This is the story of how I became part of an incredible project in 2022 and how it evolved day by day into becoming a reality.
Some years ago, in its desire to improve customer service, Azul y Rojo Import-Export, S.L. saw the need to have its own warehouse to speed up the availability and delivery of the products it sells, some of which come from distant lands such as Caribbean rums and tequila.
This is how the search began for facilities that would allow it to store products and to distribute them independently.
Thanks to the Union of Spirits companies in Catalonia, in 2021 it found this little treasure which is the Wine Spirit and Brandy Distillery, Ca L’Olive, founded in 1921.
Its facilities are not very large and are in an almost abandoned condition, but it has a centuries-old history and an incredible location, nestled in the heart of one of the largest wine-growing areas in Spain, Sant Quintí de Mediona, in the Penedés region.
The new infrastructure, which was once a wine spirit and brandy distillery and a small olive oil mill, presented a major challenge, as we are firmly committed to preserving its essence and continuing its cultural legacy, taking into account the necessary adaptations and renovations to turn it into a state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to continue our activity for at least another 100 years.
The first thing we had to do was to “discover the diamond in the rough”, as we carried out intensive cleaning for a few weeks, during which we discovered small treasures (e.g., tools from over 50 years ago, an old truck scale, etc.). After much effort, cleaning, removing scrap metal and land clearing, we were able to see the true potential and beauty of the distillery.
The first thing that caught my eye was a 15 m high spiral brick chimney. I had never seen anything like this before. With a modernist air and an incredibly original character, I was surprised to see that it had cracks on three of its walls.
Thus, in May 2023, repair work began, which returned it to the way it looked when new, back in 1921.
After this, we decided to start renovating walls and doors that were in rather bad condition. This was the beginning of the paint work that has put the shine back on this little jewel, and the thing is that the sunrise from here, with the sun reflecting on the white façade, is incredible.