https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/el-delantal/2022/05/20/primogenito-luisyana-66293656.html
Algazara 2018
It’s been five years of blood, sweat, and tears…literally. A lot of ups and downs. This moment, this blog post is an “up”, for sure, as we are thrilled to launch our first wines from the 2018 vintage. For our first go at it, we are very pleased with how the wines turned out. 2018 surprised us all with plenty of rainfall (after a couple years of drought) and cool temperatures. In the second week of October, we harvested and then were immediately slammed with a big winter storm and flooding. Here’s a picture of us relying on a neighbor to cross the dirt road, unable to cross with our cars.
The freezing temps slowed down fermentations considerably but in the end the wines were able to make it to barrel without any problem. After a year in french oak and a couple more in bottle, Algazara is ready for her debut! The wine is 100% syrah, single-estate and dry farmed. The cooler year allowed for lower alcohol and great acidity, giving off freshness and vibrancy. We hope you enjoy!
A little backstory on the name…
Algazara is a word with Arabic roots that speaks not only to the history of our region but to the inspiration behind BODEGA LUISYANA as well. Algazara as defined by the Royal Spanish Academy is the sounds of joy from many people gathered together. Simple pleasures, simple experiences that fuel our passion for wine. Cheers!
Interview with Radio Ronda (Spanish)
Where we are...
Our farm is beautifully situated at 750 meters (2,500 ft) altitude in the mountain ranges of Ronda. Hot, dry, summer days, contrasted with cool nights provide ideal conditions for grape growing. With views of the Roman ruins known as “Old Ronda” or “Acinipo” that predate the birth of Christ, we are reminded daily of the area’s rich history and tradition of winemaking and agriculture.
A 20 minute drive from our vineyard you will find the historic and charming town of Ronda, of which both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spoke so romantically.
Our Story
Two siblings from Louisiana, USA find themselves living in southern Spain and wind up starting a winery. It isn’t a conventional story of origin in these parts, a place that boasts more than 2,000 years of viticulture and winemaking tradition. However, for me and my sister, Leigh, this is our story and our family venture that connects our loved ones in our adopted home of Spain with those loved ones living in the States.
The roots of this story don’t start in Spain, but rather in New York City where I lived in my 20s. I had a great job, and by the world’s standards I should have been happy. Yet there was a void that even the best of cities and all its energy could not fill. I longed for experiences the city could not offer. I wanted to be surrounded by nature, and to pursue my passions, even if I didn’t know exactly what those were at the time.
So, I left. I moved to South America and, later, to Mexico. I learned Spanish. I volunteered. I worked various, odd jobs. All the while, I drew inspiration from the new cultures and places in which I found myself immersed.
My friends in these communities invited me to many Sunday family meals and it became clear to me the importance they placed on family, faith, and farming…the same intrinsic values of my upbringing in Louisiana. I thought about these simple moments of happiness at the table, making connections with those seated around it through food and drink, and the role farming plays in these special moments that are too often taken for granted.
I decided to explore this idea further and found work on a small vineyard and winery in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico. I loved it - working with my hands, being with the vines, and seeing my efforts in the sun later contribute to something tangible, beautiful, and delicious in a glass. Immediately, I started studying to learn the science behind this mystical process while continuing my work in the field. I had found my passion.
But there was still something missing. I remained disconnected from family and a supportive community. It all came together for me while on holiday visiting Leigh in Málaga, Spain. She had married into a big, Spanish family not too different from our own in Louisiana. The people I met in Andalucía reminded me of my folks back home and of my friends scattered around the globe. They had an appreciation for culture and tradition, they enjoyed life, and they saw the value in the quality of time spent around a table of good food and wine. So, I made one final move to Spain to find opportunities and gain more experience in the “Old World.” It ultimately led me here, to the Serranía de Ronda.
When I found the farm, now known as Bodega Luis y Ana, it was as if the pieces of a puzzle – each country, each experience, each lesson learned – finally fit together. In essence, the values instilled in me as a child in Louisiana were now being fully appreciated here in Spain. With this in mind, we move forward, hoping the fruits of our labor pay homage to the shared history and culture of both places, not only through our name, but with our wines.
- Scott Myers