More than 50 years ago, in the heart of La Manchuela in Cuenca, grapes gave rise to this story that unites land, science, and tradition: JULIÁN SOLER. What began in a small winery, with the vision of our founder, together with his father and brother, soon became a pioneering project: to find a use for surplus wine must and open up the first channels for its export from Spain. This is how we began our journey as leaders in the production and international marketing of concentrated grape juice. Today, with decades of experience, professionalization, and technological investment, we continue as a company specializing in the production and export of concentrated red and white grape must, with a global presence and faithful to our roots. We do this by maintaining our commitment to authenticity, high quality, and sustainability, “Nothing but grapes.” We export concentrated must to more than 60 countries on 5 continents. And our name resonates in the formulations of food and beverage manufacturers around the world.
In this post, we wanted to take a look at each of the pillars that underpin JULIÁN SOLER’s work philosophy: the authenticity of our concentrated grape juices, the reliability that characterizes us as a global supplier, the innovation we drive from our laboratory, and corporate social responsibility through art with the Vidartis project.
- Authenticity: the essence of the grape juice in every drop
- Reliability Julián Soler: certified quality, stock available all year round
- How is concentrated grape juice turned into products that respond to trends and new consumers?
- Vidartis: a legacy of art, education, and sustainability
Authenticity: the essence of the grape juice in every drop
The authenticity of our concentrated grape juice begins in the world’s largest vineyard, in Castilla-La Mancha. It is the result of the right varietal selection, sustainable agricultural practices, traceability of origin, and a unique process that combines tradition and technology to respect the integrity of the grape, its nutrients, flavor, color, natural sugars… and maximize its potential. We receive around 20 million kg of fresh grapes from the vineyards of more than 300 local farmers, with whom we maintain a close relationship of guidance and collaboration. They are the ones who help us continue to be ambassadors for Castilian-La Mancha grapes around the world. This alliance allows us to control traceability from the source to ensure that each fruit is grown using organic and sustainable methods, coordinate all aspects of the harvest, and ensure compliance with the highest standards of purity. In addition, we help preserve the tradition of growing native Castilian-La Mancha grape varieties.
Technically, the authenticity of our must is reflected through measurable and traceable parameters. We record data from the growing cycle, the harvest, and the transport and unloading of the grapes at our facilities. We measure and record the Brix degrees of the grapes received and implement rigorous analytical controls in our laboratory, evaluating the physical-chemical parameters, microbiological tests, and sensory tests on our concentrated grape juice throughout each stage of the production process (crushing, concentration, controlled evaporation, filtration, etc.). At JULIÁN SOLER, we carry out a concentration process that respects the raw material and preserves the authenticity of the grapes. We extract only 2/3 of the water from the grape juice using vacuum evaporation techniques, preserving the nutrients, vitamins, natural sugars, antioxidants, and aromatic compounds found in grape juice.
Reliability with Soler: certified quality, stock available all year round
For us, reliability is the promise fulfilled to deliver high-quality grape juice concentrate in the quantity, time, and specifications required by the customer. It is a non-negotiable reliability made possible by our team of professionals, experts in agri-food processes and concentrated must production. They are committed to Lean Manufacturing and passionate about the wine-making tradition of this land. We are all part of one big family.
Let’s move on to the numbers.
- We currently have a production capacity of 80,000 tons of concentrated white and red grape juice.
- We export 90% of this juice to more than 60 countries across five continents.
- Fifty percent of our product is distributed in bulk, and the other 50% in packaged formats.
- We can guarantee our customers a continuous supply of concentrated grape must 365 days a year.
How do we achieve this? We store our product in aseptic packaging formats (drums, IBCs, Goodpack, etc.) in cold storage and freezer rooms, which are capable of preserving the physical, chemical, organoleptic, and beneficial properties of concentrated grape juice intact throughout the year, even guaranteeing the color of the red must. This level of reliability is a distinguishing feature of our services. We facilitate logistics management and production planning for our customers.
What else sets us apart? Our ability to diversify the quality and customize concentrated grape juices for different uses in the food, beverage, vinegar, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries. We produce focusing white grape must, high-intensity coloring red must, NFC must, rectified must, must with special qualities, virgin, organic, allergen-free, with different Brix degrees… according to customer requirements, always under strict food safety and quality protocols. International certifications such as FSSC 22000, AENOR, CAAE, and FDA guarantee the safety and environmental friendliness of our production processes.
We are the Global Grape Solution Supplier that connects the roots of Castilla-La Mancha with the whole world.
How is grape juice concentrate turned into products that respond to trends and new consumers?
The presence of JULIÁN SOLER concentrated grape juice in relevant commercial solutions is the result of several factors:
- Sensory profile and functionality of grape juice concentrate. Through our varietal selection and control of the production process, we guarantee the preservation of compounds in the concentrated must that provide functional and sensory value for food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic producers. For example:
- Concentrated grape juice is rich in antioxidants, such as resveratrol, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties and also prevents cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
- Its natural sugars (fructose and glucose) provide energy and are used as a natural sweetener. Concentrated grape juice can be used to sweeten desserts, ice cream, pastries, energy drinks, and sports supplements.
- The resveratrol, malic acid, and vitamin C present in concentrated grape must help prevent the degradation of skin cells.
- Customization must. We have the team and technology in our plant and laboratory to create customized batches (Brix degrees, color, acid profile, etc.) and with special qualities, such as NFC must or rectified must (pure grape sugar). This allows us to successfully address any trend and respond to customer requirements for specific industries, such as functional beverages and baby food.
- What trends does JULIÁN SOLER’s grape juice concentrate respond to? Mainly clean label formulations and functional foods. Consumers are increasingly demanding natural and sustainable ingredients, products without added sugars, artificial colors, or preservatives. They are looking for foods and beverages that, in addition to their intrinsic nutritional value, provide benefits for the body, preventing disease or improving health.
- Collaborative work for innovation. In our own R&D&I laboratory, we work with our clients to develop innovative solutions tailored to current consumer trends and tastes. We contribute our knowledge and analysis of the food market and new trends.
In this way, we create a bridge so that grape juice concentrate, rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and natural sugars (without sucrose), can be turned into products that meet market demand. We deliver more than just an ingredient; we provide our client companies with a whole technical matrix and our know-how for innovating food products made from grapes.
Vidartis: a legacy of art, education, innovation, and sustainability
Grapes also inspire art.
Vidartis is a CSR project by JULIÁN SOLER that combines sustainability, innovation, education, and art. Its main objective is to merge agriculture and art by using our concentrated red and white grape musts as pigments for creating graphic and pictorial works. It was born from a simple idea: to make Christmas cards for customers using concentrated red grape must. Today, it is much more than “painting with our grape juice”; it is a powerful manifestation of everything we can give back to our land through service to society.
When artists use must as a natural pigment, they are tangibly communicating the identity and winemaking tradition of the Castilla-La Mancha region. It is a living work that fills the air with fragrances and displays textures that transport viewers and connect them with our roots: the grapes of La Mancha. All this innovation prompted us to launch a line of research, together with the UCLM, on the chromatic stability of must, as well as to develop applications for must in the fashion sector, such as natural pigmentation for textiles, clothing, and fans.
We also bring Vidartis to the educational field, where the future is forged. We hold workshops in colleges and schools that encourage artistic creation. There, we put Vidartis inks in the hands of children and young people, while they express themselves and learn about sustainability and traditions in our region. We also collaborate with local artists, in partnership with the Faculty of Fine Arts. We promote exhibitions, invite artists, encourage community participation, and promote innovative art through multiple graphic techniques.
Thus, our concentrated grape juice also becomes a cultural agent that protects and promotes local roots. True to the vision of our founder:
“For me, the company is the main instrument for serving society” / Julián Soler
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