Casa del Blanco is one of Spain's estate-specific Vinos de Pago. It is located in the Ciudad Real province of Castilla-La Mancha. Casa del Blanco's wines used to be categorized as the lower Vino de la Tierra (VT) de Castilla classification. But the owners of the 229-acre (92.7-ha) vineyard, dissatisfied with this, set about promoting its uniqueness and campaigning for its accession to the prestigious VP status, which is awarded to single-estate wineries deemed to have a unique terroir and microclimate that offer excellent quality year in, year out. Their wish was granted in 2010.
Winemaking on the estate could possibly date back as far as the 13th Century but is documented from 1854. From that year, Casa del Blanco was in the hands of one family, the Blas Garcias, for six generations. The Sánchez family, the current owners, bought it in 1990 and did 10 years' extensive research into its history, traditional techniques and the macrobiotic flora on site before building the bodega (winery). Red wines made after 2002 are labeled as QuiXote and the white wine is labeled as Castillo de Pilas Bonas.
Casa del Blanco's wines are unique in that they possess a high concentration of lithium, which is used in a number of mood-disorder medicines. The lithium content, which is sourced to the sandy-loam soils that are a feature of the vineyard, is up to 10 times higher than in other wines from surrounding areas. This supports the estate's claim of distinctiveness.
Furthermore, the number of antioxidants found in Casa del Blanco's wines are as much as double those from nearby plots. The vineyard's extreme continental climate and low rainfall contribute to its focus on balance and concentration.
Casa del Blanco grows the international varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Chardonnay and also some native grapes such as Airen, Tempranillo, Moscatel de Grano Menudo (Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains) and Garnacha. Rich, complex and balanced red wines are Casa del Blanco's signature.
