The Cogolludo winery (Guadalajara), Finca Río Negro, incorporates Xavier Ausás as a new adviser in its technical direction. Recognized as ‘Best Winemaker’ in 2007, with more than 25 years of experience in the winemaking management of major groups –including the Vega Sicilia winery– and with a commitment to absolute respect for the terroir, the prestigious expert will carry out their work in the vineyard, from viticulture supervision to work in the cellar.
Specifically, Ausás will contribute his knowledge to Finca Río Negro, in his commitment to continue developing unique references with their own nuances. «At Finca Río Negro we have the ambition to produce one of the most particular wines in Spain. A project that is committed to the highest quality, excellence and incorporates new talent into our team for the next harvest.
Having a benchmark in the world of wine such as Xavier Ausás reinforces our position and will allow us to continue working on our goals,” says Fernando Fuentes, manager of Finca Río Negro.
For his part, the winemaker values the location and surroundings of Finca Río Negro. «An isolated winery, far from any Denomination of Origin that has its own history and great differential value. The characteristics of the area and the height of the vineyards provide the Finca Río Negro wines with unique qualities”, highlights Xavier Ausás.
Thus, Ausás will join Manuel del Rincón, agronomist and oenologist, expert in ecological and biodynamic viticulture linked to the technical direction of Finca Río Negro in recent years. In his long career, Del Rincón has advised on such prestigious projects as Pago de Carraovejas, Ossian or Rafael Palacios, among others. From his position as a researcher and viticulturist, he understands viticulture from respect for the balance and tools that nature provides us, taking care of the soil and the biodiversity of the vineyard.
The Fuentes family, at the head of Finca Río Negro, has spent two decades recovering the wine and winemaking tradition of Cogolludo, Guadalajara. With their own vision of producing Estate Wines, they manage to produce internationally recognized white and red wines. Among its latest projects, the winery works together with the Institute of Vine and Wine of Castilla-La Mancha (Ivicam) and the University of Castilla-La Mancha in the recovery of Tinto Fragoso. A native variety of Cogolludo, unique in the world and authorized for winemaking.
In addition, the Center for Research, Studies, Protection, Coordination and Valorization of Mountain Viticulture (Cervim) has incorporated Finca Río Negro as a new member of the organization and recognizes the work of the Winery for its heroic mountain viticulture. Cervim highlights its commitment to recovering the wine-growing tradition of Cogolludo. With its presence in the prestigious international organization, Finca Río Negro is the only adhered winery in the center of the peninsula. In this way, it joins the main Spanish wine regions – such as DOCA Priorat, Ribeira Sacra and the Canary Islands – and the world, located in mountainous regions where viticulture is considered “heroic”, with a characteristic territory and climate that impose conditions extreme cultivation.
