Yesterday Jalon inaugurated its winery

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Created on Tuesday, 27 May 2008 17:29

Last Updated on Friday, 22 July 2011 18:04

Written by Fernado Gil

It was built by the agricultural cooperative, with a budget of three million

The partner farmers annually harvest fifty thousand arrobas ( 1 X arroba = 25 lbs) of grapes.

Jalon, a tiny but prosperous village ensconced in the northern part of the province, almost in the centre of the fertile valley, has given us yet more proof of how much can be achieved when interests unite towards an identical common goal. Its Cooperativa Sindical de Labradores y Ganaderos (Syndicate Cooperative of farm workers and ranchers) which groups together almost the totality of farmers has already brought about unmistakable demonstrations of how much can be achieved through mutual collaboration. Yesterday afternoon, that is to say the 22nd October 1962, will remain written in local history, because on this day the building which epitomizes the common interests of this agricultural community was built: its solemn and well installed winery.

The whole village attended the jubilant achievement

Jalon is currently in fiestas, celebrating the traditional commemorations in honour of the Virgen Pobre. For the twicefold reason of the patron saint celebrations and the winery inauguration built by the cooperative “all Jalon” got dressed up to attend the ceremony which celebrated the modern industrial winery created with the purpose of channeling the commercialization of the delicious wines brought by the delicious grapes and raisins of Jalon through one same entity. The sumptuous winery, located in the amplified area of the town and in an ideal spot for receiving the grapes and also for distributing the wines, appeared small in spite of its large size, as in the huge warehouse was congregated almost the whole neighbourhood and in the face of not finding seats in the interior many hundreds of people gathered around outside. This winery shows an exterior architectural perspective which is in keeping with the buildings of this area, highlighting light tones and showing exposed stonework in its large columns. The interior whilst in line with modern fashions is very spacious in order to facilitate all loading and unloading when there is a high transit volume: the grape crushing machinery is extremely modern and efficient, as are the rest of the premises.

The cost of this winery, three million pesetas

The grape is without doubt the most important treasure of Jalon. Yet there were not enough grape processing facilities in Jalon, which explained the general will to construct a well equipped winery capable of handling the annual harvests. The Cooperativa Sindical de Labradores y Ganaderos (the Syndical Cooperative of Farm Workers and Ranchers) constituted the winery section, and the negotiations began to raise funds, taking into account that the budget was high. This was achieved and with the winery officially inaugurated yesterday, there exists an entity of large proportions and obvious solutions for the local economy. The cooperative borrowed two million pesetas from the Instituto Nacional de Colonizacion (The National Institute for Colonization), to build this winery, yet still more money was needed, which was brought in by the partners who also put in their own efforts in terms of construction and installation. No expense has been spared, and now the project has ceased being one and has become a venturous reality, even though in order to make it so an investment of three million pesetas was required to meet the budget.

Forty thousand arrobas of grapes per season

The winery will mainly elaborate common wines and quality mistelas and the plan is to bottle the popular wines for national consumption. The total deposit capacity is of five hundred thousand litres, with the possibility of increasing their capacity to double that. In this Winery Section of the Jalon Agricultural Cooperative, there are some one hundred and fifty signed up partners, who are the owners of vine plantations, and who cultivate a surface area of nearly one thousand two hundred hanegadas (1 hanegada = 840 m2) which yield some forty eight thousand arrobas of grapes per season. The grape destined for the common wines is the “chironet” and the “cabrerot” is the one used in the production of mistelas. From the quality of the wines elaborated in Jalon, we get a good idea of the interesting demand that is being registered and which will now be channeled through this winery.

The inauguration was presided over by the Provincial Syndicate Authorities, as well as other organisms, amongst these being the provincial secretary of the Syndicate Organization; don Julio Torre Lazaro, don Francisco Torices Rico, president of the Camara Oficial Sindcal Agraria (Official Agrarian Syndicate Body); agricultural expert Don Luis Suay, from the National Institute of Colonization, and the O.S. Cooperation Secretary don Antonio Lopez. After visiting the premises, which were shown by the president of the cooperative, and the winery boss, don Jose Costa Perez and don Juan Fullana Abella respectively, the Reverend don Pedro Mauri proceeded with the blessing. Later, don Jose Costa, don Pedro Mauri and don Francisco Torices gave short speeches, concluding the ceremony and don Jose Costa declaring the winery open. All the speakers were highly applauded.

Afterwards, all guests were served a glass of Spanish wine from Jalon, naturally.

Fernado Gil