History of the winery

Officially founded in 1989, in the south of the island of La Palma (Fuencaliente), Bodegas Carballo SL is the result of a long and extensive family tradition in the wine world that, like the long-lived Los Llanos Negros vineyard, dates back to late nineteenth century. It is as a result of this characteristic (possible thanks to being sown on open ground), together with the lack of rainfall in the region (rainfed agriculture), the fact that production is quite limited (around 10,000 liters).

The enclosure is made up of six warehouses of various kinds, from a laboratory where samples of must and wine are analyzed, to the enclave of a traditional tea press from the 19th century that, beyond serving as an exhibition, is used for winemaking. Del Malvasía Dulce, the company’s star wine. Also noteworthy is the existence of a volcanic tube that helps to naturally cool the warehouse in which the fermentation and storage wines are located. All those equipped with the necessary facilities to guarantee the correct operation of the industrial chain that makes it possible to manufacture the product in an artisanal way.

The land and the vineyard

In 1677, in Fuencaliente (south of La Palma), the San Antonio volcano erupted, covering the fertile lands around it with ashes and leaving a layer of lapilli approximately two meters high. Twenty-three years later, the farmers of this area decide to plant vineyards, for which they are forced to open ditches that allow them to reach the fertile soil layer that is under the picón and place the reproductive branches that later cover with the picón extracted. This unique technique gives rise to a type of sanding with which vine plants can withstand the most adverse weather conditions.

The vines belong to the European Vitis vinifera, a species that is invaded and destroyed throughout Europe by the phylloxera plague in the second half of the 19th century and from which the Canary Islands are saved. The varieties of Gual, Verdello, Sabro and Bastardo form the group that is locally called Vidueños, complemented by Negramol and Bujariego. However, the queen par excellence is none other than the Aromatic Malvasia, from which comes one of the most prestigious wines in the world. The vines are grown under conditions that can be called “biological”: natural organic manure is used as fertilizer, and only copper and sulfur salts are used as fungicide (insects do not cause significant damage, so insecticides are not used). The grapes they produce are intended for high quality, different and unique wines.

Winemaking and wines

El catálogo está compuesto únicamente por cinco vinos: dos blancos, dos tintos y un rosado.

The catalog is made up of only five wines: two whites, two reds and a rosé.
Among the whites, we find one dry and the other sweet. The first, in its 2018 vintage, is made up of Bujariego and Listán Blanco (50% each), and is destemmed, crushed, drained and gently pressed. Fresh and pleasant on the palate, it has a good, well-integrated acidity and a pleasant fruity taste with a slight bitterness characteristic of the variety. The second, on the other hand, comes from 100% Aromatic Malvasia, and benefits from a grape that is picked very ripe (with a minimum sugar content of 34% Brix) and is trodden in a tea press in a traditional way *. With around 80-100 g / l of residual sugars, it has great aromatic intensity (raisins, honey, roses …) and a good balance on the palate.

With regard to the reds, we can distinguish between a traditional one and a barrel-aged one. Both, in their 2018 vintage, have 50% Negramol, 40% Listán Negro and 10% Gual and Sabro (plus Aromatic Malvasia in the first case). The main difference comes from the six months of maturation in French oak barrels, which gives it roasted notes (wood, toast, coffee …) and greater complexity on the palate.

Finally, the rosé is made up of a variety of Listán negro del Tión, destemmed prior to squeezing the grape, subsequent maceration and uncovered the next day. Resulting in a very lush and fruity wine (strawberry / raspberry), with a good balance on the palate.

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