Seldom do you encounter a remarkable individual whose undefined passion for his profession surpasses any conventional standards.
Introducing Carlos Feliu, one of only a few winemakers on the island, embracing an age old traditional practice while rejecting contemporary, widespread techniques and any synthetic products namely chemical fertilizers and insecticides. The oenologist and agro-engineer, with a family history of winemaking dating back to 1790, is the owner of the Agrotourism finca “Son Dagueta” near Porreres where 10 hectars of land are dedicated to the cultivation of the vines and barrels from 1850 can still be found on the estate today.
Feliu is a perpetual enthusiast, relentlessly engaged seeking alternative strategies to fuel his strong desire for challenge. Unsurprisingly he conceived an exceptionally clever business concept, laden with challenges and rewards for all parties concerned. Armed with passion, knowledge and expertise, not to mention family secrets, Feliu has introduced "Tu crianza" (Your vintage), a brilliant project targeting a somewhat niche market, basically permitting his customers to make their own wine and participate in the winemaking process from harvest through to the final product. In other words the bottle on the table poised in anticipation for the thorough scrutiny of its creator's friends.
The customer can make all the executive decisions from vine variety, cuvee, duration of maturation in the barrel all the way through to the design of the bottles and labels. Feliu and his employees are always present, ready to offer advice, explain the methods of the wine making process and share their extensive wealth of knowledge whilst taking care of all other aspects involved.
In a good year at Son Daqueta, take 2005 for example, the vintage produced 23000 litres of wine. 67 barrels, a single barrel containing 225 litres, are presently in his bodega for maturation. Of those 67 barrels Feliu will keep 30 for himself and his guests, the remaining ones are used for the purpose of marketing the "Tu crianza" project.
A brief run down of the process you would be involved in should you participate starts with choosing between the following red vine varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Mallorquin Callet. Once the variety is established, a barrel, for the storage of the self-made wine needs to be selected. The wood of these barriques emits a special flavour enriching the wine with tannins and various different aromas. Seventy percent of Felius barrels are made of French oak, a very precious wood that respects the flavour of the wine and doesn't interfere. The remaining barrels are made of American oak. Additionally he offers barrels from Rumanian, Hungarian and Russian wood. The production of a 225 litre barrel of wine comes to 2000 €. A French barrel alone costs around 650 €, an American barrel is priced at 500 €. The barrels can be used for three to five years hence a customer does not need to pay for it in the years following his first own vintage. Finally shape, size and quality of the bottles and the design of the labels has to determined.
Feliu himself takes care of the sticker on the back of the bottles and provides the necessary index numbers and the official Balearic label for ecological products.
The oenologist sets a high value on the satisfaction of his customers paying particular attention to the quality of his products. A crucial part is the limitation of the harvest of a grapevine. A vine can produce between two and eight kilos of grapes each year. Feliu, however only harvests 2 kilos, previously cutting off the other grapes for sugar, water and the other ingredients to concentrate in the few remaining vines.