rocky and little pleasant view. In this sense, each restored quarry is as "a suit to measure and not a standard model that replicates on any site".

"Cemex planted in his sixth vintage of the quarry of Yepes (Toledo) approximately 100,000 kilos of grapes, which resulted in about 100,000 bottles of your brand ' Viña Canterana", as it has been the average of previous campaigns.

In its vineyards of Yepes, and after the usual sampling of the grain of the grapes in order to know the State of maturation and define the optimal timing of collection, was conducted last September the collection of varieties SyrahCabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This year, the single incident detected was the decline of the latter variety, due to a plague of rabbits, which damaged about 10,000 strains, the 92,000 of the vineyard.

The Vineyard has an area of 26 hectares, where there are planted 92,000 strains. Throughout the year, experts from the agricultural Division of Cemex are responsible for making pruning and proper treatment of the vines, using organic products to avoid damaging the environment.

In the plantation of this vineyard, with the grape varieties recommended by Bodegas Olarra, it is cultivated with techniques such as drip irrigation, the trellis system and mechanized harvesting. This responds to the commitment to sustainability and the recovery of its quarries once exploited, turning to leave the area of extraction of limestone in the same or similar conditions which existed before the area was usedmaking its activity entirely compatible with the natural habitat and agricultural practices in the region.