Aceite Cortijo de Suerte Alta

Cortijo de Suerte Alta

Cortijo de Suerte Alta is a family estate dedicated to the production of organic extra virgin olive oil in Albendín, a district of Baena, in the province of Córdoba. The project is deeply linked to the López de Carrizosa family, who have maintained these lands and their connection to the olive grove over several generations.

The history of the current olive grove began in 1924, when the Marquesses of Bedmar, grandparents of the current owner, carried out a major transformation of the estate and planted a large portion of the olive trees that are still part of Suerte Alta today. Decades later, in 1986, Manuel Heredia Halcón, the current head of the project, took over the management of the property and began a new phase focused on recovering and improving the traditional olive grove.

One of the fundamental moments in this evolution came in 1996, when the farm began its transition to organic farming. This decision allowed for the development of a cultivation model based on respect for the soil, biodiversity, and the natural balance of the olive grove, making this philosophy one of the main hallmarks of Cortijo de Suerte Alta.

Subsequently, the family decided to complete the project by building their own oil mill on the estate, designed specifically to process the olives from their own groves. In this way, Cortijo de Suerte Alta was able to directly control the entire process, from the care of the trees throughout the year to the harvesting, milling, storage, and bottling of their oils.

Currently, Cortijo de Suerte Alta represents the union of traditional olive growing, organic production, sustainable architecture, and the production of high-quality EVOO. A philosophy built around the family estate and the olive landscape of Baena, maintaining the legacy received from previous generations while adapting it to a modern and sustainable way of understanding oil production.

Picudo, Hojiblanca and Picual: traditional varieties of the Baena olive grove

The production at Cortijo de Suerte Alta is closely linked to the traditional varieties of the Baena region, most notably Picudo, Hojiblanca, and Picual. The varietal diversity of its olive groves allows for the production of both monovarietal oils and blends in which each olive contributes distinct aromatic and flavor characteristics.

The Picuda or Picudo variety holds a special prominence due to its strong historical connection to this area of Córdoba. It is a variety highly valued for the quality of its oils, which are capable of offering complex and elegant aromatic profiles. Alongside it, Hojiblanca provides freshness and vegetal nuances, while Picual contributes greater structure, intensity, and stability.

One of the estate's most representative oils is Cortijo de Suerte Alta Coupage Natural, conceived specifically to reflect the traditional varietal composition of its groves. Rather than seeking only the characteristics of a single olive, this type of production allows the diversity existing in the field itself to be translated into the oil.

The harvest is carried out by seeking the optimal moment of ripeness and always prioritizing the quality of the fruit. The olives are picked directly from the tree and quickly transported to the mill located on the property itself. This proximity makes it possible to considerably reduce the time between harvesting and milling, one of the fundamental factors for preserving aromas and avoiding fermentation or oxidation processes.

The production is carried out using mechanical procedures and cold extraction, maintaining precise control of temperatures during the different phases. Once obtained, the oil is carefully stored in stainless steel tanks until its subsequent bottling.

The entire process is also conditioned by the organic nature of the farming. The olives come from trees cultivated without herbicides or synthetic chemical products, so the philosophy applied in the mill truly begins many months earlier, with soil management and the care of each plot. The result is extra virgin olive oils that seek to express both the traditional Cordovan varieties and the particular characteristics of the estate itself.

A traditional and organic olive grove on the banks of the Guadajoz River

The heart of Cortijo de Suerte Alta is located in Albendín, within the municipal boundaries of Baena, in a region defined by the Guadajoz river valley and a long-standing olive-growing tradition. The estate combines olive groves with scrubland and Mediterranean vegetation, creating an agricultural landscape where the trees coexist with spaces designed to foster biodiversity.

A large portion of its olive groves dates back to plantings made from 1924 onwards, meaning the estate preserves numerous traditional trees that have been part of this landscape for approximately a century. In contrast to modern intensive and super-intensive models, Suerte Alta has chosen to preserve the traditional character of these groves and adapt their management to the principles of organic farming.

One of the fundamental elements of this model is the cover crops that grow between the rows of olive trees. Instead of keeping the soil completely bare, the controlled presence of vegetation is encouraged to help reduce erosion, improve soil structure, conserve moisture, and provide shelter and food for various species.

Biodiversity thus plays an important role within the operation. The goal is to maintain a balance between agricultural production and the ecosystem, favoring the presence of flora and fauna that contribute to the natural functioning of the olive grove. Pruning residues can be shredded and reincorporated into the land, helping to return organic matter to the soil and closing part of the farm's natural cycle.

The mill itself is integrated into this landscape and was designed following criteria of energy efficiency and bioclimatic architecture. Its location on the estate is not merely a matter of logistics: it ensures that the olives travel a minimal distance after harvest and directly connects the work done on the trees with the production process.

This combination of traditional olive trees, organic farming, cover crops, biodiversity, and a mill located within the estate itself defines the personality of Cortijo de Suerte Alta. Here, the oil is understood as the result of an entire agricultural ecosystem, where the care of the soil and trees throughout the year is just as important as the work subsequently performed inside the mill.