Hacienda los Arcos

LOS ARCOS

HACIENDA

IN MIJAS, ANDALUCIA

OUR WINE PROJECT

WELCOME TO

SPAIN

CLIMATE

Climate change is increasingly causing extreme weather conditions in the Mediterranean region. Long, extremely dry periods of heat and occasional extreme precipitation pose major challenges for agriculture and especially for viticulture. Without strategic adjustments to viticultural methods, viticulture as such faces major problems, especially in southern Andalucia.

CHANGE

VITICULTURE IN TIMES OF

EXTREME

THE PROBLEM:

Prolonged periods of heat dry out the soil. Subsequent extreme precipitation then leads to massive signs of erosion, since the rainwater can no longer seep into the ground fast enough.

WEATHER

WASTE

THE RESULT:

This basic situation is exacerbated when the soil between the vines is kept bare and without vegetation and also might be biologically depleted by chemical fertilizers.

SOILS

QUALITY

NEW METHODS FOR

We are therefore developing new methods to counteract this increasing problem, enabling us to continue producing quality vines despite the threatening climatic changes.

VITICULTURE

BEAUTIFULLY

OUR VINEYARD:

GREEN!

For this purpose, we work with a thick green cover in winter and a constant, rolled out plant cover in summer, so that a permanent root penetration of the spaces between the vines revitalizes the soil, preserves the pore structure and protects the soil from direct sunlight.

ORGANIC

SOIL REVITILISATION THROUGH

To revitalize and aerate the soil, we use biochar and compost which we produce ourselves and supply the soil life with fermented liquids via underground, water-saving drip irrigation.

COMPOST

SPECIAL

TERRACES AND

The terraces, which slow down the run-off of rainwater, are planted with special taproot grasses (vetiver) to quickly infiltrate rainfall into the soil and prevent erosion. In addition, a rainwater storage system with underground water retention basins is being created.

GRASSES

STABLE ECOSYSTEM:

To balance and stabilize the ecosystem of the vineyard, fruit trees and perennial herbs are planted between the vines. In addition to the greening of the vineyards, these measures of bio-diversification promote the proliferation of small animals and insects as well as microbial diversity, which strengthens the resistance of the vines to fungal and other diseases, thus eliminating the use of other plant protection measures or at least greatly reduces them.

BIO-DIVERSITY

ROBUST

THE GOAL:

All of these measures promote a robust microclimate in the vineyard and create the best conditions for producing high wine quality. The whole project is designed to develop and demonstrate the prerequisites for quality viticulture in times of climate change in southern Spain, in an environmentally friendly manner.

MICROKLIMATE

OUR WINE

STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT:

Our wine matures in clay amphorae according to ancient tradition, because we want to prevent it from absorbing foreign flavors. Using amphorae as a form of storage for our wines also enables the best temperature equalization and oxygen supply. Unfortunately, due to the long aging period in the cellar, it takes time for our wines to be ready for the market.

NATURAL WINES

In order to prove the success of the interaction of the new methods of sustainable viticulture in high biodiversity, we vinify our wines in a purely natural way and without additives. The wines represent the natural flavors and aromas of the grapes and climate , the living soil and the diverse ecosystem.

WITHOUT
ADDITIVES

WELLCOME TO THE

Our winery Hacienda los Arcos is located in the hills of Mijas, about 40 minutes southwest of Malaga, just a few kilometers from the Andalusian Mediterranean coast. We have been running an unusual and ambitious wine-growing project here for several years: Our goal is to grow wine naturally and to produce high-quality wines without adding chemicals and taking into account sustainability, low water consumption and high biodiversity.

We appreciate your interest and your visit to our website.

Rudi & Sigrid Ballauf

Testimonials

An exemplary Project

“Exemplary”

„An exemplary and ambitious project. I'm very excited to see the first results"

Willi Seidl, (Commanderie de Bordeaux à Munich)

“Chapeau!”

“Rudi Ballauf shows what can be achieved with determination and personal commitment. A great project!”

Jill Goodall-Seer

“A Living Garden”

"A vineyard should be like a living garden..."

Hans-Peter Schmidt (Ithaka Institute, Schweiz)

"Borrowed Only"

"We do not inherit the earth from our parents, we borrow it from our children..."

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry