Juan Carlos was born in 1956 in Laguardia, Basque Country. He studied Agronomic Engineering at the University of Pamplona, and later obtained a degree in Oenology at the Escuela de la Vid in Madrid. Following in the tradition of a family of winegrowers, Juan Carlos founded the Cosecheros Alaveses cooperative with his family and thirteen winegrowers in 1985.
In 1992, the Lacalle y Laorden family took over the management of the project and embarked on a new adventure, creating Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi de Laguardia. Thus began a project based on the know-how of their ancestors and founded on passion and respect for the environment and the vineyard.
In 1996, he set up his second winery in Artazu (Navarre), focusing on the production of the century-old Garnacha grape variety. In 1999, he launched the El Sequé project in Alicante, with the autochthonous Monastrell grape variety.
After 10 years of observing and studying the Artadi vineyards in Laguardia, Juan Carlos consolidated the Vinos de Parcela research process. In 2015, he decided to start exploring the DO Geteriak Txakolina, producing a sparkling txakoli. In 2021, the Izar-Leku winery, dedicated exclusively to the production of sparkling wines, was created.
In 2019, his three sons joined the project in the winery group, securing the family's future.
C/Sta. Engracia 9 – Laguardia 01300 ALAVA – SPAIN Tel: +34 945 600 119 – +34 67 744 044 Fax: 0340 945 600 850 jc.lopezdelacalle@artadi.com