40 species lives in it

Also known as the Bodegas Menade Pollination Garden, this polyspecific (ie. multi-genus) area consists of species indigenous to Castilla y León and buzzes with life all year round. Not only do we have perennial/evergreen species but a multitude of deciduous ones too and the latter, who are often only with us for the spring, provide our many insects with a short-lived multi-coloured feast.

The 40 or so species who inhabit our grand Hotel function at a variety of depths and so on one level we have short stemmed aromatic plants such as lavender and sage as well as different types of rosemary; whereas on another we have wild rose, red lavender, blackthorn, elder, and blackberries.

All our plants, trees and bushes have simply been carefully plucked – roots and all – from our luckily still abundant many wild remote local places: battle-hardened specimens, hardy by virtue of coming to terms with our changing climate and its inexorable desertification.

And within this, we have a minor but important secondary network of mini hotels in very specific parcels of the estate.

What we therefore believe to have so far achieved with these micro-systems is an ideal habitat for all manner of insects and other wildlife, including birds of prey. Root systems are of course a further and complicated element of this and it seems likely that within the complicated underground process of competing plant species we may also have inadvertently created a series of major ‘hiding places’ and shelters/breeding grounds for all manner of natural life.

Our primary consideration is of course the wellbeing of our vines and so far all looks good, with – as far as we can see – a major proliferation of life and all important balance between flora and fauna.

Menade Farm

Menade is full of life and, in a region that looks ever more sterile, we’re on a crusade to bring it back to our backyard and in a major way.

Each morning we are therefore now greeted by a delightful pair of long haired donkeys – Zamo y Rana –  who we rescued from Zamora where their breed is in danger of extinction – and this affectionate duo not only lift our spirits but contribute big time to the new world that we are creating. Our many insects love them too and their organic droppings are also most useful.

For company they have both chickens and geese –who are rather more strident– and further plans are afoot to increase this new community.

Mobile trees

Here at Menade we’re ever honing our eco-system and exploring the further potential diversity of our vineyards with a series of mobile trees and bushes, which are planted in trailers, so that we can shuttle around different parcels and points of our vineyards.

The thinking behind this was and is that it would be an economical way of testing their potential impact and provide us with the data necessary to take more important, long term decisions.

Accordingly, we’re monitoring and building up a comprehensive picture and data base of the impact of each guest in its temporary resting  place and its potential adaptability: which insects are attracted, how and when the leaves and flowers develop, how deep might its roots go, how might it cohabit with other neighbouring plants, and how/if at all might its roots interfere/react with those of our all-important vines in order that we in due course take a view as regards the restructuring of our plants.

Roots of course behave and react differently depending not just on climatic factors but fundamentally in accordance with the soil type and so clay is of course an entirely different proposition to those of a lighter texture.

This is, needless to say, a long term project and we’re currently trying out dwarf, wild and conventional cherry trees, peach trees, almond trees, holm oaks, and various types of thyme and rosemary. Further, we’ve also been trying out bee panels to study how beneficial these prove at particular times of year – particularly in order to see if these encourage pollination during the time that our vines are flowering.

Time will tell.

Vegetal cover

We meantime also sow our soils with wild grasses – usually alternate ones – depending on how active they are, and this creates positive a micro fauna with appreciably more bacteria and more stable and absorbable nitrogen.

Similarly, we occasionally aggressively dig out the avenues between our vines in order to break up the underlying interlaced roots and encourage our plants to go vertical rather than sideways and seek further depth.

We avail of our natural resources

The methods that we’ve developed to look after our vineyards have evolved as a result of trial and error, our restless spirit, listening to those who’ve spent many decades looking after the heritage of Castilla y León and valuing their experience.

We do not utilize synthetic or chemical products in our vineyards, opting instead for plant based infusions to prevent vine related pests and diseases. Needless to say, the key to managing this properly is anticipation and this requires continuous scrutiny and observation.

Equally, we avail ourselves of our natural resources in order that our wines truly reflect our terroir, who we are and where we live.

Our practises are the fruit of extensive research

Horsetail (Equisetum) and sage help us to prevent mildew, yarrow and cinnamon not only fight off oidium but repel mites; and camomile, together with garlic and wormwood, activate plant metabolism.

Valerian serves to regulate the vines’ temperature, while infusions of nettle are particularly useful in times of drought as they stimulate more vegetation.

We also use whey to combat oídium, which also makes our local cheese producers happy!

The practises that we exercize at Menade are the fruit of extensive research, acquired knowledge, and age old wisdom. Plus, of course, a pinch of madness.