Last Sunday, February 8, the Jesús del Perdón-Bodegas Yuntero Cooperative held an open day for all its Members with a massive influx of more than 800 people, where different events were held.
It began with a guided tour, led by the Technical Director-Oenologist Mr. Jorge Martínez, who explained in detail each of the Sections, as well as the important investments made in recent years and technical details of the entire process from the entry of grapes to the winery until bottling.
In the new white grape jaraíz, built last year, the rest of the events were held, starting with a happy and festive air with a song, masterfully performed by the Mansil Nahar Choir, funiculí, funiculá, to celebrate as its lyrics indicate! Come on, let's go to the top! It reflects the pioneering spirit, effort and work that both members and workers have maintained since its beginning until today. Bodegas Yuntero, currently the 2nd largest base Cooperative in Spain, is in a period of expansion and this is demonstrated by the investments made in recent years.
The Manager, Mr. Ramón Alcarazo, then took the floor to inform all the Members of the current situation of the Cooperative and its evolution in recent years.
The Cooperative, which will soon turn 61 years old since its birth in 1954, began with a group of 102 winegrowers, currently after 3 mergers by absorption of other Cooperatives in the town, as well as the integration of new Members from more than 10 municipalities. , has managed to reach 700 Members.
It is located on 87,000 m2 on 3 plots, where the warehouse, storage expansion, fuel pump, treatment plant, offices and Department of Agricultural Products and Services are located. Its total capacity is 81,000,000 liters and with the expansion this year 2015, it will reach 93,000,000 liters.
The Cooperative was a pioneer in Castilla La Mancha in 1992, in betting on Organic Agriculture, it started with 5 hectares, currently it reaches 1,700 hectares.
This Winery-Cooperative is sensitive to contributing to the Environment, both in the field with vineyards that are not subjected to chemical, phytosanitary, or nitrogen treatments, as well as in the winery to comply with the Regulations on Discharges into the Network. Public Sewerage, for this reason last year a treatment plant was built with 2 ponds of 1,000,000 liters each and this year it will be expanded again in anticipation of future growth. Logically, since it is a biological reactor, the purification processes and their start-up require a reasonable adaptation time. Purifying the discharges is very complex and the entire infrastructure is being adapted, studying the different flows to adapt them to current legislation. . The investment in this area, in the two years, will amount to more than 400,000,- Euros.
Finally, we inform you of the recent SIGFITO award received from Castilla La Mancha, to the Company that has best dealt with the collection and recycling of phytosanitary product containers.
The evolution of the Cooperative in recent years was then explained, going from an activity of 40,000,000 kilos of grapes to 95,000,000 kilos last season.
Regarding its turnover, it exceeds 35 MM/Euros, having a presence in 17 countries around the world. Its net worth reaches 14 MM/Euros, which allows it great solvency and continues its growth. Spectacular are the investments made in recent years (in the midst of the economic crisis) the Cooperative has invested more than 17 MM/Euros, and new projects for 2015 of 7 MM/Euros, in improving all its production processes, as well as the necessary expansions due to an increase in their social mass. Likewise, its benefit to the Member over market prices has reached the figure of 9.6 MM/Euros.
Continuing with the events, the new image for YUNTERO wines was presented, which has been designed after the Painting Contest held with artists from Manzanares, which materialized with 26 works presented, and the jury made the decision unanimously to award the work presented by the Manzanares artist, Mr. Manuel Serrano Roncero, presenting the award to the aforementioned artist at said event, who dedicated the award to all farmers.
With new performances by the Mansil Nahar white voices choir from Mansil Nahar, the event ended with the words of President Mr. Félix Cano, recalling the 60 years of history of this Cooperative, reminding all the Members, more than 3,000 farmers, and the 6 Presidents who have had since its foundation, recognizing their work and generosity towards the winery.
The President then indicated that this impressive Cooperative project would not have been possible without the support of its Members, without the efforts of the Governing Councils, without the effort and dedication of its executives and the almost fifty workers who live with intensity and enthusiasm every moment.
He continued indicating the support that the Cooperative receives from institutions, starting with our City Council and the Department of Agriculture, which allows us to continue growing and improving our facilities and processes.
The event ended with the tasting of YUNTERO and EPILOGO wines, where the quality of the wines produced by this Winery-Cooperative was evident.
