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La Guita
www.grupoestevez.es/default.cfm?lang=en
Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Andalusia
People: Estevez Family, Owners | Jose Ramón Estévez, General Manager | Eduardo Ojeda, Winemaker & Production Manager


¿Why "La Guita?" The origins of the name “La Guita” come from the fact that the founder of the winery would always ask the interested buyers: Do you have "guita?" Guita in Spanish means cord or string but it’s also a colloquial word for money. That’s why people started calling the winery “la Guita." Later on a short string was attached to the bottle to reinforce the brand’s name. The trademark "la Guita" was registered in 1908.

History: The winery Hijos de Rainiera Perez Marin is located in Sanlucar de Barrameda, a town in the Jerez‐Sherry Designation of Origin (D.O.) area. It was founded by Domingo Pérez Marín in 1852. In 2007, the sherry wine producer Grupo Estevez acquired the winery joining other famous wineries like Valdespino and Real Tesoro. In 1526, the actual building where the cellars are located, 1 Misericordia street, was the Hospital de la Santa Misericordia. This was the main hospital in Sanlucar. In 1589 the hospital changed its name to San Juan de Dios Hospital when it was transferred to the religious order of the same name. Juan Pecador was appointed by the Bishop of Sevilla to be the person in charge of the hospital. In 1996 he was canonized by the Pope Juan Pablo II with the name Saint Juan Grande. Between 1867 and 1868 the building was rebuilt to transform it into cellars, as it can be seen in the grille covering the great circular windows of the main naves, and has maintained the use up to these days. The primitive name “Bodega San Juan de Dios” can be still read on the ceramic tiles in the maim facade. Among other particularities, the Cellar maintains the facade of the San Juan de Dios temple, dating from early XVII century. The ornamental elements of this classic baroque style facade are concentrated on the moldings and pilasters that flank the front door and the entablature on top.

This wonderful building is located within an area of monumental architecture, typical of the oldest historic center of Sanlucar and close to the neighboring Basilica de la Caridad. In fact, the cellar’s building strongly contributes to the character of the Barrio Alto (High Quarter) area. Manzanilla “La Guita”, symbol of our company that also gives the actual name to the building is aged inside the walls of this cellar. The west humid winds from the sea, key factor to the elaboration of this unique wine, blow directly in the cellar thanks to its location in the higher area of the town.

"La Guita" is the first Manzanilla wine to include the bottling date in the back label. This important information allows us to guarantee the consumers the product’s optimum condition for consumption. Our company’s policy is to elaborate and offer our customers the finest quality products and the best service. This continuous effort during the years has been rewarded with the public’s acceptance and loyalty that has converted "la Guita" in the leader brand in the Spanish market.

The Cellars: Currently the winery has 2 cellars in Sanlucar with a total surface around 8.000 m2: Bodega Misericordia and Bodega Pago Sanlucar Viejo. Over 16,000 American oak casks are used for the aging of “La Guita” In 1993, Bodega Pago Sanlucar Viejo was acquired by the company and during 2001 and 2003 a 6,000 m2 enlargement in two levels‐one of them underground‐ took place. This was the first cellar of such characteristics built in the Sherry D.O. Today this cellar’s surface is over 11,000 m2 including more than 14,000 casks and a completely reformed bottling plant. The “La Guita” bottling plant is unique worldwide, being capable of stick “La Guita”(the string) to the bottles at 12,000 bottles/hour speed.

The Vineyards: The grapes come from vineyards in the smooth and undulating hills inside the triangle‐shaped area of the Jerez‐Sherry D.O. The vineyard’s soil is qualified as "Albariza Superior," the highest soil quality standard according to the Sherry D.O. Regulatory Board. The soil is named Albariza after its white color, rich in calcium carbonate, clay and silica. These soil characteristics help retain humidity, absorbing winter rains to use during dry seasons. Albariza is the ideal soil to produce grapes for the elaboration of high quality wines. The grape harvest is done by hand, trying that the grapes arrive to the press premises as promptly and in the best conditions.

Aging Process: The grape variety used to obtain the must is Palomino Fino. After harvesting, the grapes are pressed, usually in the first half of September, to obtain the free‐run juice or "mosto de yema." This high quality must is fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature to transform sugars into alcohol obtaining young wine. Once the wine has been carefully selected‐we look for a clean in the nose and pale and light wine‐the wine is fortified up to 15º and enters the traditional aging system of Criaderas y Solera, at the stage called Sobretabla. This system basically consists of using "Botas" (typical casks used in Jerez, made of American oak and with a capacity of 516 liters) called Criaderas containing wines of similar characteristics and different vintages.

After fermenting the young wines, a veil will appear in the surface of the wine inside the "bota." This veil is composed of a layer of yeast called "Flor" that will confer the wine the characteristics so peculiar and unique worldwide. This yeast is permanently interacting with the wine, consuming alcohol and other nutrients and offering an aroma and flavor very particular. This type of aging is called "biological aging" or "under flor." The Manzanilla casks are not completely filled, allowing the yeast to develop, and not only transform the wine but also protect it from oxidation. The "botas" are aligned in rows or "andanas," 3 or 4 stories high, forming each one an "escala" or scale. The scale containing the oldest one is located on the lowest level and it’s called Solera. When bottling, the wine is extracted in an operation called "Saca" or sack from the Solera. The volume of wine extracted is replaced with the wine from the immediately upper "escala," called first criadera, containing younger wine. The wine extracted from the first Criadera is replaced with that of the second Criadera and so on till we get to the “Sobretabla” where the replacement is done with the youngest wine. In each "Saca" we extract only a small quantity from each Solera. Every year we extract, for bottling and sale, 35% percent of the Solera capacity maximum.

Media Links
La Guita Song: Sevillanas de 'La Guita' por Diego Carrasco

Social Media
Twitter: @grupoestevez
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Items
La Guita (375 ml) Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda DO Net Price Reviews —
La Guita Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda DO Net Price Reviews —
Reviews
La Guita Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda DO
Rating: 90

The NV La Guita Manzanilla has always had a very strong and marked character of brine, green olives and mustard seeds, with an overall sweet sensation. The medium-bodied palate is precise, very dry and intense, with some brine and rancio flavors and great length. The quality of this wine has increased notably in the last few years, and represents very good value and is a great introduction to Manzanilla, as availability should not be a problem with 2,000,000 bottles filled per year. As an advantage, the back label shows the month and date of the bottling, and should be drunk within a year or two. Drink 2013-2014.

- The Wine Advocate (8/29/2013)

La Guita Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda DO
Rating: 92

This round white has texture and grip, with rich and focused flavors of apple, almond, green olive and brine. Offers plenty of fruit, but remains grounded thanks to the briny character. Expressive and balanced.

- The Wine Spectator (11/1/2012)

La Guita (375 ml) Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda DO
Rating: 90

The NV La Guita Manzanilla has always had a very strong and marked character of brine, green olives and mustard seeds, with an overall sweet sensation. The medium-bodied palate is precise, very dry and intense, with some brine and rancio flavors and great length. The quality of this wine has increased notably in the last few years, and represents very good value and is a great introduction to Manzanilla, as availability should not be a problem with 2,000,000 bottles filled per year. As an advantage, the back label shows the month and date of the bottling, and should be drunk within a year or two. Drink 2013-2014.

- The Wine Advocate (8/29/2013)

La Guita (375 ml) Manzanilla, Sanlucar de Barrameda DO
Rating: 92

This round white has texture and grip, with rich and focused flavors of apple, almond, green olive and brine. Offers plenty of fruit, but remains grounded thanks to the briny character. Expressive and balanced.

- The Wine Spectator (11/1/2012)