The technical director at Arínzano tells db about protecting biodiversity, wanting to say 'no' more and his mum's scrambled eggs.
One way to raise your professional profile is to be the man responsible for a wine awarded 100 points by Robert Parker. So it was for José Manuel Rodríguez during his time in charge of winemaking at LVMH’s Bodegas Numanthia in Toro. Since 2015, Rodríguez has used these skills as technical director for Navarran property Arínzano, making wines that can also claim the Vino de Pago denomination reserved for high-quality wines with unique characteristics from a single estate. The dedication to precision and quality shown by Rodríguez here has helped reinforce Arínzano’s position as a benchmark for Spanish wine on the global stage.
What job did you imagine yourself doing when you were seven years old?
I grew up in a family that lived off agriculture and livestock, surrounded by grains, sugar beet, vegetable gardens, pigs, chickens, cows, tractors and farming tools. From a young age I helped out whenever I could, and my role model was my father. Therefore it’s no surprise that I wanted to be a farmer and livestock breeder at the age of seven, which isn’t too far from where life has led me.
Who first led you down the winemaking career path, and how?
When I was 12 or 13 years old, a home-made red wine competition was held in my village, Fuentespreadas. The prize was ESP10,000. Along with a couple of friends, we mixed wines we found in the cellar, managed to fill a bottle and submitted it. Surprise! We won first place, which led to a lot of the older people getting angry with us, thinking we had cheated. Perhaps, at that moment, the wine virus entered my life to stay. Subsequently, my friends and I made home-made wine repeatedly before I decided to pursue it seriously. My village is part of the Tierra del Vino region in Zamora, so I believe destiny was written.
What’s the most recent lesson this job has taught you?
Every day, you learn something new. Wine is a living entity and, like people, each one is unique. Although there are patterns or stereotypes to follow, each wine you produce teaches you something about the year, the climate and whether you interpreted its production correctly. I suppose it’s like raising a child.
If you were a wine, what would your back label say?
Enjoy me surrounded by good people: family, friends or acquaintances. Don’t take the serious aspects of life too seriously; smile and toast to good health and the fortune of living in the moment. As for the wine, we assume it would be good; no definition or explanation needed.
What’s the last book you read?
Deja Todo O Deja El Vino (Leave Everything or Leave the Wine) by Santi Rivas.
What’s the last live music performance you saw?
Arde Bogotá at Caudal Fest.
What frustrates you most about the world of wine?
There are certain wine ratings that I don’t understand the tasting or evaluation criteria for. You can encounter very different opinions without understanding the criteria that were used in some cases.
Which sustainability initiative are you most proud of, and why?
Arínzano is an estate composed of approximately 300 hectares, including vineyards, oaks, a river and mountains, where the diversity of fauna and flora is extensive: partridges, cormorants, vultures, pigeons, eagles, rabbits, wild boars, deer, otters and trout. I am proud that, during these 10 years of managing the estate, we have been able to continue enjoying all of this, which reflects the utmost respect for agricultural and environmental management.
If you could change one thing about your wine region, what would it be?
It is a region that carries the stereotype of producing only rosé wines through the bleeding method from red wines, which in the past led to a reputation for coarse and unstructured red wines. This is far from today’s reality: we find ourselves in a region where red and white wines are elegant, fresh, and uphold the highest quality standards in the industry.
Which winemaker do you most admire, and why?
Manuel Louzada, currently at Almaviva in Chile, for his versatility and experience in different parts of the world, grape varieties, climates and interpretations, ranging from the finest sparkling wines to the best still wines. His passion and communication style make him a true master in this wonderful world of wine.
Which missing skill do you most wish you possessed?
Knowing how to say no to countless situations or scenarios in daily life, without creating conflicts, would allow me to live at a more tranquil pace and enjoy each moment more fully.
What’s your idea of a perfect holiday?
Days spent with family for sharing and tranquillity; days with a partner filled with new experiences, relaxation and enjoyment. The sea, the mountains, live music – all paired with wonderful culinary experiences and, of course, new and different wines.
What is the most pressing personal or professional ambition you’d like to fulfil?
My most pressing ambition is for Propiedad Arínzano to be recognised as one of the highest-quality wineries in the wine industry, becoming a national and international reference with its Chardonnay, Merlot and Tempranillo varieties.
What would your final meal be? And what would you drink with it?
The best eggs in the world: my mum’s scrambled eggs with potatoes, paired with Termanthia 2004 or Gran Vino Tinto Arínzano 2016.
