Finca Dehesa de Los Llanos, a reference in Spain agriculture

Larios family, together with the history of two centuries Málaga

Larios family, from Laguna de Cameros, arrived in Malaga in the early years of 1800. Carlos Larios, a widower with four children, the outcome of two marriages, first appeared in Malaga in the early nineteenth century, providing that their children Juan Manuel Domingo and stay with him in Malaga, where they founded the trading company and Brother Manuel Domingo Larios . Meanwhile, Paul and Martin went to Cadiz to settle in the capital and from there to home and commercial representation in Gibraltar with the establishment of two business entities: Larios Brothers, based in Cadiz, Gibraltar, and Martin Larios, Lasanta and Company, in Cadiz. These first three Larios family entities represent the consolidation of assets and the initiation of his fortune to the future.

After Martin Larios and Manuel Herreros and Sunday, the third Marquis of Larios was Aurelio José Larios and Larios, which acquired the representation of the Houses of Malaga and Gibraltar, so that all economic resources concentrated on a single member family. José Aurelio begins the great adventure of the wine in the 1920s with the acquisition of Bodegas Jimenez and Lamothe, both local wineries and a distillery which had in Manzanares, the first of its kind in Spain and a pioneer in the production of brandy, of which survives to this day the universally famous “1866”. In 1933 he joined the elaborate gin, as famous as himself brandy “1866.”

Although the wines were those who managed to make popular outside Larios, the contribution of the industrial awakening Casa Malaga starts fourth century and earlier in very different activities: Industry Malaga, Malaga-Cordoba Railway, Steamship Company, Insurance Company, Barico Malaga, sugar, mining and agricultural entities.

Sustainable exploitation of natural resources

The pasture land devoted to pastures which have retained many of the trees and shrubs prior natural ecosystem, is based on agrosilvopastoral management systems for livestock use, agriculture and forestry, mountain building, labor and grass, three main sources of primary production fully engaged with each other.

The origin of the range is anthropogenic, that is, is a type of landscape created by human beings by eliminating some of the trees and shrubs in lowland areas, which usually consist of mastic, Kermes oak, and hawthorn thickets, among others . This can be kept at the same time, grasses and trees, whose fruits, especially acorns, are a very nutritious food for livestock that can be pigs, sheep, goats or cattle.

Although there are meadows that have their origin in the deciduous forests, as the pastures of oak ash or oak, the term refers pasture, generally, those from the Mediterranean or sclerophyll forest, which is dominated by oaks, holm oaks and the gall, with a distribution that depends on rainfall, temperature, terrain slopes and sun exposure.

From an ecological standpoint, it makes a coherent land use because it combines the juvenile stage of succession, pasture, with elements from a very mature trees. The meadows are an example of sustainable exploitation of natural resources.

Dehesa de Los Llanos, an ancient history

The name Dehesa de Los Llanos extends in the countryside near the city of Albacete, whose Arabic name, Al Basit, appears to be directly related to this Dehesa. Roman and Arabic origin, in 1375, belonging to the Marquis de Villena began its separation from Chinchilla. Supporter of Juana “la Beltraneja” abides by the victory of Queen Isabella in the fifteenth century.

Later, Charles V granted the estate of Isabel of Portugal Albacete and XVI from the area are installed in various religious orders, notably the Franciscan Order was established in the seventeenth century, raising a Franciscan monastery next to the chapel which for many years gave shelter to the Virgin de Los Llanos, Albacete patronAccording to some legends, the image of the Virgin de Los Llanos was brought to Spain by Santiago, while others find us and in the seventeenth century and linked to the founding of the Franciscan convent, who settled next to the modest chapel that up to house the Virgin de Los Llanos, Albacete patron saint, whose image, found by a farmer plowing the area where the earth is always invoked to promote the work of the field and their festivals are closely associated with the holding of a fair has contributed to the development of the city AlbaceteWith Felipe V, who bestowed the award of free Fair, the event was moved in 1783 to Albacete, where every year in September the Virgin of Los Llanos is making its way to “pan” (exhibition) in a popular and festive procession.

In the mid-nineteenth century, with the confiscations of church property, the property is acquired by the Marquis of Salamanca, to pass at the end of that century, the Marquis of Larios, who now belongs.

The core construction of the Dehesa de Los Llanos sober up a stately building and other rooms equipped as workshops. These buildings are complemented by a hunting lodge, livestock and industrial facilities and other units scattered in the fields of work.

The entire Dehesa de Los Llanos has been restored preserving its identity and maintaining historic and iconic buildings like the Casa del Aniaguero or Torre del Marques de Salamanca Florentine feel.

Purebred livestock Mancha

The livestock population Dehesa de Los Llanos consists of more than 6,000 head, 5,000 sheep and 1,200 lambs replacement, purebred Mancha, a species of Mediterranean origin with excellent use of both their meat and milk. With ancient roots in this area, the quality of the breed is extraordinary Mancha, assessment amply supported by subsequent studies and controls that farming is systematically subjected.

In addition, the livestock of Dehesa de Los Llanos, located in the countryside, providing the select breeding of livestock following a mixed diet of grass and agriculture itself complements this agricultural complex. The ships, built in the middle pasture, have modern ventilation systems, heating and sanitation, a technology that contributes to the cabin, also subject to a thorough veterinary control.

The animals are distributed in different buildings depending on their life cycles, pregnancy, breeding and milking, “which allows monitoring and control resulting in superb quality and use of this breed. These measures and facilities, and the strict scrutiny provided for in the breeding and production processes, result in a prime beef and a good milk that allows the development of one of the cheeses with higher standards of quality and prestige.

Rich hunting

In a special habitat, the preserve Dehesa de Los Llanos is located in a large area of scrub with a natural lake which is a reference within the hunting sector. Their quality and development is due to the monitoring, control and continuous improvement of its facilities, for although the animals are free to have more than 1,200 drinkers and as many feeders, which also benefits the protected wildlife also inhabits the Dehesa.

Along with the mouflon and wild boar, deer and buck up the bulk of large game animals who enjoy a vast territory in which coniferous forests alternate with shrubby areas and natural lakes.

The red-legged partridge, one of the most prized species of small game, this place exceeds 20,000 copies, as this habitat conditions are fabulous. Quail, doves, and Sison, 30% of its population, go to swell the game which also is enriched with numerous specimens of hare and rabbit.

In addition to the birds from the area, also inhabit this spot birds of prey such as Bonelli’s eagle, owls, kestrels, sparrow hawks and peregrine falcon.

Animals move in total freedom and harmony between different species, it makes this living space. However, its development depends on proper maintenance and care to counteract the dangers of life itself, so that address diseases of the species, effects of drought and other climatic extremes are the daily work of a select team of professionals to improve every day the quality and evolution of wildlife you have in Dehesa de Los Llanos habitat.

On the one hand, the preservation and enhancement of natural woodland and scrub, as well as reforestation contribute to enriching the habitability of the land and, secondly, the control of the population of the species strengthens the balance and harmony of the landscape.

The formation of the large team working on the evaluation and periodic review of environmental objectives in the Dehesa de Los Llanos are the best guarantee for sustainable development, as well as fulfilling a commitment made to preserve and enhance the biodiversity of this area natural.

Exploitation of more than ten different crops

Dehesa de Los Llanos is an extensive area devoted to crops typical of Normandy with closely related Mediterranean species, then alternating with dry products irrigated crops: garlic, onions, grapes and cereals. Rainfed crops are spread over 3,000 hectares in the sowing of wheat and barley covers half the surface.

Moreover, the groundwater on the estate allow 15% of the land is allocated to irrigated crops: grapes, wheat, sugar beet, corn … The higher production of beet, which is followed by alfalfa and corn. In addition, the farm also houses a select herd of sheep, which here has excellent pasture.

A highly specialized team carries out all production processes from the study of the composition of the soil seed selection and environmental impact analysis, without neglecting the best methods of planting, irrigation, collection storage and distribution . There is also a line of thinking continued research on crops adaptable to the area and low water consumption.

To facilitate the diversity of crops and ancillary tasks that demand responsible agriculture, the agricultural complex has an infrastructure of facilities and tools that makes effective and efficient operation: warehouse, scale, ship to house the machinery on the premises and agricultural art tools.

Agricultural production, most horticultural products intended for domestic market but also exported to the EU.

The wine project Dehesa de Los Llanos is a reality

Currently, Dehesa de Los Llanos is in the process of expansion of agricultural crops, vines and olive trees, for the subsequent preparation of wine and oil on the premises.

The wine project has begun with a detailed soil survey, which allowed the identification of suitable varieties and patterns for future procurement of a great wine for Payment, a project that is likely to grow stronger throughout 2007.

The vineyard of Dehesa de Los Llanos brings together a diverse varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Graciano in red variety and Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo in white variety.

The cultivation of many varieties offers the possibility to go picking up the nuances or the best of each one of them to make a wine guy who will associate the concept of the estate, in which process definition is now a trained team of professionals.

While oil to enjoy this brand will have to wait, since he still has not started its preparation, the wine project is in an advanced stage: this year has picked up the second harvest and has been issued the first harvest.

The cheese Dehesa de Los Llanos get milk from the rural estate, which is said to be its high quality

The basis of a good cheese is milk and Dehesa de Los Llanos get milk from the rural estate, which is said to be its high quality at selected race and pastures.

Denomination of Origin Manchego and the name of Dehesa de Los Llanos, cheeses made in the Dehesa, semi (with three or four months of healing), cured (six or seven) and Gran Reserva (from nine months to fourteen), offer a particular and intense flavor and are made from start to finish, crafted from raw milk of Manchego sheep that while calls for more health checks, incorporates some kindness is not pasteurized. Therefore, the process, though traditional, incorporating all the most advanced technical means for verifying and monitoring the composition of the raw material.

Dehesa de Los Llanos was the first exploitation of the world to adopt a comprehensive system of livestock management with electronic identification and measurement of milk production, so that each piece that leaves the dairy is possible to know at what date and Why sheep milk were served raw material, thus ensuring traceability from the origin.

Last June, the Queso Manchego Dehesa de Los Llanos was winner of the World Cheese World Cheese Awards in the category Cheese with Designation of Origin, in his distinction of bronze. The ruling was clarified in the popular Regent’s Park London by 120 experts who conducted a tasting of cheeses 1542 participants from countries like USA, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, as well as all the cheese-producing nations in Europe.