It is true that our Almazaras de la Subbética (https://almazarasdelasubbetica.com/) are located in the heart of the Natural Park that gives us our name, and it is also true that our greatest successes come from continuing to work with the ancient legacy gifted to us by our olive groves, which has driven us to bring the world’s best extra virgin olive oil to your table.
But our environment gifts us much more, and among the rich products obtained from this wonderful landscape, we can find a perfect complement to our EVOO which has always been a typical product of the Carcabuey vegetable gardens: the quince, the second most harvested fruit here after the olive. And it is now, with the arrival of autumn, that the quince takes on the orange hues typical of this season, proclaiming that it is ready for harvesting.
The quince harvest in the Subbética Cordobesa.
Our home is Carcabuey, a charming village located in the heart of the Subbética Cordobesa, known for its rich agricultural tradition related, above all, to olive groves, but where the quince also holds a very prominent place. This fruit has been cultivated on our lands for generations, becoming a symbol of autumn and an essential ingredient in many traditional recipes, deeply rooting itself in both the gastronomic culture of our area and our economy. The mountainous terrain and fertile soils that characterise us make Carcabuey the perfect environment for its cultivation.
Here, the quince harvest begins between September and October, when it has reached its optimal maturity. The harvesting is still done by hand today, maintaining a traditional approach that ensures the quality of the final product. Over these weeks, we have seen our fields bustling with activity, harvesting this precious fruit, which can then be used to make a wide variety of products, such as quince paste, preserves, and… Vinegar!
The beneficial properties of quince.
And what makes the quince that grows in this area special? Well, it is highly appreciated for its size, flavour, and aroma, characteristics that distinguish it from those grown in other regions.
Furthermore, quince is known not only for its versatility in the kitchen, as it also offers us multiple beneficial properties for our health. It is a fruit rich in dietary fibre, contains a significant amount of vitamin C which helps to strengthen the immune system, contributes to reducing blood cholesterol levels thanks to its high pectin content, helps to control glucose, and is low in calories. Ideal for low-fat and low-sugar diets!
An award-winning semi-sweet vinegar.
Yes, we mentioned earlier that quince opens up a wide range of product possibilities. And at our Almazaras de la Subbética, we have certainly opted for vinegar. Are you familiar with our Parqueoliva Quince Vinegar? It is made from quinces harvested in our area, a variety also known as ‘Zagrilla’.
This delicacy, which comes to you in a dark glass bottle, is obtained from selected quinces harvested throughout this month of October, sourced from small traditional orchards. They are subsequently pressed, which gives us the juice that will become this exquisite and prized semi-sweet vinegar. With a unique flavour and no ageing!
And it’s not just us saying it! Our vinegar has continuously won awards wherever it goes, always reaching the podium at every edition of the Vinavin International Vinegar Competition since 2015.
At Almazaras de la Subbética, we are always committed to excellence, quality, and professionalism. And also, always, to innovation, fusing the most traditional techniques that help us preserve the essence of our products with the most modern technologies and the most creative cuisine. For this reason, coupled with the richness of the products from our land, we embrace the art of making a vinegar like this one.
This is also because quince vinegar has gained popularity in recent years due to its multiple health benefits, as it retains many of the fruit’s properties, such as its richness in antioxidants and its ability to improve digestion. But in addition, quince vinegar has antimicrobial properties, which makes it an excellent natural preservative and an ideal ingredient for dressing salads, meats, and those dishes where you are looking for that different, aromatic, and sweet touch.
Are you tempted to try it? We assure you it will become an essential in your kitchen. You’ll love it!
