Juan Bautista Sáenz
Wineries
Professional Beginning Year
1999
Professional career
When she finished her Chemistry degree, she tried a course in Oenology, a field that was just emerging at the time, and she quickly realized that this would be the passion of her life. In 1999, she crafted her first vintage at Dinastía Vivanco, a true challenge involving 2 million kilos.
In the year 2000, she met Pablo Eguzkiza and Telmo Rodríguez, with whom she began a 'master's degree in the life of wine.' They became involved in small projects in historic regions such as Rioja and Ribera del Duero; and at the same time, in other projects in forgotten areas, rescuing native varieties and respecting the cultivation methods of each region. They started by borrowing small wineries, with limited resources but good grapes, a lot of care, and respect. This led them to work in Málaga, Alicante, Cebreros, Toro, Rueda, Ribera del Duero, Rioja, and Galicia. Always crafting wines against the grain, fine and fruity wines when the trend was for structured wines with heavily toasted oak. They also cultivated vineyards organically, out of philosophy and conviction.
After 23 years alongside Telmo Rodríguez, she was able to fulfill one of her dreams: working for Gómez Cruzado, the boutique winery in the station district and a century-old winery whose wines had always fascinated her. A modest winery in terms of quantity, where wines with soul can be crafted, without the pressure of large brands where the market and sales dominate.
A new challenge where she aims to continue the quality and personality of those wines she had followed for so many years. Additionally, she plans to focus on new wines from the brand's own parcels in Badarán and Ollauri.
Work
Field management and production
Training
Graduate in Chemistry and Enology from the University of La Rioja
