2.5 million euros has
been awarded to a research and development project called “Bestbrandy”, the aim of which is look into
factors which influence the quality of brandy and new methods of production
from vineyard to bottle. The proponents are González Byass, Fundador, their
jointly owned bodega Las Copas and Agrovin, an oenological goods and services company,
who want to add value to brandy with the introduction of new technology in the
vineyard, winemaking and wood ageing and maybe create a new unique spirit drink
with growing international demand.
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| (foto:diariodegastronomia) |
They will look at cultivation methods and
possible new grape varieties which might be more suitable for spirit
production, new methods of vinification and distillation, different yeast
strains which might offer higher spirit yields, and factors influencing the
spirit during ageing. Hopefully new and interesting aromatic profiles will be
created. Allied to this worthwhile project are various other relevant research
bodies including the University of Cádiz. Sales of Jerez brandy have been
falling seriously, so this project is well timed.
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| Part of the Ruiz Mateos mansion |
The mansion in Pozuelo
de Alarcón (Madrid) where the Ruiz Mateos family lived for 40 years is on the market. The owner, BNP
Paribas, who provided the mortgage to Ruiz Mateos, is looking for 3 million
euros for the property which extends to 1,700 square metres in a plot of 6,871.
Here there are the offices which they used during the “glory days” of Rumasa and
Nueva Rumasa, and accommodation for the entire family. A large pool, garage and
chapel are also part of the enormous complex once valued at 10 million euros. The
reason for the family’s departure are hotly debated: some say they feared
reprisals from those they had defrauded of 290 million euros, and the family
say it was simple economics, it was too expensive to run.
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