It was on March 3rd, 1989 when Enrique Mendoza bought the El Chaconero Vineyard. They say that it rained so much between the months of September and October that our lands remained dammed until January, hence its name, “The lands of the January ponds” (“Las Tierras del Charco de Enero”).
El Chaconero saw the birth of Enrique’s trusted person, “El tío Antonio” (Uncle Antonio); without family kinship (because of the uncle) they quickly got on with each other and reconverted the fruit and vegetable farm into in one of the probably most adult vineyard of foreign varieties in Spain.
Uncle Antonio was a very faithful person and his knowledge of the surroundings helped Enrique to know in which areas of Villena he should not buy more vineyards because the presence of hailstorms was almost guaranteed every year.
“”Enrique, don’t buy vineyards near the jail area. That área is never saved”, he said and he was not mistaken.
He was a very important person for Enrique on that path full of silences.
He served as a “20-year-old boy” until Finca El Chaconero retired him.
Five years earlier, Tomás Navajas, a great tractor driver as few exist, had started working, who on his John Deere 2650, tilled and tilled that it seemed he was going to reach La Mancha (Castilla La Mancha, his native land).
With his tractor Monday to Saturday and his hunting dogs on Sundays, he was the happiest person I had ever met.
He retired at the Finca El Chaconero so tilled that it still lasts for us.
At that point had already joined the team, Juan Francés, another tractor driver who did not let Tomás stop the tractor.
Every year that Juan turned older, he walked lighter, got on and off the tractor like a “greyhound”.
He liked that the work spread to him, he wanted to see many cultivated plots; that was how Juan valued his job well done by him.
Finca El Chaconero retired him younger than he started.
And 5 years ago another Juan arrived. Juan Ugeda Fita “El Fita”. Hobby photographer, he is the perfection in person.
Eventhouth two things are the same, are not not worth it, it has to be perfect. He has to keep his work up to date, yesterday no longer counts, today is late and only tomorrow is worth.
With his 60 years turned that you wouldn’t say he’s over 50, he is on the same path as his companions, “Tío Antonio”, Tomás Navajas and Juan Francés.
The Finca El Chaconero continues to be a testimony of those people who thoroughly used the field.
