Andalusia Winter 2024

Winter is the most photogenic season in Andalusia—like spring in the Alps. Everything glows green, flowers bloom everywhere, and oranges and lemons add vibrant splashes of color. Meanwhile, the vines begin their dormancy.

Vetiver grasses in the rows reach one meter or more, generating organic energy for the root zone.

Rosemary and thyme perfume the landscape and feed the bees.

Cork oaks and olive trees add a third dimension to the plantation.

At the end of some rows, the Sierra appears close and invites for an afternoon hike.

Our chief winemaker, the eternal blue sky.

Picking a ripe, untreated lemon after hours of pruning to make a lemonade feels like a high five from lifeand the lemons it offers.

The only noice in this silent vinescape comes from the dogs of a hunter living on the neighboring farm.

Time for a haircut?

Next objective, five bee hives.

Mijas village lies about 20 km across the valley on another hill of the Sierra. It's a stunning white village with excellent restaurants, a bit touristy though.

I felt like a complete greenhorn when marinating olives for the first time. But eventually, they turned out so delicious that we decided to hold off on making oil and instead focus on preparing olives to pair perfectly with our wines.

Who would guess that this is a vineyard in the South of Spain?

Since temperatures never drop below zero, the leaves develop a slight rustiness before eventually falling.

Sigrid Ballauf, the artist and co-owner of the hacienda, loves to place sculptures where they belong.

Wild bees and wasps are the best protectors against the nasty cicada.

At dusk, hundreds of bats chase insects above the vine rows, thanks to our friends from https://murcielagosmalaga.com, who set up a dozen such bat houses.

Trenches filled with horse manure, biochar, and calcareous stones help retain water during heavy rain events.

Do you see the vetiver grasses on the right side of the picture? They stabilize the steep slope, channel water into deeper layers, and create a habitat for countless species.