Finca Calderón Enoresort, Sierra Norte’s hotel and restaurant in Requena
Attention and detail and collaboration are the foundations of Sierra Norte, a project that began with the pioneering vision of two men with a love for their land and was consolidated by their descendents with a focus on organic viticulture and indigenous grape varieties. From its humble beginnings, the company has established itself as one of the foremost projects in Utiel-Requena, championing organic farming, research and the region’s flagship grape, Bobal.
Ahead of their time
The project’s origins date back to 1914, when Miguel Olmo and Lorenzo García took a visionary and decisive step to plant 0.8ha of Bobal vines in Camporrobles at a time when the region was fully dedicated to cereal crops. The new vineyard not only stood out but also foresaw the importance that viticulture would have in the region’s identity and economy.
Fast forward to 1954 and to Manuel and Heraclio’s decision to add 5.5ha more of vineyards – this time of Tempranillo – to their fathers’ original planting. Strategic expansion continued throughout the 1970s (2.5ha of Macabeo) and 1980s (10ha of Cabernet Sauvignon). In 1985, Heraclio also made the pivotal – and again pioneering – decision to transition to organic viticulture upon becoming aware of the negative impact that phytosanitary products were having on the local ecosystem.
Mapi Domingo (winemaker) and Manuel Olmo (winemaker, general manager and third generation at the helm of Sierra Norte)
Decisive steps
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