History Viña Varela Zarranz

winery in 1895



old house in 1895



olives en 1895

the history of property dates late nineteenth century. until then, there small-scale vineyards , wine made european immigrants occupied area, using traditional methods , family consumption. in 1888 diego pons acquired plots of land , in spring of year introduced first vines, following advice of friend francisco vidiella, recommended pons on using lands vineyards , associated crops.

in 1892 ordered construction of winery , wine cellar of establishment. cellar, stone walls of 2 feet wide, maintained conditions of constant temperature , humidity. featuring modern facility time, had 2 hydraulic presses, fermentation vats of concrete , 42 large oak barrels purchased in workshops of adolphe fruhinsholz @ nancy (france). brought france unarmed , each of parts (called staves) had recorded year built next signature of manufacturer , numbered brand allowed join them again. it´s unique collection in country, fascinates quantity , quality of conservation , coexists modern french , american oak barrels best wines have upbringing. winery had attached building production of olive oil. planted many olive trees, of them still in perfect conditions more 100 years of age. represented on flanking olive way access of 200 meters.

other treasures preserved until today diary written in ink founder, tells every day since bought land, how plant vines, how began build house, cellar, first wines made , stood out in notes cabernet king of cellar. journal contains several years of history , comes earliest xx.

by late nineteenth century, pons farm had 400 has -in town of suarez, canelones department- of 87 intended vineyards , rest olive groves. 400,000 feet of vineyard belonged wide variety of strains, predominantly harriague , vidiella. average production on pons farm 870,000 kilos of grapes , 600,000 liters of wine annually. italian winemaker a. n. galanti, visited company 1915, referred quality of wines had earned several awards in national , international exhibitions: bordeaux (silver medal, 1895), brussels (honor diploma, 1910). received several gold medals @ exhibitions in turin (1902), athens (1903), milan (1906), minas (1904), paris (1905) , rome (italy ministry of agriculture, 1906) among others.

in 1944, when pons 80 years old, decided sell winery varela´s family. since had no family interested in continuing wine industry, pons wanted sell property valued , continue activity devoted of life. varela s family @ time engaged in wine farm , looking expand.