New C Series - Valtra

many small tequila distilleries in the Mexican
state of Jalisco, many of whom do not export
as such. Authentic tequila that has been dis-
tilled from 100-percent pure agave is a rela-
tively expensive drink that is not widely sold in
Mexico. Cheaper brands of tequila are offered
that can contain up to 49 percent of non-agave
sugar, although even this drink is considered to
be expensive by local standards.
Protected name
The tequila name can only be used by products
made from distilling agave in the state of Jalis-
co. In addition, the agave content must be over
50 percent. The tight regulation of tequila helps
explain the drink’s mystique as well as the
popularity of other ‘cactus wines’, as there are
many other distilleries in other Mexican states.
Sausa Tequila cultivates around 11 000
hectares of agave. The company aims to
reduce the size of its agave orchards in the
future while at the same time increasing its
exports of tequila to world markets. Through
controlled plant breeding it is possible to
produce agave plants that are more produc-
tive, grow faster and are more resistant to
diseases. These plants can also be cultivated
using modern methods of fertilisation and soil
control to produce bigger crops. Sausa Tequila
has its own test orchards that have proven the
benefi ts of these modern techniques. These
orchards produce much more robust agave
hearts that can be seen on the trucks driving to
the distillery.
Most agave harvesting is still done by hand
using traditional methods. This is very labour
intensive, and new harvesting implements
are being devised – although Sausa Tequila is
not keen to discuss details. Tests have nev-
ertheless been promising, as they have been
also for semi-automated planting of shoots. It
is possible to view the prototype of the new
planting machine, but taking photographs was
strictly prohibited.
� Visa Vilkuna
Sausa Tequila has an impressive heritage.
>>> from page 19
The day’s haul, two “red” pigs. We estimated
that the larger one weighed around 30 kg
and the smaller around 20 kg living weight.
Cleaned and skinned, the weight is approximately
halved.
is a bit hesitant was completely justifi ed. The
dog should be able to quickly run round the
pig in order to basically ring it in and keep it
where it wants.
We continue on. It’s a bit hard in the deep
snow; how hard it must be for the dog, who
has to struggle through the loose snow.
– The dog’s barking again, says Urban.
We hear nothing, but Urban shows us
a green light fl ashing without pause on his
detector.
Quickly we move in the direction indi-
cated by the detector and soon we hear the
barking of the dog.
– Once we get near we’ll just move when
the dog is barking. In between we have to
stay quiet and still, says Urban.
So that’s what we do, and after a while
we get near enough to see Rajo. He’s moving
constantly, back and forth, round and round.
We are not yet near enough to discern any
pigs, but Urban gets ready to shoot anyway.
We get even closer, with extreme caution.
Rajo is barking unceasingly, and then we see
the pig, a big one, probably a sow. Urban puts
his gun back on his shoulder and says it’s the
pig’s lucky day – it will survive today’s hunt,
and will perhaps soon give birth to a litter of
piglets that can be hunted next season. Urban
goes a bit closer and tries to get Rajo to lose
interest in the sow. The huge pig dashes away
and Rajo decides to follow us instead; he
might fi nd another pig, one that can be shot.
Sometimes it must be a thankless task being
a hunting dog!
� Eric Andersson
21