El carácter no es coincidencia
MARK'S FIRST LOVE
Mark Schiettekat is the founder of the project. This passionate entrepreneur from Belgium started selling Spanish wine in 1983. And since 1992, convinced of its potential, he has been producing wines in Spain, valuing the different native varieties of the country.
Among the varieties he works with, there is one that holds a special place in his heart: the Garnacha grape, native to Aragon. It was precisely in Calatayud where Mark promised to put down roots.
Twenty years after that promise, and reviving a local cooperative on the brink of closure, he was able to launch Raíces Ibéricas winery, fulfilling his promise and making his dream come true.
CALATAYUD D.O.
Calatayud is located in the heart of Aragon. In a valley surrounded by mountains, protected from the harshest conditions on the other side of the range. The tributaries of the Ebro River provide a constant source of water and many other benefits.
Its continental climate brings scorching summers and freezing winters, with differences of 40 °C or more between seasons. Even between day and night, temperatures vary by more than 20 °C.
The Cierzo, an unrelenting wind, brings character, both to its wines and its people. Most vineyards are located at altitudes between 800 and 1,000 meters. Challenging conditions for those who work them, but excellent for the grapes.
LAS PIZARRAS, MORE THAN A NAME
Although poor in nutrients, these rocky substrates rich in limestone allow the vine roots to slowly but inexorably make their way through the cracks and fine fissures.
Between the layers of slate, water is captured and accumulated. These soils also absorb and reflect the heat of the sun, balancing the ripening process of the grapes between day and night.
The landscape of Calatayud is a complex mosaic of plots, displaying enormous diversity. Slate soils can be black, gray, red, or even white. It's a spectacle to see how the terrain changes from one plot to another, sometimes with just a few meters of difference between them.
Just as the soil and its mineral composition change, so do the vines and the grapes they produce. They develop a different character, distinct from their neighbors.
GARNACHA
It's no coincidence that Garnacha thrives in this region. It's perfectly adapted to the challenging conditions it's constantly exposed to. Like the people, old vines, sometimes over 80 years old, are the most resilient.
Although their yields are low (about 3,000 kg/ha), they have managed to build and develop their own personality while retaining the fruity character and freshness so typical of Garnacha.
OUR WINES
With all this uniqueness, we have developed a collection of wines full of personality and nuances that, with every sip, bring us the best of this land.
Wines that pay homage to the local dialect of Aragon, as is the case with Fabla, our most popular proposal. Village wines, like Acered and Alarba, made with grapes exclusively grown in these two towns of the Calatayud D.O. Or single vineyard wines, like Las Lomas, where you can find the maximum expression of this area.
OUR WINES
With all this uniqueness, we have developed a collection of wines full of personality and nuance that, with every sip, bring us the best of this land.
Wines that pay tribute to the popular speech of Aragón, like Fabla, our most popular proposal. Village wines, such as Acered and Alarba, made with grapes grown exclusively in these two towns of the Calatayud D.O. Or single-vineyard wines, like Las Lomas, where you can find the highest expression of this area.
FABLA
Fabla is the language used in various areas of northern Aragón for over a thousand years.
80% Garnacha tinta and 20% Syrah. Wine with Calatayud D.O.
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VIÑA ACERED
Along the western slope of the Jiloca Valley, small villages are surrounded by almond, peach, and cherry trees while pretty, modest vineyards line up. The edge of this harmony is found in Acered, at 835 meters above sea level. Its clay soils make it one of the most representative areas of the region. The vines are old, but always with a very intense mineral note.
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VIÑA ALARBA
Village Wine. Alarba is a small town with fewer than 130 inhabitants, located at the foot of the Sierra de Pardos, around 850 meters above sea level. The vineyard is over 60 years old, with low yields, but surprising concentration and color.
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VIÑA CASTEJÓN
Castejón de Alarba is one of the smallest towns in the Sierra de Pardos, with fewer than 80 inhabitants. This village has a rich history—it was one of the most important sites during the Celtiberian civilization’s peak. Today, the vineyards in this remote area are mostly cared for by local farmers. Its winemaking tradition is one of the region’s most distinct. Its limestone soils and steep slopes, nestled among mountains and subjected to extreme climate, create unique conditions for growing vines.
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LAS LOMAS
The Las Lomas plot lies on the outskirts of the town of Malanquilla, where there’s an old winery. Located at 741 meters above sea level, Las Lomas is a small 2.56-hectare plot that stands out from its neighbors due to its orientation and altitude. With 40-year-old bush-trained Garnacha vines, it was a natural choice for a single-vineyard wine.
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