BODEGA SAN MIGUEL, SINCE 1956
…since then hundreds of visitors and tourists, distributors and retailers have come to visit our winery, to taste our wines and to discover a modest charm of the village of Ausejo.
Back then
191 FOUNDING MEMBERS
The winery was founded by 191 cooperative partners, who gathered their determination and resources to build a winery with their own hands.
Founders invested in advanced technology and premises with the aim to compete in a tough market of winemaking. An imposition of prices and strict rules were putting at risk the existence of small and middle-sized farmers with modest means.
So people of the village of Ausejo united to become more influential on the wine market. Tough market, which is constantly in progress, and controlled by the big wineries in La Rioja.
Founders invested in advanced technology and premises with the aim to compete in a tough market of winemaking. An imposition of prices and strict rules were putting at risk the existence of small and middle-sized farmers with modest means.
So people of the village of Ausejo united to become more influential on the wine market. Tough market, which is constantly in progress, and controlled by the big wineries in La Rioja.
EVOLUTION
In 1956 a winery is built with the help of an architect, a bricklayer and workforce of 191 cooperative members and their families.
1
INITIAL CAPACITY OF 1,700,000L
2
66 CONCRETE TANKS OF 30,000L, 15,000L AND 7,000L.
Initial success and first extension
Thanks to a great success in the market, just six years later, in 1962 Bodega San Miguel had to grow:
– Capacity of 1,200,000L.
– 41 concrete tanks of 96,000L 33,000L 25,000L 15,000L 10,000L and 6,000L.
With the mentioned capacity and the advanced resources they used, even the year of great harvest and lack of space, they could store wine in the winery concrete corridors just by closing a drain and bricking up some corridors.
– Capacity of 1,200,000L.
– 41 concrete tanks of 96,000L 33,000L 25,000L 15,000L 10,000L and 6,000L.
With the mentioned capacity and the advanced resources they used, even the year of great harvest and lack of space, they could store wine in the winery concrete corridors just by closing a drain and bricking up some corridors.
The third change arrives
The third change was made in 1999, as a necessity to follow the progress in wine industry. The third winery extension was tremendous as it included a renovation of all technical resources and tanks.
– Capacity of 2,250,000L.
– 44 stainless steel tanks of 56,000L 48,000L 44,000L
– Renovation of all technical resources to be able to carry out the whole process of winemaking in two primary ways: bulk wine for the most prestigious wineries in La Rioja, and bottling.
– Capacity of 2,250,000L.
– 44 stainless steel tanks of 56,000L 48,000L 44,000L
– Renovation of all technical resources to be able to carry out the whole process of winemaking in two primary ways: bulk wine for the most prestigious wineries in La Rioja, and bottling.
Curiosities about our winery told with affection
1
THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE CO-OPERATIVE MR PIO RAMIREZ SAN JUAN WAS ADDRESSED AS CHIEF COMRADE.
2
THE CHIEF ENGINEER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BODEGA SAN MIGUEL WAS MR EUGENIO NARVAIZA ARREGUI.
3
THE MACHINERY WAS FROM THE HOUSE MARRODÁN Y REZOLA.
4
ONCE THE CO-OPERATIVE WAS FOUNDED, NEW MEMBERS PAYED 30 PESETAS/OBRADA AND 10 PESETAS AS ENTRANCE FEE.
5
ONE OF THE FIRST WINE BUYERS WAS MR JOSÉ ORTIGUELA FROM TOLOSA.
6
THE ROLE OF “CONSILIARIO” (ADVICER) WAS CARRIED BY THE VILLAGE PRIEST.
7
IN THE YEAR 1958 NEGOTIATION WAS TAKING PLACE WITH THE CO-OPERATIVE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO EXPORT 50,000 “CÁNTARAS” BETWEEN 14.5ºC AND 16ºC.
8
THE PRICE OF RETAIL WINE “CÁNTARA” IN THE YEAR 58 WAS BETWEEN 90 AND 95 PESETAS. WHOLESALE MARKET, 37 PESETAS / 100KG.
9
15 BOCOYES OR MEDIAS PIPAS WERE BOUGHT FROM TONELERIA LANDALUCE TO CARRY THE WINE FROM THE WINERY TO THE STOREHOUSE.
10
10
A MOTORBIKE GUZZI-HISPANIA 73 CC WAS BOUGHT FOR HOME DELIVERY. A “VESPACARRO” WAS BOUGHT IN 1962.
A MOTORBIKE GUZZI-HISPANIA 73 CC WAS BOUGHT FOR HOME DELIVERY. A “VESPACARRO” WAS BOUGHT IN 1962.
11
NEW WAREHOUSES WERE OPENED IN THE FOLLOWING TOWNS: EIBAR, TORRELAVEGA, ORDUÑA, LODOSA, MENDAVIA, BILBAO, VITORIA…
12
ON 11/03/64 IT WAS AGREED TO EXTEND THE COOPERATIVE BUILDING TO THE STATE YOU CAN SEE IT TODAY.
13
A WINE STOREHOUSE IS OPENED IN VITORIA IN 1964 AND ANOTHER “VESPACARRO” WAS BOUGHT. A DKW (COMBI) WAS PURCHASED IN 1967.
14
A STOREHOUSE FOR WINE SELLING WAS OPENED IN SARTAGUDA IN JUNE 1961.
15
A BOTTLING MACHINE “GIRONDINE” AND A BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE WERE PURCHASED IN JANUARY 1968.
16
IN 1973 COOPERATIVE SAN MIGUEL BECAME PART OF CAJA RURAL, CALLING ITSELF CAJA RURAL SAN MIGUEL.
