History
The term "Venta" refers to buildings that were on the main road at the time, which ran between Tortosa on the Mediterranean, via Alcañiz, to Zaragoza at intervals of one day’s travel. Up to the end of the 19th century, Ventas served as a horse exchange stations, and as guest houses in modern terms. Carriages could stop here so that travellers and the horses could rest, and be cared for. The "Venta d’Aubert" was most likely the "Venta" of (noble) Aubert.
With the advent of motor vehicles, and the construction of the railroads at the end of the 19th century, mobility changed completely. Depopulation of these barren areas began, people moving to the cities and / or to the sea. So, with other “Ventas” losing their commercial value, the Venta d’Aubert also was abandoned, and sank into oblivion.
In 1986, the "Venta d’Aubert" was given new life by a Swiss couple. The fields of the "Venta" were largely uncultivated at the time. There existed plots with almond and olive trees, pasture land, and an old vineyard with white Garnacha grapes in the Gobelet style. New vineyards were prepared, and planted with varieties of red and white wine grapes.
In 1995 the new bodega, with all the technical properties required for autonomous operation, was built. It was enlarged in 2001 to meet expansion needs.
The vineyards
The entire area of the "Venta d’Aubert" covers 62 ha, of which 18 ha are currently planted with vines that grow on clay and calcareous soils. The vineyards circle the bodega. They are exposed to a Mediterranean and semi-continental climate, which is highly favourable to vine cultivation. There is no artificial irrigation of the vineyards.
In our wine-making, we only use our home-grown grapes, always harvested by hand. It is our goal to oversee the entire process, carefully tracking every aspect from the vines in the vineyard, to barrelling and then bottling, so enabling excellent quality control.
Sustainability
We have been cultivating our vineyards strictly along organic lines for 15 years. As from the 2013 harvest, we operate as an organic farm for both vineyards and bodega with certification from the Comité Aragonés de Agricultura Ecológica. Our wine labels have carried the organic logo ever since. It is, and remains, our aim to manage the vineyards in an environmentally conscious manner, within a balanced ecosystem.
In order to maintain and improve the soil structure, we periodically fertilize the soil with our own compost made from manure and vegetable waste biodynamically. The vines respond in gratitude with their health and vitality. We also sow various greening plants that, both improve and enrich the soil with organic matter, while promoting biodiversity. This in addition, offers a pleasant living environment to many small organisms and insects.
