Bodegas Castillo Viejo S.A.

We main product/services:
White Wine; Red Wine; Sparkling; Wine; Liquor ;
Company Profile
Year Established:
Businss Type: Manufacturer
Contact: Mr. Federico Domingo (Export Manager)
Telphone: 598-99-290316
Fax 598-2-3691836
MobilePhone:
Web Site: www.castilloviejo.com,
Zip: 90200
Country/Region:
Province/State: Canelones
City: Las Piedras
Address: Ruta 68 Km 24    
Introduce
Bodegas Castillo Viejo combines tradition and innovation to produce the best
quality offered by our region. In this age of wine factories buyouts, increasingly
consolidation and mass production, our (almost) artisan wine making methods
produce fine wines, full of personality and character, in a fruit driven and long
tasting style.

The vineyards grow close to the Rio de la Plata, 34 southern latitude, benefiting
from a sunny and cool Atlantic climate. The terroir is clay loam soil although it
contains some rocky material having a moderate water retention capacity. A
terroir of this type produces more tannins and stronger, structured and fruity
wines.

The property is strategically located, at 35 km (21,7 miles) from the coastline,
surrounded by 3 big rivers which creates a unique microclimate. The altitude
above sea level is 100 m (328 ft) above sea level. Rainfall at this location is lower
than in other places in Uruguay. The thermal amplitude is 18 degrees with
variations from 30C (86 F) and 12C (54 F).

We cultivate and harvest by hand 100 hectares of low yielding and high density
Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot vines, Chardonnay,
Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Gewurztraminer. In very limited quantities we
grow Tempranillo and Pinot Noir which gives a volume of approximately 55.000
cases.

We think in bunches of berries per plant instead of kilograms per hectare. Our
planting system is the OPEN LYRE with an density of 4.000 plants per hectare
depending on soil type and variety, clone and rootstock vigour. We search for
equilibrated vines that produce 2 or 3 kilograms per plant depending of the
varietys characteristics. We use only our own grapes and this is the source of
100% of our wines. We neither buy grapes nor wines.


Our vineyards management is based on the principles of respecting the
environment and minimum intervention. We do not irrigate and we do not use
residual herbicides/pesticides. Normally we use only mineral fungicides and
organic fertilizers when needed. The natural grass cover the land till the end of
spring rains helps us to extract excess water. Three to four times during the
growing season we defoliate the bunch area for better exposure of the grapes. We
take away excess crop when needed and clean up late flowering bunches that
would not be completely ripe at harvest time.


The grapes are 100% hand picked - two times if necessary to achieve full bunch
maturity. Maybe the most distinctive point of the harvest at Bodegas Castillo
Viejo is that we harvest most of our grapes during the night.
Transport to the
winery in 16 kg boxes in not more than an hour from picking to crushing.

Our winery is characterized by