The story of Vinicola La Calera starts in 2008, when business partners Javier del Blanco and César Arranz established 3 Ases Vinos, with two capital partners to produce wines in Ribera del Duero. Initially they bought in grapes (a common practice in Ribera del Duero), and rented a space in a winery to produce the wines. Since then they have bought their own winery and a small 3ha plot of Tempranillo. Eventually, due to conflicts of interests (the partners wanting to go bigger and more commercial and introducing new oak) they split with their capital partners to allow them to focus on what they really want to do – small production, fresh and expressive wines.

They currently produce 2 wines – 3 Ases and Pico del Castro, but a recent purchase of some dry farmed, bush planted 100 year old vines, they plan to produce a tiny production, single plot wine. 500-1000 bottles max! The farming is organic (in the process of converting to certified) and all the grapes are hand harvested from a single plot located in the village of Quintanilla de Arriba, planted in 1989, on loamy and limestone soil. They don't use any herbicides and use cover crops to prevent erosion and improve the soil structures, as well as reducing the need for irrigation. Careful use of stainless steel and old French oak is used for short periods of ageing.