Colombia / Monteblanco

The village of La Tocora, where the farm is located, is at the center of the magnificent beginning of the Cueva de los Guácharos National Natural Park and next to the Suaza River valley. This tranquil location not only provides a picturesque backdrop, but also provides a direct connection to the abundant flora and fauna of the region.

The farm benefits from a climate with temperatures between 16 and 22 degrees, ideal for various coffee varieties. With around 1,700 hours of sunshine per year, the farm uses ample light for optimum crop growth. The soils, mainly of volcanic origin and rich in nitrogen, further increase the limits of the coffee produced in Monteblanco.

Owned and operated by Rodrigo Sánchez Valencia, Monteblanco is spread over 14 hectares of land, where the family tradition was kept alive by his grandfather. It produces various coffee varieties, such as Geisha, Pink Bourbon, Pacamara, Purple Caturra and Red Caturra, which are internationally celebrated for their distinctive flavor profiles.

In addition to the cultivation on the farm, there are those that are vital to coffee processing, such as the drying beds and the washing station row. Monteblanc also has a cooling system that maintains a constant temperature of 10 to 14 degrees, which is key to a strict cold fermentation during coffee processing.

HUILA REGION

The Huila Region of Colombia is located in the southern part of the country, where the Central and Eastern Andes mountain ranges meet. The capital of Huila, Neiva, is dry, flat and coastal, distinctly different from the coffee regions further south.

Centered around the city of Pitalito, Huila’s coffee farms are predominantly owned by small farmers, and a concerted effort has been made to produce specialty coffees to showcase all the character of the latter region’s soils. Selective hand-harvesting, careful processing and meticulous post-harvest details contribute to the region’s increased visibility.

Huila’s local coffee committee, which is the local link to the National Colombian Coffee Growers Federation, has invested significant resources to improve everything from fertilization to roasting. This, combined with producer enthusiasm, has created a culture in the country of quality-focused production.

Huila has a significant history dating back to pre-Columbian cultures. The archaeological site at San Augustin contains numerous stone carvings, figures and artifacts that offer a rare glimpse into the land’s history before colonialism.