The technical director Félix Solís Avantis tells db about responding to changing trends, advocating for Castilla-La Mancha and how wine should be accessible for all.
After training as a chemist specialising in food technology, Carlos Villarraso took a Masters in Viticulture & Oenology at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He began his career in Chile, returning to Spain to work first as a white wine specialist in Rueda, then heading up winery operations for Jorge Ordoñez Málaga. Since 2010, Villarraso has been part of the Félix Solís Group. He is currently head of technical management across the group’s wineries, overseeing numerous new projects in development across many different Spanish appellations and overseas.
What job did you imagine yourself doing when you were seven years old?
I imagine that, like any child, I dreamed of being a footballer or an athlete. As a child, I never thought of doing anything related to wine. My contact with viticulture and oenology would come later.
Who first led you down the winemaking career path, and how?
I think I discovered it by myself. It was a university internship in a winery near my home town that really set me on this path and made me discover the real dimension of the world of wine. The region where I lived is an important wine-growing area where they live with an incredible dedication and respect for the land, and that passion is transmitted at every moment of the process. I immediately understood what it was to make wine, and also that this could be my path.
What’s the most recent lesson this job has taught you?
I could say the typical stereotypes: humility in the face of nature, the importance of having a good work team, or the experience learnt in each harvest. Now we are seeing an important change in wine consumption trends, so it is essential to listen and know how to interpret the commercial departments’ feedback in order to reach customers easily.
If you were a wine, what would your back label say?
It could be a mix of character and freshness, ideal to enjoy without complications. Because of my career at Félix Solís, I would like it to make some mention of Valdepeñas, because that is something I identify with better.
What’s the last book you read?
A book about cycling, which is my other great passion. It’s called Three Weeks, Eight Seconds. It’s about the 1989 Tour de France and tells a story very similar to life itself. Highly recommended.
What’s the last live music performance you saw?
I went to see some friends who have a rock band. It’s small, they’re not even professional, they don’t even play in big venues, but I like the passion they put into their lyrics and concerts. They always manage to connect with the audience.
What frustrates you most about the world of wine?
It makes me a bit angry that the world of wine sometimes seems exclusive, as if it were only for connoisseurs or a luxury item. Wine is one of the oldest and most universal things we have, and it should be accessible to everyone.
Which sustainability initiative are you most proud of, and why?
In Spain and particularly in Castilla-La Mancha, droughts and lack of water have been a constant challenge in recent years. We are implementing efficient irrigation systems, initiating important water regeneration and reuse projects in the winery, and we are already able to generate 30% of the energy needed for the plant with solar energy. There is still a lot of work to be done, but it makes me especially proud to have started these lines of work.
If you could change one thing about your wine region, what would it be?
If I could change one thing, I would make our wine region, Castilla-La Mancha, more visible internationally.
Which winemaker do you most admire, and why?
I would say that the most complete and impressive winemaker I have ever met was Alois Kracher. I think he was a winemaker who broke the mould and took sweet wines to another level, showing that they could be as complex and refined as any other. I worked with him several times and I was fascinated by his passion and his ability to innovate in every wine. I was quite young then, but I think he was an inspiration to me. He had a modern vision of wine, but always respecting tradition, and I think that balance is key in our work.
Which missing skill do you most wish you possessed?
I think being a little more optimistic than I am now would be a great skill. Winemakers are always on our toes, we don’t trust anything and we don’t take anything for granted. That always pushes you to be very realistic, maybe a bit pessimistic?
What’s your idea of a perfect holiday?
I love the sea, but I live far away from it. I would choose the Balearic Islands to explore them with my family and friends, with no timetables or rush. Whole days visiting beaches, villages, playing with the kids and, of course, enjoying the gastronomy and wines there.
What is the most pressing personal or professional ambition you’d like to fulfil?
I live day by day, and in my winery every day the challenges and opportunities are many and varied. I have no ambitions beyond continuing to learn and grow in the world of wine. At the moment, I have more passion than ambition. I don’t know what will happen in the future.
What would your final meal be? And what would you drink with it?
Pff... I prefer not to think too much about this. If I could choose, it would be a dinner with my wife and kids, enjoying fresh seafood and baked lamb, all paired with my favourite wines, those that have always accompanied us in the best moments. The wines could certainly include our La Única, made from the traditional Spanish grape Tempranillo. It is perhaps the variety I know the best and enjoy the most. For dessert, I would like to drink a Jorge Ordóñez No. 3 Old Vines 2009 from Málaga, a naturally sweet wine that I made and feel very proud of all it represents. It would be a meal full of good memories, the kind you never forget.
