The Finca del Castillo Estate
Finca del Castillo means "The Castle's winery" in Spanish. The wine is made by Vinicola de Castilla in Manzanares (Ciudad Real) in an up to date, state of the art winemaking facility (30,000 sq meters/300,000 sq ft) with the capacity of producing 2 million liters and holding 8,000 barrels. Founded in 1976, it's a privately owned corporation (not a co-op). Since its inception, a DO La Mancha pioneer in fruit-driven young wines, barrel-aged reds and varietals. More than 600 international awards for their wines.
Production by type: 65% Red wine, 35% White and Sparkling.
Export sales represent 50% of the production. The winery exports to 22 countries.
Capacity is 20,000,000 liters, currently running at 12,000,000 liters of yearly production.
This Bodega likes to promote their Crianza wines.
The Finca del Castillo Vineyards
The winery and the vineyards are all located in the "La Mancha" DO. Tempranillo is the primary grape varietals and it represents 70% of the total production.
They grow the following 5 red grape varietals:
· Tempranillo
· Cabernet Sauvignon
· Merlot
· Petit Verdot
· Syrah
They also grow the following 6 differents types of White grape varietals:
· Verdejo
· Airén
· Macabeo
· Sauvignon Blanc
· Moscato
· Chardonnay.
The wines are all produced with grapes they only grow themselves. They own 50 hectares, and they currently rent another 550 hectares (long term leasing contract).
Finca del Castillo Tempranillo La Mancha is made from 30 year old vine Tempranillo (100%).
This pretty little red has a flavor reminiscent of good Cotes du Rhone. Medium bodied, flavorful; hints of raspberry and strawberry. Shows best with picnic fare and grilled meats. Perfect summer red.
Guillemot-Michel Vire Clesse (magnum) is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Beautifully expressive, with yellow fruits, orange blossom, smoke & flint. Thick and saline on entry, then seriously deep in the mid-palate, with suggestions of exotic fruits perfectly countered by strong minerality. This wine strikes a perfect balance between sweet and salty elements, and it shows vibrant acidity. It boasts a thickness that few other northern Mâconnais can match.
Enjoy with fish (such as sole meuniere), seafood, roasted chicken, goat cheese.
Ziata Meteor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
Bold and intense, this Cabernet Sauvignon from the Meteor Vineyard in Coombsville is full-bodied and berry-driven, with rich spice undertones and a firm structure.
After 20 years of marketing Napa Valley and its wines, Karen Cakebread launched her own project in 2008 with two major goals in mind: to create beautifully structured wines that reflect the vineyards from which they come, and to be involved in every aspect of making the wines.Karen started ZIATA, named in honor of her mother, Mary Annunziata, in 2008 with three varietals: Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, which she chose for their food-friendly qualities. She hired Anne Vawter, a protégée of Heidi Barrett, as winemaker and sourced grapes from sustainable sources, working closely with the grape growers through the growing season, knowing that efforts made in the vineyard would create better wine than those manipulated in the cellar. Jennifer Williams : I find winemaking to be both an art and a trade—you learn by doing and working the vineyards, ensuring the fruit is the best it can be long before it’s picked is at least half the work of the winemaker.