Dominio de Cair is the latest winery (Bodega) built by Juan Luis Cañas in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain.
While the group already owns two wineries in the famous Rioja: Bodegas Luis Cañas and Bodegas Luis Canas, Dominio de Cair is the first project of the company outside their native region.
Built in 2008, the winery buildings have adopted a very modern design. In contrast, the vines that produce the grapes for the vines are old and have to deal the area’s harsh climatic conditions.
Read on a Luis Cañas tell is about Dominio de Cair: the winery, vines, and wines.
The information below was provided by Luis Cañas exclusively fo Social Vignerons.
Wine Reviews & Tasting Notes
Brief history
Fruit of the restless character of the winemaker, Dominio de Cair is Juan Luis Cañas’ latest challenge which can be expressed in a single goal: to make great wines in an exceptional land, the Ribera del Duero region. The project which springs from a passion for the vineyard and is culminated by the creation of this wine cellar.
In Ribera del Duero, Juan Luis searched high and low until he found the vineyards he had dreamed of with old vines, some of which are over a hundred years old.
The Luis Cañas family has always believed that you need a great land to make a great wine. On this basis the Bodegas Dominio de Cair were set up in 2008.
A modern cellar was built, with ultra-modern architecture in which nothing has been left to chance, where every detail has been designed to provide what really matters: ideal conditions for creating wines of quality wines.
Location
Inside the D.O. (Deniminacion de Origen) Ribera del Duero, Cair’s vineyards are cultivated in the districts of La Aguilera, Quintana del Pidio, Gumiel de Mercado and Moradillo de Roa (Burgos-Spain).
The winery’s grapes are sourced from approx. 110 hectares of vines (270 acres) between estate-owned and outsourced vineyards.
Vineyards are closely monitored throughout the growing cycle so that only the best clusters are left on the vine.
Dominio de Cair is committed to rational viticulture and careful respect of the environment.
Climate
The climate of the Ribera del Duero area is characterized by moderate-to-low rainfall (400-600 mm average annual rain), dry summers, and long cold winters with sudden temperature changes throughout the year.
It is Mediterranean type with continental characteristics.
Soil types
The altitude of the vineyards ranges between 800 and 950 meters above sea level in chalky-clay, sandy and stony soils.
Vineyards and grape varieties
Vineyards are populated with very old vines in small blocks and often on hillsides, producing low yields.
They are harder to work and economically more costly than in other areas of the Ribera del Duero region. This has preserved the legacy of past generations: the best soils (micro plots) and the best strains (basal selection).
24 hectares (60 acres) of vineyard are estate-owned while 98 hectares (240 acres) are controlled by the winery.
Grape varieties are Tempranillo and Merlot grown using mainly goblet-pruned system.
Vines average 45 years of age and yield around 3.500 kg of grapes per hectare.
Winery
Bodegas Dominio de Cair was built in 2008 with a modern cellar and ultra-modern architecture.
The facilities have been designed so that wines can be made in optimum conditions. The winery is equipped with oak vats and low-capacity stainless steel tanks.
Wines are aged in a selection of new French- and American-oak casks from renowned cooperage.
The winery’s capacity allows it to receive 450 tons of grapes per vintage.
Viticulture
Neither herbicides nor fertilizers are used indiscriminately, only when the plant needs it. Only organic fertilizers, not synthetic. Methods of sexual confusion (pheromones) to pest prevention. Yield control is managed for every vine shoot rather than per vineyard surface area.
We study each plot to decide the ideal moment to pick and which wine the grapes will be used to make.
Grapes are picked by hand and placed in small boxes so that they can be taken to the winery undamaged. Upon arrival they are placed in a cooled chamber which allows us to control temperature and moisture perfectly which is vital.
People
Owner: Juan Luis Cañas
Winemaker: Daniel Martínez
Wines
Dominio de Cair produces 4 wines:
CAIR CUVÉE:
The goal is to make a fresh wine, with lots of fruit, soft and tasty. The vines used to make this wine are an average of 25 years’ old, controlling the yield of the vines to a maximum of 4,500 Kg/Ha.). This means we achieve wines that meet our goal after just 9 months in the cask. The Tempranillo is complemented by a small percentage of the Merlot variety, produced in the town of Moradillo de Roa. This plot is located at an altitude of 950 m and its gradual ripening brings freshness, liveliness and complexity. The casks used are between 1 and 3 years’ old, except for the Merlot which is put into new barrels, and are made of French and American oak.
CAIR:
With this wine, we seek to capture the essence of the Crianza wines from the Ribera del Duero, but with a more modern, fruity, rounded touch. To make this wine we use old plots aged between 40 and 60, all goblet-pruned and meeting the quality requirements established by the cellar (soil type, low yields, analytical data…). Every year they are put into new French or American oak casks and the ageing begins with the malolactic fermentation taking place in these same barrels. 14 months in new barrels, 50% French and 50% American oak. Minimum 12 months in the bottle.
TIERRAS DE CAIR:
This expresses the character of the soil of the different terroirs. For this wine, plots over 60 years’ old are chosen, with very low yields and in poor, high altitude soils, with the aim of showing the concentration and potential of old vines from the district of Aguilera. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in wooden vats and then the malolactic fermentation and ageing continue in new French-oak casks. 24 months in new French oak casks. Minimum 18 months in the bottle.
PENDÓN DE LA AGUILERA:
PENDÓN is the Spanish for the pendant or banner attached to their lances to identify and distinguish the feudal lords and their forces in the Middle Ages (10-12th century). During the later part of the Middle Ages (13th to 15th century) the King bestowed Banners to the loyal towns and cities, bringing pride and prestige to the place.
Dominio de Cair is located at the foot of the calvary of El Pendón de la Aguilera, a hillock situated in the highest part of the town in which our wine cellar is based and where this emblem would be seen. This wine which shares the name has become our standard bearer, our pride and joy, and its faithful allies each vine from which this wine springs. 27 months in new French-oak casks.
Cellar door information
The winery offers a guided tour of the winery facilities in which, glass in hand, you will discover our family’s roots.
We will begin by tasting in El Pino, in a unique setting, surrounded by our vines, the genesis of the magic in the bottle.
You will learn about our philosophy of work in the vineyard, the selection of the grapes on a two-phase sorting table and their vinification and ageing.
You will visit the barrel cellar, tasting two wines from different cooperages, and we will finish by tasting one of our aged wines, accompanied by a snack.
Option A – 10€ :
- Guided tour of the winery
- 1 aperitif wine in the vineyard
- Tasting of 2 wines from the cask during the tour
- Tasting of the CAIR CUVEE wine with a tapa
- Tasting glass to take away with you
Option B – 15€:
- Guided tour of the winery
- 1 aperitif wine in the vineyard
- Tasting of 2 wines from the cask during the tour
- Tasting of the CAIR wine with a selection of local products
- Tasting glass to take away with you
The winery is open from Monday to Friday and Saturday morning. Important: Visits must be arranged in advance by calling 0034 947 54 52 76 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]
Dominio de Cair on Social Media
More information on their website www.dominiodecair.com