We began organic farming in 2006 and introduced biodynamic practices in 2008. Since then, we have adapted our approach to the specific conditions of each vintage and the estate’s different soils and microclimates.
By paying close attention to our own surroundings, biodynamics becomes more meaningful and effective. Through an intimate understanding of the vines and the experience gained from working with them, we nurture a more balanced vineyard, better adapted to its environment.
We began organic farming in 2006 and introduced biodynamic practices in 2008. Since then, we have adapted the way we work to each vintage and to the estate’s different soils and microclimates.
Our vineyard lies near Padilla de Duero, at an altitude of 750 metres, in one of Ribera del Duero’s most prestigious areas. Its 40 hectares of vines are divided into 18 plots, each with its own distinct character.
In the vineyard, we give each vine care tailored to its needs. Over time, we have learnt something important: how to restore the vines to health. If a vine becomes diseased, our priority is to help it recover, through long-term soil treatments or targeted work on its woody parts. Knowing the vineyard is the best way to understand what it needs.
Our estate stretches between wide horizons, pine groves and the River Duero. A climate of extremes, with harsh winters, scorching summers, little rainfall and pronounced temperature variations, gives our vines an extraordinary ability to adapt.
Added to this are exceptional alkaline soils, with a predominantly sandy loam texture, which lend finesse and definition to our wines. The diversity of these soils across our 18 plots is key to expressing the estate’s many nuances.
Depending on each year’s conditions, we give the soil what it needs to nourish the vines. Between the rows, we sow oats and legumes to help aerate the soil and restore its balance.
We also make our own compost and use plant-based and mineral preparations. All to maintain the balance between the soil, the vines and the ecosystem.
There is no set recipe for tending the vineyard. Only observation and adaptation to the environment. Our 18 plots each have their own soils and nuances, so we adapt our work to what they need at any given moment. This is how we understand biodynamics: observing the land and respecting its own rhythm.
We help the vineyard find harmony, health and its own expression. We seek balanced yields rather than high ones. The harvest takes as long as it needs, allowing the grapes from each plot to reach the winery with the ideal balance of ripeness and acidity.
The diversity of our soils means every plot has something different to offer. That is why we tailor our vineyard practices to each one and vinify each area separately. In some vintages, we have had as many as 50 different wines in the cellar. Each plot has its own personality, and each contributes to the identity of our wines.
Years of mindful practice and a quest to express our terroir have shown us the crucial role of biodynamics and our work in the winery. Together, they allow Cruz de Alba wines to faithfully reflect their origins and the conditions of each vintage. Expressive, vibrant and full of a distinctive grace, they pulse with the life of the vineyard.
