Bodegas Pigar
Bodegas Pigar is a multi-generational story beginning with Juan Garcia’s grandfather who initially planted vines outside Campo Arcis in 1952. Grapes in this region were largely sold to the local co-op to create bulk wines with little sense of place. Juan and Susana believed these old vines were capable of creating fruit for serious, single parcel wines.
Juan and Susana created their first vintage in 2016 taking the well-worn pathway back home from their life in the city. Their focus is on the indigenous varieties of Bobal and Royal, while also planting international varieties such as Chardonnay. Drought-resistant vines allow for dry farming in the vineyards and conservation of water usage.
In 2017, they undertook perhaps the most romantic of tasks in resurrecting four parcels of old vines, ranging from 65 to 110 years of age. This project is displayed in the bottles of Bobales Perdidos and Ancestral Royale which celebrate the potential that was lost under decades of negligence.
The vineyards see no use of herbicides or pesticides. In the cellar, Juan uses only wild yeasts. Their micro-vinifications are fermented and aged in clay amphora and old french barrels. They also boast a tantalizing line-up of ancestral method Pet-Nats where primary fermentation is finished off in bottle. Each of their limited releases speaks to the specific terroir its vines inhabit. Bodegas Pigar produces roughly 8000 bottles annually.
