THE LAND GETS READY TO MAKE HISTORY
Before becoming the property of the Deicas family, the Juanico winery land passed had many other owners. Notably among these was Don Francisco Juanico, who in 1830 broke with the traditional farming methods of the area and constructed an underground cellar. This enabled him to make very good quality wines because of the naturally cool environment in the cellar.
Almost one and a half centuries later in 1979 the winery passed into the hands of those who will finally open it to the doors of the world.
A STORY OF SUCCESS
In 1979 there came a big change when the family headed by Juan Carlos Deicas took charge of the Juanico winery. It started with a previously unimagined new vision, plus new technology, continual investment in the business, and an enormous “change in attitude” in order to be able to face the new challenges.
1980 The Reorganisation
The first step was to completely redirect the winery, devoting it to the development of fine wines and in particular to the cultivation of the French noble varieties.
With the arrival in the business of Fernando Deicas, there started a study of soils and cultivation never seen before in Uruguay and it was discovered that the region has the same characteristics as the Bordeaux region for the cultivation of grape vines. From these findings it was decided to practice the cultivation of the most famous French varieties.
Then frequent trips to Europe started, principally France and Italy, plus constant contact with consultants and experts in Australia, United States, Argentina and Chile in search of better knowledge and new technology.
1992 The birth of the first grand cru wine of Uruguay
In 1992 the Juanico winery created the first Grand Cru wine in Uruguay: Preludio, destined to compete with the famous Chateaux of France. An oak aged wine of fine pedigree blended from five individual grape varieties and selected from only the best barrels after two years of maturing in the historic underground wine cellars.
1994 The first container full of uruguayan winew for export
This first shipment to London transformed Juanico into the main winery opening the doors of the world to the wines of our country. Having conquered the English market we then started to export to France, Sweden and Germany. Today Juanico wine exports cover the five continents of the world
1996 The first gold medal for Uruguay
First was a silver and a gold medal, but in 1996 Uruguay won through the The Juanico winery the first Great Gold medal for Uruguay in the prestigious “ Bacchus de España” competition, the first accolade capable of giving pride to the whole of the Uruguayan wine business. To this day the Juanico winery continues being the Uruguayan winery with the most awards and accolades won in international competitions.
1996 The birth of Don Pascual
In tribute to Don Pascual Harriague, the French Basque who introduced the grape variety Tannat, we launched in the Uruguayan market the Don Pascual brand. So successful that it become the internal market leader in only 5 years, and is still the market leader. Also today it has the highest sales of any Uruguayan wine sold throughout the world.
1996 We create the category “Roble”
With the introduction of Don Pascual Tannat Roble, the “Roble” or oak aged category was established in our country. To this we have added a barrel fermented Chardonnay Viognier, an oak aged Cabernet Sauvignon and a Petit Verdot oak aged.
With time, other Uruguayan wineries have followed our path.
1996 el 1er. vino de cosecha tardía: Botrytis Noble ®
Se crea el primer Cosecha Tardía del Uruguay. Hoy otras bodegas uruguayas han seguido
la línea de Juanicó elaborando vinos de cosecha tardía utilizando uvas con botrytis cinerea, pero Botrytis Noble® hay sólo uno: el de Establecimiento Juanicó.
1998 First South American winery to obtain the ISO 9001 standard
The Juanico winery was always obsessed with quality. For this reason we set out to be the first South American winery to obtain the demanding ISO 9001 certificate of quality, and we achieved it.
1999 The first french Joint Venture project in Uruguay
The Juanico wineries entry into the international world of wine enabled us to associate with some of the most prestigious French wineries like Chateaux Pape Clement
This partnership started in 1996 to produce in Uruguay the brand “Gran Casa Magrez”, the first Uruguayan wine for the most demanding market in the world: France. The first “Gran Casa Magrez” saw the light of day in 1999.
We have since then signed agreements with Vinson Richards in the USA and Bright Brothers in the UK and Europe.
2001 The birth of Cuvée Castelar
Under the guidance of the renowned cheff du cave from the Champagne region, Monsieur Pierre Yves Harang, we produce this “Methode Champenoise” in exactly the same time honoured way as in the French Champagne region. We soon won our first international medals with this wine.
2002 El 1er. licor de tannat
La 3ra. generación de los Deicas crea el primer Licor de Tannat del Uruguay. Un vino licoroso hecho a la manera de los vinos de oporto. El primero producido por la 3era generación, y el primero en ser bautizado con el nombre de la Familia.
2003 The first Petit Verdot
After three years of development we presented the first single varietal Petit Verdot wine from Uruguay, and one of few examples of this variety in the world.
2004 1er. CRU GARAGE
In 2004 the first Bordeaux Cru Garages style Tannat was made in Uruguay and launched in the market. It is the 2000 vintage of the Familia Deicas Tannat and only 3000 bottles were made for the world market.
2005 1st Uruguayan Marselan
The modern variety Marselan, which was created in France by crossing the Grenache and the Cabernet Sauvignon, is made for the first time in Uruguay as single varietal wine from the 2004 harvest. After one year of oak ageing, Don Pascual Marselan Reserve is presented to the market.
